fr aunhofer institute for communic ation systems esk · wireless networks, ethernet & ip...

F R A U N H O F E R I N S T I T U T E F O R C O M M U N I C A T I O N S Y S T E M S E S K

ANNUAL REPORT

2011/2012

FOREwORd

Ladies and gentlemen,

customers and business partners,

I’m pleased to have the opportunity to take a mutual look

back at 2011 – a successful year in which we broadened our

expertise in fields that we branched out into in 2010: smart

grid technologies, electromobility and embedded systems.

For the Automotive Business Unit 2011, was highlighted by

our participation in the Fraunhofer Electromobility Alliance,

for which we developed the central electronic control unit

for an electric vehicle. Two years of research culminated in

our presentation of the first Fraunhofer electric vehicle – the

Frecc0. We continued to work on the issue of information

and communication technology (ICT) in electromobility

through our involvement in the Smart Vehicle to Grid project

initiated by the EU. These activities focus on the intelligent

integration of electrical vehicles into future smart grids.

One of the key activities of the Industrial Communication

Business Unit is managing the smart grids of the future

through ICT. As part of this effort, we published a study in

November 2011 titled “Smart Grid Communications 2020”,

which focused on the German market. The study outlined

the communication technologies required to effectively

manage intelligent power networks. With an eye on improv-

ing com munication via power networks, our researchers are

also investigating narrowband powerline communication, a

technology for transporting data via power cables.

Before it can be utilized in in-house communication systems,

powerline technology must operate in wideband mode,

an issue that is being examined by the Telecommunication

Business Unit, which was created from the Communication

Solutions group in 2012. This new business unit, which is

focused on access and in-house networks, will continue to

develop and expand into new fields of research such as the

suitability of satellite communication as an access network

technology.

The applied research activities of Fraunhofer ESK are closely

tied to the basic research work carried out through my Chair

for Communication Systems at the University of Augsburg.

In 2011 we broadened our networked research activities

even further. Prof. Dr. Christian Prehofer – Chief Researcher

for software systems at Fraunhofer ESK – began lecturing at

Munich’s Ludwig-Maximillian University (LMU) in 2011. This

has led to close collaboration with the LMU Chair for Pro-

gramming and Software Engineering. We were also fortunate

to have Prof. Dr. Antonio Grilo – guest lecturer at the Lisbon

University of Applied Sciences – spend six months with us in

Munich carrying out research in the field of wireless commu-

nication.

The primary goal of our activities is the development of reliable,

flexible and resource-efficient ICT systems. Through our vision

of “ICT for networked systems” we address a variety of tech-

nological challenges in the automobile/traffic, energy techno-

logy, automation and telecommunication market segments.

A key aspect of our work in 2011 was the completion of a stra-

tegic plan, which was presented to an technology audit team

comprised of research and industry professionals in early 2012.

One result of the strategic plan was the creation of six core

competencies: Wired Transmission Technologies, Local

Wireless Networks, Ethernet & IP Communication, Adaptive

Systems, Model-based Software Testing & Validation, Multi-

core Software. These groups will form the foundation for the

expansion of our R & D services over the coming years.

In order to promote our research findings, as well as to

strengthen ties with our customer base, Fraunhofer ESK

participated in 15 trade fairs and events in 2011 including the

International Automobile Show in Frankfurt as well as the

Embedded World and the SPS/IPC/Drives in Nuremberg.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation

to our employees for their participation in the Fraunhofer-wide

employee survey conducted in 2011. With a participation rate

Fraunhofer ESK Annual Report 2011/20124

of 93 percent, Fraunhofer ESK ranked among the top of the

more than 80 institutes of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. My

sincere thanks go out to these highly committed and motivated

employees, without whom superior research results and success-

ful project activity would not be possible.

I would also like to thank all of our partners and customers from

industry, the research community and government. I hope you

enjoy reading our annual report, which provides an overview

of the highlights and successes of 2011, as well as insight into

what 2012 has in store for us.

All of us at Fraunhofer ESK are looking forward to another year

of mutual success!

n Laboratories

Automotive Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Industrial Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Enterprise Communication Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

DSL & Access Test Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

n Automotive

Automotive Business Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Research Group Automotive Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Reliable Electromobility with Fraunhofer! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Common Interfaces for

Infotainment Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Research Group Automotive Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Predictive Front Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Energy Management Communication

for Electric Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Research Group Automotive Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Ensuring Software Reliability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Seamless Modeling and Code Generation

for Embedded Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

n Annual Report 2011/2012

Fraunhofer Institute for

Communication Systems ESK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

The Management Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Facts and Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Our Customers and Partners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Chair of Communication Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

n Core Competences

Wired Transmission Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Local Wireless Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Reliable Ethernet and IP Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Adaptive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Model-based Software Design

and Validation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Multicore Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

TAbLE OF CONTENTs

Foreword 4

Table of Contents 6

Fraunhofer Institute for Communication Systems ESK 9

The Management Team 11

Facts and Figures 12

Our Customers and Partners 13

Chair of Communication Systems 14

Core Competences 16

Core Competence Wired Transmission Technologies 18

Core Competence Local Wireless Networks 19

Core Competence Reliable Ethernet and IP Communication 20

Core Competence Adaptive Systems 21

Core Competence Model-based Software Design and Validation 22

Core Competence Multicore Software 23

Laboratories 24

Automotive Lab 24

Industrial Lab 25

Enterprise Communication Lab 26

DSL & Access Test Lab 27

Automotive Business Unit 28

Research Group Automotive Networks 30

Reliable Electromobility with Fraunhofer! 32

Common Interfaces for Infotainment Applications 34

Research Group Automotive Connectivity 36

Predictive Front Lighting 38

Energy Management Communication for Electric Vehicles 40

Research Group Automotive Software 42

Ensuring Software Reliability 44

Seamless Modeling and Code Generation for Embedded Systems 46

Industrial Communication Business Unit 48

Research Group Industrial Networks 50

Reliable Wireless Communication 52

Smart Wireless Power Outlets 54

Research Group Industrial Software 56

Software Methods for Embedded Multicore Systems 58

Validating and Testing Adaptive Automation Technologies 60

Telecommunication Business Unit 62

Access & In-house Networks Research Group 64

Satellite-based Communication 66

Communication Solutions Research Group 68

Mobile Learning 70

Names, Dates and Events 72

Events 74

Publications 76

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft 88

How to reach us 90


n Names, Dates and Events

Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

How to reach us . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Editorial Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91

n Industrial Communication

Industrial Communication Business Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Research Group Industrial Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Reliable Wireless Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Smart Wireless Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Research Group Industrial Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Software Methods for Embedded

Multicore Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Validating and Testing

Adaptive Automation Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

n Telecommunication

Telecommunication Business Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Access & In-house Networks Research Group . . . . . . . 64

Satellite-based Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Communication Solutions Research Group . . . . . . . . . . 68

Mobile Learning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Fraunhofer ESK Annual Report 2011/2012 7

Networked information and communication technology

(ICT) systems have become increasingly pervasive in all

facets our lives and have significantly altered business

approaches and products across the entire industrial landscape.

Against this backdrop, Fraunhofer ESK undertakes applied

research geared toward new ICT processes and methods

by focusing on the design of reliable, flexible and resource-

efficient networked ICT systems that are becoming increasingly

distributed and heterogeneous. The institute collaborates with

numerous industry segments including automotive and traffic,

energy, automation, building and security, and telecommuni-

cation. In 2011 alone, our researchers worked together with

more than 60 partners, from large global companies and small-

to-medium enterprises to public sector organizations.

With around 60 employees, Munich-based Fraunhofer ESK is a

member of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the largest organization

for applied research in Europe. Prof. Dr. Rudi Knorr, the director

of the institute, has held the Chair of Communication Systems

at the University of Augsburg department of computer science

since 2006. Prof. Dr. Christian Prehofer, Chief Researcher for

software-based adaptive systems, has been lecturing in the

field of programming and software engineering at the Tech-

nical University Munich since 2011. These dual roles ensure that

Fraunhofer ESK’s R & D activities benefit from unfettered access

to the basic research work conducted by both universities.

Core competencies

The growing complexity of high-grade networked ICT systems

calls for new system architectures and methods. To meet these

new requirements, Fraunhofer ESK bundles its know-how into

six core competencies deployed across the business units:n The Wired Transmission Technologies core competence

is involved in transmission methods and protocols used in

access and in-house networks.n The Local Wireless Networks core competence offers

know-how ranging from physical transmission methods and

wireless channels to application implementation.

n The Reliable Ethernet and IP Communication core

competence examines how Ethernet and IP protocols can

be used in embedded systems. n The Adaptive Systems core competence focuses on

adaptive, software-based and embedded systems.n The Model-based Software Development and Vali-

dation core competence bundles various model-based

methods suitable for software development activities.n The Multicore Software core competence examines

ways to optimize software for use in multicore systems and

parallel operating environments.

Fraunhofer ESK continuously adapts, enhances and augments

its core expertise with new know-how in response to the needs

and market outlook of each of the business units. By exploiting

this expertise across all areas, the institute is well-positioned to

help industry develop better products.

Business units

Fraunhofer ESK leverages its horizontal expertise to support com-

panies and public sector organizations through its business units:

Automotive, Industrial Communication and Telecommunication.

The Automotive business unit offers vehicle manu facturers

and suppliers a wide range of R & D services through three

groups: Automotive Networks, Automotive Connectivity and

Automotive Software. Our specialists develop future auto-

motive electronics architectures, middleware technologies and

software architectures for networked automotive systems, as

well as solutions for vehicle-to-environment networking and

the integration of mobile end-user devices and services. This

business unit also specializes in software development methods,

end-to-end test concepts and the early-stage validation of soft-

ware specifications.

The Industrial Communication business unit comprises

two key research groups. The Industrial Networks group

tracks issues such as local wireless networks, energy-efficient

FRAUNhOFER INsTITUTE FOR COmmUNICATION sysTEms EsK


sensor networks and smart grid communication. Experts

in the Industrial Software group examine new multicore

software architectures and performance analyses, in addition

to adaptive software deployed in mechatronic systems. This

business unit targets manufacturers and providers in the auto-

mation technology, energy, building engineering and security

technology industries.

The Telecommunication business unit, through the Access

& In-house Networks group, develops and optimizes high-

speed wired technologies (DSL, G.hn, powerline) and works

on the adaptive utilization of the available building wiring

infrastructures, including power lines. This group also evalu-

ates hybrid network access technologies, including satellite

communication. The Communication Solutions group offers

companies and public sector organizations expert consulting

and analysis services ranging from security appraisals and

patent evaluations to system architecture design.


ThE mANAgEmENT TEAm

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rudi Knorr was appointed director of Fraunhofer ESK in 2003 and promoted to Chair of

Communication Systems at the University of Augsburg in 2006. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Knorr specializes in the area

of self-organizing communication systems that are increasingly deployed in non-traditional communica-

tion fields such as automotive systems, networked vehicle environments and industrial systems control and

monitoring mechanisms.

Dr.-Ing. Dirk Eilers joined Fraunhofer ESK in 1999 and was appointed head of the Automotive business

unit in 2007. Prior to that, he was active in the automotive and embedded systems R & D area. He completed

his doctoral thesis on the subject of “dynamic reconfiguration of adaptive real-time communications systems”

in 2006. Dr. Eilers specializes in the fields of automotive communication protocols and designs used in info-

tainment and embedded systems.

Martina Gerloff has been head of the Administration area for Fraunhofer ESK since 2000. After hold-

ing several positions in the field of financial controlling, Ms. Gerloff joined the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

in 1992 where she worked in the central administration’s research and budget department. In this

capacity she was responsible for developing and maintaining the institute budget for Germany and the

United States.

Mike Heidrich joined Fraunhofer ESK in 1999 and has been head of the Industrial Communication

business unit since 2008. His research activities focus on new industrial communication and soft-

ware development methods. After obtaining his degree in electronic engineering, Mr. Heidrich was

active in the development and commissioning of commercial software-based SCADA systems for

three years.

Prof. Dr. habil. Christian Prehofer joined Fraunhofer ESK in 2009 and is Chief Researcher for soft-

ware-based adaptive systems. He has held several research and management positions in the telecom-

munication industry since 1998, most recently as a director at Nokia Research. Prof. Dr. habil. Prehofer

lectures in the field of software engineering at the Technical University, Munich. His research activities

are focused on adaptive, self-organizing systems and multicore software.

Sven Brandt was appointed head of the Telecommunication business unit in 2012. He has also managed

the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Center of Competence for Voice Communication since 2001. This group was

expanded in 2004 to support mobile communication. Mr. Brandt specializes in access and in-house networks

as well as enterprise communication solutions. Prior to joining Fraunhofer ESK in 2000, he held several

positions in the telecommunication industry.


0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Personnel costs Operating costs Capital expenditures

1,000

2,000

3,000

5,000

4,000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

Industrial income Internal incomePublic sector EU sector

Internal programs Other income

0

FACTs ANd FIgUREs

Personnel

As of December 31, 2011, the

Fraunhofer Institute for Com-

munication Systems ESK had

around 60 employees, 78 %

in research and engineering

and 22 % in administrative

functions.

The institute was also sup-

ported by approximately 90

interns, graduate school stu-

dents and research assistants.

Research budget

(in Euro thousands)

For the year 2011, personnel

expenses totaled approxi-

mately € 3.4 million, operating

costs around € 1.7 million and

capital expenditures just under

€ 200,000.

Research income

(in Euro thousands)

Fraunhofer ESK generated

research income of around

€ 4.4 million in year 2011.

Researchers and engineers63.8 %

Administrative22.4 %

IT support13.8 %


OUR CUsTOmERs ANd PARTNERs


ChAIR OF COmmUNICATION sysTEms

others, current projects in this area include adaptive methods

for the dynamic and efficient exploitation of wireless channels,

self-organizing methods and protocols for wireless systems

and the design and analysis of innovative, dynamic automotive

communication platforms.

Next generation networks (NGN)

State-of-the-art communication systems must be able to sup-

port the implementation of network- and location-wide voice,

video and data communication. Depending on the needs of

the participants, they require features such as dynamic band-

width management, minimal delay times, high bandwidth and

innovative intelligent services while minimizing the cost of the

devices and operation of the network. These requirements

are best fulfilled by next generation networks (NGN). NGNs

are created by the convergence of conventional (telephone,

mobile) and IP-based networks and open communication

platforms that also feature integrated multimedia services and

personal information on demand. The department is currently

carrying out research into the development of reliable Ether-

net and IP communication for use in new fields of applications

such as onboard vehicle communication, building communi-

cation, vehicle-to-environment networking and the integration

of mobile end-user devices into the vehicle.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Rudi Knorr is director of Fraunhofer ESK

and also holds the Chair of Communication Systems at

the University of Augsburg Department of Computer

Science. This chair is devoted to basic research in the cutting-

edge field of self-organizing communication systems in con-

junction with next generation networks such as cyber-physical

systems or the Internet of Things. The research activities and

the teaching curriculum emphasize the new demands on in-

formation and communication technologies, particularly those

that result from the mobility of our modern society. Among

other issues, the department is examining ways to ensure the

seamless convergence of public and local networks, whether in

private and public buildings or in vehicles. The research focuses

on wireless ad hoc networking and self-organizing networks.

Self-organizing systems

Future networked systems will experience fast growth in the

number of connected devices (end-user devices, sensors,

actuators, embedded systems). The devices will also be much

more powerful and complex, a trend that is driving research

into aspects such as reliability, flexibility and resource efficiency.

These systems will also need to be more intuitive, self-organ-

izing and capable of assuming more autonomous tasks.

Self-organization refers to the so-called self-x technologies,

which encompass a range of autonomous capabilities from

management, awareness, (re)configuration, optimization,

healing and protection to adaptation and description. Among


CORE COmPETENCEs

Wired Transmission Technologies

Local Wireless Networks

Reliable Ethernet and IP Communication

Adaptive Systems

Model-based Software Design and Validation

Multicore Software

CORE COmPETENCE wIREd TRANsmIssION TEChNOLOgIEs

communication (PLC) offers a promising alternative. Researchers

are evaluating both broadband PLC and narrowband high bit

rate PLC. Assessing the viability of broadband PLC requires

research into new transmission methods that allow the use

of frequency ranges above 30 MHz for data transmission.

The goal is to achieve data rates exceeding 100 Mbit/s, which

would make powerline communication suitable for multi media

and IPTV applications in multifamily dwellings. Research in the

narrowband area is focused on bandwidth efficiency, meaning

transmission rates of up to 1 Mbit/s using minimal frequency

resources. This transmission technology must be extremely

robust in order to support services such as smart metering or

demand side management.

Since its inception, Fraunhofer ESK has been actively

involved in the optimization of broadband trans mission

systems running over copper wire circuits. The institute

is currently the only commercial provider in Germany with

a fully-equipped DSL and access test and measurement lab

for analyzing broadband transmissions over twisted-pair

copper lines. In addition to DSL, researchers evaluate in-house

transmission technologies, particularly data transmission via

powerline communication (PLC).

The institute also analyses the effects of high bit rate transmis-

sions on live systems. One example is emission behavior, a char-

acteristic that plays an important role when deploying broad-

band in specific environments such as buildings and power grids.

Broadband transmission using twisted-pair lines and

DSL technology

Fraunhofer ESK relies on dynamic spectrum management (DSM)

techniques for optimizing wired transmission technologies. One

example is utilizing VDSL vectoring to mitigate far-end crosstalk

(SELF-FEXT) in VDSL systems. Vectoring can be combined with

circuit bonding or with phantom mode, which yields additional

transmission capacity that can result in data rates as high as

300 Mbit/s. This group is also evaluating the use of low power

mode together with algorithms that improve the stability of

individual DSL systems. Using measurements as a basis, the insti-

tute developed twisted pair and coaxial cable models and set up

a simulation environment with the goal of making broadband

transmission more energy efficient. Apart from using simulation

platforms for examining wired transmission systems, new tech-

nologies such as the G.hn standard are integrated into the lab’s

test environment and then evaluated under real conditions.

Powerline communication

To address the demand for broadband Internet access in

buildings, optimized high bit rate links are gaining popularity.

Given its structure and penetration characteristics, powerline

Mathias Leibiger

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-372

[email protected]


CORE COmPETENCE LOCAL wIRELEss NETwORKs

Wireless sensor actuator networks

In the area of sensor networks, Fraunhofer ESK focuses on

reliability, energy-efficiency and realtime-capability. Using its

own modular sensor network stack, the institute developed a

protocol stack designed especially for applications that require

a high level of energy efficiency. An additional highlight of

this work is an energy-optimized MAC protocol that works

in the 868 MHz and 2.4 GHz ranges. Furthermore, research

into robust and scalable routing protocols, as well as sensor

network middleware solutions, will be carried out.

Car-to-X Communication

The 5.9 GHz band is reserved for safety relevant applications

in Car-to-X Communication, which is carried out in 10 MHz

wide channels. Even during heavy traffic periods, the fast and

reliable transmission and forwarding of safety-critical infor-

mation from other networked vehicles is essential. For this

reason, Fraunhofer ESK evaluates reliable and realtime-capable

communication methods suitable for cooperative traffic safety

applications. This includes analyzing heterogeneous wireless

transmission technologies, reliable routing protocols, multihop

and multichannel communication and mechanisms for control-

ling distributed congestion. To accelerate the development

and testing of these methods, Fraunhofer ESK implemented its

own Car-to-X Framework that contains the protocol stack, in

addition to the basic services.

The utility of wireless networks has long since moved

beyond the telephone and computer and into a wide

range of new applications. Concrete examples are

networked vehicle environments (Car-to-X Communication)

and networked industrial applications such as machine-to-

machine (M2M). In many cases, standard technologies cannot

be directly deployed. For example, unreliable connectivity is

one factor that keeps potential users from utilizing wireless

technologies. On the other side of the coin, wireless networks

feature characteristics such as flexibility and device mobility

that make applications like Car-to-X and industrial sensor net-

works possible in the first place. This aspect, plus the potential

cost savings that result from the reduced installation effort,

make wireless systems an attractive alternative.

Wireless data transmission is subject to special physical con-

straints. In contrast to wired transmission technologies, wire-

less networks possess specific characteristics such as trans-

mission loss, sensitivity to external emissions and multipath

propagation that can cause interference. The environment,

whether outdoor or indoor, determines the characteristics of

the channel. When designing transmitter and receiver systems

and the implementation of the protocol stacks, engineers

have to take these characteristics into account.

Cognitive radio in local networks

The growth in wireless traffic necessitates more efficient utili-

zation of the frequency spectrum. At the same time, transmis-

sions must be made more robust by preventing collisions and

interference from occurring. Fraunhofer ESK relies on cognitive

radio technology to carry out research in this area. Spectrum

sensing and channel prediction methods were also evaluated

and implemented. Researchers utilize software defined radio

(SDR) technology as the underlying platform. This research has

yielded several important developments including a wireless

test and measurement station for analyzing and monitoring

the wireless spectrum, as well as a software component library

for cognitive radio.

Günter Hildebrandt

Phone: +49 89 547088-354

[email protected]


CORE COmPETENCE RELIAbLE EThERNET ANd IP COmmUNICATION

To ensure an adequate degree of reliability and quality

regardless of the state of the system, the adaptive resource

management approach is implemented at runtime. Research

into the management of functional safety and energy manage-

ment under modified network circumstances has also been

lacking. Fraunhofer addresses this demand by carrying out

research in the area of adaptive resource management and

by developing solutions for autonomous parameterization and

system descriptions

Building communication via Ethernet and IP

Compared to automotive systems, the field of building com-

munication has longer innovation cycles. The development

of market-ready technologies in conjunction with industry

partners is therefore spread over a longer timeframe. Fraun-

hofer ESK developed an approach for representing new and

existing building-specific services on a common networking

platform as early as 10 years ago. For multifamily dwellings,

such platforms have to be set up on a distributed basis, thus

creating the need for a realtime, broadband backbone net-

work. At the IP level, the focus is on representing the specific

application within the IP protocol environment, be it intercom

services or door communication. This requires enhancing

protocols such as SIP with several specifications. Together with

an industry partner, Fraunhofer ESK designed a complete,

IP-based integrated building communication system that has

already moved into the product implementation phase.

Although Ethernet and IP technologies are independent

of one another, they are often mentioned in the same

breath. They benefit from one another and enjoy

a near-monopoly in local networks. Because these techno-

logies were originally designed for pure data transport, QoS

mechanisms for applications such as telephony and multi-

media transmission have evolved gradually.

To date, the industry still lacks integrated mechanisms for ad-

dressing realtime requirements. Apart from QoS in embedded

environments, resource issues such as energy consumption,

CPU and memory usage are of major importance. So far, Ether-

net and IP technologies and their various implementations have

failed to sufficiently solve these issues.

In response to this situation, one-off or special solutions have

become well established. Examples include FlexRay and MOST

for the automotive industry and EtherCat/ProfiNet for indus-

trial automation applications. These special solutions are usually

complex and costly, possess little evolution potential and stand

in stark contrast to the desire for cost-effective Ethernet and IP

solutions with high bandwidth.

Automotive Ethernet and IP networks

Infotainment and driver assistance systems require a high

degree of network connectivity and significant amounts

of bandwidth. This was the impetus for evaluating a time

synchronization method for transporting media streams via

Ether net based on the IEEE P1588 and IEEE P1722 standards.

Apart from the implementation of realtime Ethernet, there is

ample demand for research into communication and network

planning and in the reliable administration of resources.

In particular, practical experience has shown that the testing

of time synchronization mechanisms is increasingly difficult.

Precise network planning, together with specific tests to

determine adherence to the defined behavior patterns, ensures

reliable Ethernet communication.

Falk Langer

Phone: +49 89 547088-327

[email protected]


CORE COmPETENCE AdAPTIvE sysTEms

one of which entails designing a control structure capable

of streamlined and accurate decision making. That means

executing reconfigurations only in the right situation and

within the time constraints of embedded systems, which are

often subject to strict availability and realtime requirements.

Reconfiguration also requires ascertaining a valid new con-

figuration and then completing the process by switching to

the new configuration without impacting the system.

Adaptive system development

Fraunhofer ESK developed a feature-based methodology and

architecture concept that enables the transition to adaptive

systems. The goal is modeling of the individual system features

and systematic development of a product based on design

decisions made during the development process. By modeling

the dependencies between the features and the system

resources – also referred to as non-functional characteristics –

developers have the opportunity to systematically handle poten-

tial variabilities at the design and runtime levels.

Aadaptivity refers to the extent in which a system is

capable of adapting itself to changes in its internal and

external environment, resources and requirements.

Adaptivity can improve the resource efficiency and flexibility

of software-driven embedded systems. The corresponding

control mechanisms must ensure reliability, an essential factor

for many embedded systems. Another research issue involves

the growth of distributed systems, meaning multiple processors

that are networked together to provide common services. The

key challenge in such distributed environments is making sure

that the adaptive systems exhibit a high level of coordination,

efficiency and consistency, all of which must be guaranteed

during the design and analysis phases.

Taking adaptivity into account at the design level requires new

concepts for designing distributed services and functions in

networked systems. With existing approaches, the features

and aspects of the system – also referred to as variability – are

specified in the design and cannot be adapted at runtime.

Against this backdrop, one of Fraunhofer ESK’s research goals

is to develop an end-to-end methodology and modeling tech-

nique for adaptive systems that features inherent variability and

adaptivity and the associated control mechanisms.

At the core of these activities is the design, implementation and

evaluation of distributed embedded system concepts.

Adaptive software systems

For this area of research, which centers on networked system

adaptivity, Fraunhofer researchers developed several concepts

that enable the efficient and reliable reconfiguration of dis-

tributed software. These new concepts were evaluated with

simulation platforms and then demonstrated on automotive

electronic control units (ECU). The research activities encom-

pass the development of system and architecture concepts

for adaptive systems, as well as the reconfiguration process

itself. There are several important aspects to enabling adap-

tivity through the reconfiguration of software components,

Prof. Dr. habil. Christian Prehofer

Phone: +49 89 547088-352

[email protected]


CORE COmPETENCE mOdEL-bAsEd sOFTwARE dEsIgN ANd vALIdATION

other analyses. A key element here is improving the models

through the use of direct feedback from the analyses.

Using models for validation

The use of model-based methods can also be advantageous

during the integration and validation phase. For validating

networked systems, the researchers focus on the communica-

tion behavior. This phase encompasses specification-based test

models, specific executable test models and models for the

coverage, generation and evaluation of test cases. Fraunhofer

ESK carries out research into passive validation models for the

automated or semi-automated generation of specification

models. These models run parallel to the system or components

under test and are designed to identify deviations from or flaws

in the specified behavior, using a method that is currently being

patented.

Development tool platforms

Fraunhofer ESK is enabling the use of these improved domain-

specific test methods in real development environments by

integrating them into tool platforms. This is frequently accom-

plished by creating model transformations, which allow engi-

neers to generate and test different communication interface

implementations.

Software is the basis for a wide range of functions in

today’s networked systems, such as in automobiles or

industrial systems. The networking and interaction of

these functions is becoming increasingly complex, creating a

demand for new approaches to software development and

validation. One of the fundamental challenges lies in guaran-

teeing the reliability of the functional and non-functional

communication behavior. Model-based methods can be used

to create an abstraction that helps developers deal effectively

with these complex network and interaction environments.

A key example is the use of executable specification models,

which aid in identifying and localizing weaknesses and gaps

in the specification during the early phases of development.

Such models have already been successfully implemented by

Fraunhofer ESK for validating the behavior of vehicle infotain-

ment software functions.

Exploration of the design space and analysis

The development of networked systems requires taking into

account not only functional, but non-functional characteristics

such as timing behavior and reliability. Through modeling

extensions such as MARTE, engineers can specify the non-

functional characteristics of UML software components.

As part of the CHESS project for instance, researchers are

examining the automatic generation of an analysis model

to validate timing behavior in a simulated environment using

Fraunhofer ESK’s own DynaSim framework.

In order to develop resource-efficient and thus cost-effective

systems, especially in embedded environments, early explo-

ration of the design space is essential. A key factor here is

integrating various application-specific methods. Apart from

the pure software modeling, the characteristics of the target

platform must be taken into account in the development

model.

Fraunhofer ESK researchers rely on iterative methods that

provide repeated feedback from the simulation processes and

Gereon Weiß

Phone: +49 89 547088-348

[email protected]


CORE COmPETENCE mULTICORE sOFTwARE

these shortcomings at a later point. Instrument-based profilers

are often used to determine internal software operations.

Because they have an effect on response times, efficiency is

a challenge when implementing such profilers. In addition,

the limitations of hardware and software tracing complicate

the task of multicore software performance analysis. For this

reason, one of the problems is that software performance

becomes difficult to measure due to the effects of the instru-

mentation.

The other issue is that identifying the precise performance

bottlenecks and diagnosing the exact causes in the software

design can be very difficult. This situation was the impetus

for carrying out several joint research projects with industry

partners, work which has resulted in several publications.

Worth mentioning is MucoS, a joint project with Lantiq in

which a multicore toolchain for embedded processors was

evaluated and improved.

The increased use of multicore processors is leading to

a paradigm shift in the field of software development.

This technology can significantly increase processor

performance if the software is optimized to work with parallel

processor cores. To date, accelerating clock speed has “auto-

matically” led to gains in software performance. Exploiting

the available processing power in the form of multiple cores

nevertheless requires considerable effort. This impacts not

only new software development, but the ability to port exist-

ing software to new multicore platforms.

Multicore software development

The complexity of multicore software development makes

it a difficult and error-prone process. For the programmer,

grasping the full implications of running different program

components in parallel can be problematic, not to mention

there is a lack of suitable tools. For this reason, the potential

for multicore processors remains vastly untapped.

Compounding these issues even further are embedded systems

with realtime requirements. The use of common multicore

resources like cache and memory makes it nearly impossible to

predict system behaviors at runtime, which is essential in the

area of safety-critical applications. Research has also shown

that existing development tools have not been adequately

adapted to the requirements of multicore programming, espe-

cially in embedded environments.

To address these issues, Fraunhofer ESK focuses on models, per-

formance measurements, analyses and development tools for

multicore systems. The development tools are designed to take

into account the special requirements of multicore processors,

especially performance evaluations, testing and debugging.

Multicore system performance optimization

Performance tests are designed to pinpoint the causes of

delayed response times or low throughput in order to resolve


Phone: +49 89 547088-352

[email protected]


AUTOmOTIvE LAb

LAbORATORIEs

The Fraunhofer ESK Automotive Lab offers manufacturers and

suppliers a comprehensive platform and set of tools to sup-

port design and development projects. Researchers examine

new technologies for automotive networks, wireless-based

networking of vehicles, real-time operating systems as well as

infotainment systems and virtualization platforms. The exten-

sive test facilities enable the testing of more efficient software

development methods and verification of the results through

prototypes.

The Fraunhofer ESK ARTiS platform line enables the rapid

prototyping of vehicle functions as well as the integration and

testing of results in real environments. ARTiS-XT has been

enhanced with a faster CPU and more powerful graphics

processor, making it suitable for the development of infotain-

ment applications as well.

The real-time Ethernet test platform allows developers to get

a head start in implementing future Ethernet-based automotive

systems and to protect against potential risks.

The Automotive Lab also features the SystemC DynaSim frame-

work for hardware/software co-simulation. This in-house

developed platform can be used to validate communication

relationships.

EqUIPMENT

n Equipment for prototyping ECUs and performing automotive bus

system measurements (CAN, MOST, Flexray, Ethernet)

n ECU test rack for automotive electronics systems

n ESK DynaSim Framework for the design and simulation of adaptive

automotive electronics system software

n ESK ARTiS-XT and ARTiS-RT platform: Target system for CAN,

MOST, FlexRay, RT-Ethernet and infotainment applications

n Car-to-X Communication hardware from a wide range of manu-

facturers for interoperability testing and optimization of the wireless

transmission

n Test and evaluation of various operating systems such as AUTOSAR

or Linux within different applications

n Ruetz Technologies test analyzer for carrying out MOST conformity

tests

n TCP/IP Conformance tests

n Tools for automotive and residual bus simulations such as the

Vector CANOe prototyping environment and Rhapsody’s model-

based framework MODENA

n Hardware platforms for various application scenarios (e. g. FPGA

prototyping platforms for Xilinx and Altera building blocks)

n Broad range of development and test and measurement equipment

such as in-circuit debuggers, logic state analyzers, development

tools and Ethernet analyzers


The Fraunhofer ESK Industrial Lab maintains an extensive

variety of equipment and systems for measuring, testing and

developing communication systems.

The lab features a wireless measurement station for analyzing

wireless environments and managing the frequency spectrum.

This ensures the efficient and robust operation of wireless

systems. The measurement data indicates what type of inter-

ference to expect and helps in the selection of the optimal

wireless solution.

The field of building communication has a wide range of

appli cations such as door communication, smart metering and

localization. To help companies in the development, selection

and installation of such systems, the Fraunhofer ESK researchers

set up demonstration platforms and carry out comparative

studies and analyses.

In-house developed, energy-saving software modules are used

to rapidly develop and integrate application-specific sensor

network solutions. Software defined radios (SDR) make it easy

to validate the feasibility of developing and implementing new

types of cognitive transmission methods.

In the area of software architectures and methods, the lab is

equipped with systems for researching and testing technologies

such as:n New architecture approaches and development methods for

parallel multicore applicationsn Virtual commissioning of mechatronic production processesn Adaptive and reconfigurable automation software

EqUIPMENT

Test and measurement environment for analyzing the radio spectrum, propagation and wireless protocolsn Broadband antennas (300 MHz –7 GHz)n Spectrum analyzer (including handheld)n Vector network analyzern Oscilloscopen Signal generatorsn Logic analyzern SDR-based wireless sensor network analyzer

Software defined radion Hardware: USRP2 with 2.4 / 5 GHz and 868 MHz daughterboardn Development environment: GNU radio

Sensor network developmentn CC11xx, CC24xx and CC25xxn IEEE 802.15.4, Zigbee ISA100 / wireless HARTn TinyOS, FreeRTOS, Contiki, Linuxn Microcontroller: ATmega, MSP, EFM32n Software modules (e. g. MAC, routing, bootloader)

Software architectures and methodsn Multicore environments: Intel, Cavium Octeonn Mechatronic simulation: WinMod, SIMITn SPS: Siemens Simaticn Model of a mechatronic production process

INdUsTRIAL LAb


ENTERPRIsE COmmUNICATION LAb The Fraunhofer ESK Enterprise Communication Lab analyzes

and tests the compatibility of communication systems, making

it possible to evaluate customer-specific solutions and then

develop corresponding concepts.

Much of the recent activity centers on communication and

collaboration systems. These convergent solutions combine a

variety of communication services such as voice and video, in-

stant messaging, presence information and web conferencing.

The engineers verify conformity to standards, interoperability,

data transmission security and the storage of connection data.

The integration of mobile end-user devices into local commu-

nication systems is also examined.

The lab has the capability to evaluate the connectivity of

unified communication systems to existing communication

and IT management platforms and building monitoring and

access control systems.

Apart from locally-installed systems, the lab focuses on web-

based solutions such as evaluating the suitability of public

versus private cloud solutions, particularly in combination with

enterprise-based smartphone and tablet PC applications.

EqUIPMENT

Unified communication installations, including the following servicesn Voice and video conferencingn Presence and instant messagingn Application and desktop sharingn Mobile UC integration

Mobile end-user devicesn Mobile integration concepts in UC environments, IP / PBS systems

and web collaboration solutions

SERVICES

Usability and interoperability testsn Evaluation of system constellationsn UC operation conceptsn Mobile UC integration

Evaluation of information securityn Distributed communication systemsn Hosted web collaborationn Mobile integration in various communication environments

Customer-specific solutionsn Development and evaluation of UC integration conceptsn Development and adaptation of specific portal solutions, e. g.

invoice portal and applicant portal

Reference installation for the Fraunhofer-wide communication platformn Usability and performance testsn Evaluation of new features


Fraunhofer ESK operates a comprehensive DSL & Access Test

Lab that can be used to analyze and test a wide range of

telecommunication network components, services and new

solutions ranging from end-user devices – such as telephones,

PCs and set top boxes – to IADs, modems, subscriber line

connections, access and aggregation networks and servers for

video, voice and data services.

The test activities focus on the interoperability and perform-

ance of DSL systems, in addition to spectral compatibility and

the introduction of new capabilities.

The lab achieves real conditions by operating its own cable

farm that combines different telecommunication cables. In

parallel, the telephone wiring structure of a four-story dwell-

ing with 16 residents can be simulated to take into account

the specific conditions of the in-house segment of a network.

Apart from verifying telecommunication network parameters

and functions, researchers are also examining various sub-

systems with an eye toward enhancing them with additional

components and tests.

In order to streamline its test activities, the lab created a com-

prehensive automated test environment.

Current projects include testing and measuring energy

consumption in access networks and working on solutions

for improving their range.

dsL & ACCEss TEsT LAbEqUIPMENT

Line simulators/Noise generators for DSL systems VDSL2, ADSL2+

and SHDSL in line with ETSI, ANSI and Broadband Forum requirements

Line test network consisting of a 6-kilometer access and in-house

test network and various line types

Measurement station for powerline communication systems

consisting of a test network and measurement station for powerline

communication (PLC) and G.hn transmission systems

DSLAM Siemensn HiX 5630 (M600): VDSL2, ADSL2+n HiX 5300 (M200): ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+, SHDSLn XPress Link 2.1 (Mini DSLAM): ADSL (Annex A/B), SHDSLn Multiservice access platform (MSAP): ADSL, ISDN, POTS, SHDSL

DSLAM Alcateln 7300 ASAM DSLAM: ADSL (Annex A and B), ADSL2+ (MultiDSL),

SHDSL

DSLAM Zyxeln VES1608: VDSL2

Aggregation network consisting of Ethernet/ATM switches and access routersn Cisco CATALYST 3750 n Juniper ERX 700 access routern Extreme Summit 48xi n XPress Pass 36144 ATM switchn Extreme Summit X450a n Siemens CMX-II voice gateway

Data, voice and video servers

Test and measurement equipmentn Vector signal/network/spectrum/impedance analyzersn PC-based data/load generators and analyzersn Ethernet test systems (Spirent Smartbits, IXIA Chariot)n DSL and ISDN testern Bit error rate testern Ethernet and ATM protocol testern ATM tester for Utopia interfacesn Energy measurement instrument and power measurement instrument

Powerline communication (PLC) tests and measurement environmentn Powerline networkn Test and measurement station for PLC und G.hn


AUTOmOTIvE bUsINEss UNIT

the information during the entire development process, from

specification and testing to commissioning.

Research spheres and results

To satisfy the consumer’s desire for safety, efficiency, comfort

and flexibility, future vehicles will feature a high level of seam-

less network connectivity. With this background, Fraunhofer

ESK is examining technologies and methods in a wide range

of areas including:n Efficient automotive system technologies, from networks

to middleware systemsn Vehicle-to-environment networking for traffic efficiency/

safety and infotainment applicationsn Design methods for automotive applications in complex,

adaptive environments

By carrying out research into new technologies, methods and

models, the Automotive business unit supports automobile

manufacturers and suppliers in the areas of ECU development,

new in-vehicle communication technology design and vehicle-

When drivers are asked what they expect from

vehicles in the future, the most common response

is safety, followed by efficiency, comfort and

flexibility. From a technology standpoint, this translates into a

demand for increased networking capability, both within the

vehicle and with its environment. Today’s vehicles are evolving

into a progressively complex network of systems with differ-

ent requirements, be it reliability or quality. Particularly in the

field of electromobility, the challenge is designing solutions

to support state-of-the-art communication architectures

for new vehicles and operating concepts. Future vehicles will

be extensively networked with the environment in order to

support new services and driver assistance functions. As the

level of networking and number of new applications grows,

both internal and external communication requirements

will become even more complex, a trend that will spur the

creation of new software architectures and integrated and

continuous development processes. This will result in new

approaches that enable the abstract description of functional

and non-functional characteristics and allow engineers to use

Business Unit Manager

Dr.-Ing. Dirk Eilers

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-329

[email protected]

to-environment networking. To transfer these new technolo-

gies and methods into standards, this business unit actively

participates in groups such as AUTOSAR, GENIVI and the CAR

2 CAR Communication Consortium.

Research focus

The Automotive Networks research group focuses its activities

on state-of-the-art networking technologies. The objective

is to simplify the domain-wide communication of vehicle

functions through software architectures built on Ethernet

and IP technologies. In the field of electromobility, which is

characterized by software-controlled, highly-decentralized

E-vehicle drive trains, this group is examining concepts for

safe and energy-efficient communication architectures for the

electrical/electronics (E/E) systems. The efficient utilization of

multicore and real-time systems is also being analyzed.

The Automotive Connectivity research group is developing

its own Car-to-X framework designed to integrate driver

assistance systems by relying on communication and sensor

data. The research activities focus on adaptive service plat-

forms and platforms for data aggregation and data merging

for driver assistance systems. Researchers are also looking at

data management systems to support end-to-end (home-to-

vehicle) infotainment network infrastructures.

The Automotive Software research group is actively engaged

in the area of model-based software development, new

architecture designs and tool platforms. The research empha-

sizes model-based tools and toolchains for integrated and

contin uous development and testing, as well as methods for

adapting the ECU network to dynamic driving situations while

taking into account non-functional requirements.

Research Groups

n Automotive Networksn Automotive Connectivityn Automotive Software

REsEARCh gROUP AUTOmOTIvE NETwORKs

The Automotive Networks research group is active in

the field of vehicle communication infrastructures.

To facilitate communication between the electronic

control units (ECU), modern vehicles rely on network systems

such as FlexRay, MOST and Ethernet. In order to simplify

software development and increase the reusability of the

software, indus try is moving more towards the use of

transport protocols such as TCP/IP and IP-based middleware

solutions. The goal of the research group is to support these

trends while working to develop systems for the fast, secure

and energy-efficient transmission and processing of vehicle

data. The Automotive Networks research group targets OEMs

and suppliers in offering a wide range of services such as parti-

cipation in standards committees, prototype-based feasibility

testing, ECU integration and the standards-compliant valida-

tion of communication software. The group focuses its core

technologies and research activities on real-time-capable

run time environments from operating systems and middleware

applications to conventional network technologies.

IP and Ethernet

In an effort to open up new network technologies and proto-

cols for use in automotive systems, special measurement and

test platforms are created. These systems form the foundation

for analyzing and eventually integrating new technologies into

the vehicle. The Automotive Networks research group supports

these activities with a comprehensive test suite designed to

test the conformity of TCP/IP implementations. By incorporating

support for AUTOSAR, IPv4, IPv6 and other special automotive

system requirements, Fraunhofer ESK laid the cornerstone for

systematic testing of vehicle communication technologies.

Infotainment and GENIVI

Validating communication behavior requires analyzing and

enhancing the operating systems and middleware applications

with respect to their communication properties and how the

resources are administered. The primary focus here is in the

area of infotainment applications. These efforts are underscored

by membership in the GENIVI alliance with Dr.-Ing. Dirk Eilers,

head of the Automotive business unit, who represents the

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft within the GENIVI alliance. One of the

key research efforts is the deployment of virtualization techno-

logies while simultaneously running real-time and non-real-time

applications together on multicore processors.

Electromobility

Electric vehicles represent an important field of application for

the Automotive Networks research group. E-vehicle software

developers are now facing new challenges given the inevitable

increase in the degree of electrification and thus the greater

number of x-by-wire functions. In light of this background, the

Automotive Networks group is examining E/E-architectures

suitable for future E-vehicles with an emphasis on high levels

of safety, flexibility and energy-efficiency. While augmenting

their knowledge in the area of E-vehicles, the researchers have

also brought their own know-how to the Fraunhofer-Electro-

mobility Alliance, a joint effort that has produced two E-vehicle

prototypes referred to as Frecc0 1.0 and 2.0.

Prototyping with ARTiS

The second-generation ARTiS-XT is a versatile prototyping

platform with integrated power management, allowing it to be

utilized directly in the test vehicle. Unlike its predecessor, ARTiS-

XT has a main processor equipped with a GPU to support 3D

and HD video. The well-known automotive controller, which

features interfaces for MOST, Ethernet, CAN and FlexRay, remains

an integral part of the platform. Fraunhofer ESK offers exten-

sive know-how related to bus systems, communication proto-

cols, conformity testing and real-time operating systems. With

state-of-the-art platforms like ARTiS-XT, prototyping represents

another key element of the services spectrum. The tools and

services are designed to support automobile manufacturers

and suppliers during research and pre-production in the

areas of E/E-architectures, infotainment and driver assistance.


RELIAbLE ELECTROmObILITy wITh FRAUNhOFER !

as high risk when operating multiple-motor drive trains. They

initially pinpointed the potential dangers and evaluated the

associated risks according to three criteria:

n severity of the software malfunctionn how often driving situations occur in which this malfunction

is dangerousn degree to which the driver can compensate when the mal-

function occurs

These evaluation criteria originated from ISO 26262, a new

standard for the functional safety of road vehicles. Vehicle

manufacturers and suppliers will be required to comply with

this standard when developing products that perform safety-

critical functions.

Fraunhofer ESK developed its safety concept for electrical

vehicles is leaned to this standard. The goal is to make the

e-car driving experience just as safe as what we have come to

expect from conventional automobiles.

Modular E/E architecture

Frecc0 has a modular electronics system that makes it possi-

ble to reuse existing components, exchange components and

integrate new components. This requires precisely adapting

the component interfaces and the way they communicate

with one another. To do this, the Fraunhofer ESK researchers

developed a model-based simulation environment for the Frecc0

that is based on Matlab/Simulink. This platform replicates the

interaction of the components, as well as the state manage-

ment, enabling verification of the functionality of the ECU

concept at an early stage.

Through the joint project entitled “Fraunhofer System

Research for Electromobility (FSEM)”, engineers devel-

oped two roadworthy, fully-electric prototype vehicles.

Fraunhofer ESK contributed by providing its know-how in the

field of automotive E/E-architectures during the planning and

implementation of both “Fraunhofer E-concept cars type 0”,

also known as Frecc0.

Because e-vehicles rely more heavily on electronics to manage

safety-critical functions, researchers focused on the functional

safety of the vehicle’s system. The Frecc0 E/E-architecture

design is based on detailed hazard analysis and risk assessment

and was verified by simulations. At the heart of the vehicle’s

management system is a central electronic control unit (CECU)

developed by Fraunhofer ESK. The CECU manages the vehicle

status and calculates the torques of the motors. To ensure

the right calculations, the CECU and the entire system were

developed with a special safety concept.

Frecc0 serves as a modular test platform that enables

detailed examination and optimization of the interaction of

the individual components within the entire system of the

electric vehicle.

Functional safety

Electric vehicles not only run on a different type of “fuel”.

The entire architecture is unlike those found in cars with

conventional combustion engines. Frecc0 is equipped with

two electric motors that independently drive the two rear

wheels. This simplifies the design while increasing the driving

dynamics. The operation of several distributed motors means

automobile manufacturers face completely new challenges

however. One of the key issues is ensuring the wheels always

rotate with the same force and in the same direction. Since

the distributed motors are completely software-controlled,

unexpected acceleration or braking triggered by malfunction-

ing software must be prevented. Researchers designed a

safety concept to address these issues, which they identified


platform ARTiS, can be programmed with Matlab/Simulink

models among others. Therefore offers the flexibility to be

adapted and expanded.

Apart from Frecc0-specific issues such as replacing the me chan i-

cal braking system with the deceleration opportunities afforded

by the electric motor, totally new aspects related to electro-

mobility can now be jointly addressed with industry partners.

The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Edu-

cation and Research.

Central ECU

The central ECU (CECU) developed by Fraunhofer ESK assumes

the job of managing all of the vehicle control functions in the

Frecc0. The software for the CECU was developed using the

simulation models as a basis. The CECU interprets and imple-

ments the driver’s wish through the vehicle’s drive train control.

It takes over the state management function, calculates the

torques for the motors, acts as a gateway to the vehicle and

controls most of the ancillary components. This complex range

of tasks illustrates the extent to which the CECU is responsible

for safety-critical functions.

To ensure the highest degree of safety, the CECU consists

of a primary and control processor. The control processor

determines the plausibility of the primary processor calcula-

tions and can thus prevent other components from executing

with faulty values. Should a critical malfunction still occur, the

CECU transfers the components and the vehicle to a safe state

and notifies the driver.

The central ECU transmits the vehicle data to the digital

instrument cluster, which was also developed by Fraunhofer

ESK, and visually displays the information to the driver.

Outlook

Future vehicle architectures will be able to benefit from the

advantages of distributed drive trains. With this project,

researchers have addressed the initial hurdles associated with

the implementation of E/E-architectures and safety concepts

in electric vehicles. They have also expanded their know-how

with key knowledge specific to electric vehicles.

Both of the Frecc0 vehicles are available as research platforms

for integration and testing activities. The modular design of the

test platforms allows newly-developed components to be easily

integrated into the system and then directly tested. The CECU,

which is based on the Fraunhofer ESK embedded prototyping

Falk Langer

Phone: +49 89 547088-327

[email protected]

Patrick Heinrich

Phone: +49 89 547088-383

[email protected]


COmmON INTERFACEs FOR INFOTAINmENT APPLICATIONs

if the format has been standardized. Researchers precisely

defined and evaluated these criteria. To analyze the IPC

mechanisms, a detailed test plan containing specific test

scenarios was developed for a wide range of mechanisms.

Engineers at Fraunhofer ESK then carried out the tests on

an embedded platform under near-real conditions.

The test showed that combining the D-Bus as an IPC mecha-

nism with the D-Bus specification as the preferred input format

goes a long way in fulfilling the requirements established by

the project partners.

End-to-end development process

The objective was among others to demonstrate an end-to-

end development process based on the selected mechanisms.

The process was also designed to enable the utilization of

other IDLs. To do this, researchers designed an Eclipse-based

toolchain that supports the description of various IDLs. The

toolchain converts the input models of each description

language into a centralized model based on FIBEX, a data ex-

change standard used by the automotive industry. The model

then generates source code interfaces in a common target

language (C++). This allows suppliers to easily integrate the

generated interfaces into their own programs without having

to deal directly with the underlying IPC mechanism.

A wide range of programs for navigation, multimedia and

driver assistance applications run on an automobile’s

infotainment head unit. The infotainment system is

tasked with processing and displaying various information for

the driver and then making it usable. Reliable communication

between the programs requires the development of clearly

defined information interfaces.

To date there has been no common interface description

language (IDL) and no well-established, common transmission

mechanism for interprocess communication (IPC) that trans-

mits the information at runtime.

The GENIVI Alliance, which is striving to create an open source

development platform for in-vehicle infotainment, has chosen

D-Bus as an IPC method. Apart from D-Bus, many applications

also rely on the MOST protocol for transmitting data between

local programs.

On behalf of the R & D arm of BMW (BMW Forschung und

Technik GmbH), Fraunhofer ESK is carrying out research to

create a common IDL in order to unify the various methods for

developers. Researchers have examined different IPC methods

with the aim of simplifying the development of the head units

and ensuring the compatibility of future IDLs.

Specifying a common method

Ensuring effective and reliable communication between the

head unit components requires IPC mechanisms and IDLs that

are fully aligned with one another. They must also meet cor-

responding criteria in order to simplify the development and

integration of new components for suppliers and automobile

manufacturers. This results in components that are less

error-prone. The criteria include the functional scope of the

IDL and the availability and licensing rights for using tools such

as editors and code generators, in addition to determining


Migrating existing components

Complex systems such as automotive man-machine inter-

faces contain many components that often use different IPC

mechanisms and IDLs because there is currently no standard

in this area. So that existing components can continue to be

used instead of developing new ones, researchers created a

migration scenario that involves swapping out the underly-

ing IPC mechanism without changing the source code of the

software components.

Outlook

The interface design method that grew out of the project,

including the integration of the interfaces, is suitable for

more than just the head unit internal communication. It

has utility in other areas as well. The research revealed that

the design of the interfaces has a significant impact on the

performance of the applications. This is relevant not only

for communication within the head unit, but also for the

use of any other information interface. For this reason, the

interface design method also plays a role in other projects

such as connecting external devices and components to the

head unit.

The new architecture significantly simplifies the software

development process for infotainment components and the

associated collaboration with automotive suppliers.

IDLs can now be exchanged in a defined description language.

In addition, a model-generated, common C++ interface can

be used during programming.

Another upside is the capability to incorporate existing applica-

tions into new products without extensive changes, stream-

lining both the effort and costs. Because new input and output

formats can be added at any time, the toolchain structure also

makes the associated applications future-proof.

Falk Langer

Phone: +49 89 547088-327

[email protected]

Daniel Engelhardt

Phone: +49 89 547088-337

[email protected]


REsEARCh gROUP AUTOmOTIvE CONNECTIvITy

The concepts are evaluated in a simulation environment,

allowing researchers to reliably predict how they can be

deployed on a larger scale. The approaches are also imple-

mented within a Fraunhofer ESK C2X software framework,

which features a prototyping platform for testing under real

conditions.

Ensuring interoperability of the entire system requires

standardization of the communication protocols. Fraunhofer

ESK is involved in this process through its participation in

the CAR 2 CAR Communication Consortium.

End-to-end infotainment networking

The trend toward global networking and unlimited mobility

is also reflected in the way communication users behave.

Future services will be optimally adapted to the respective

environment and the available technology through transpar-

ent, around-the-clock access, regardless of location and

device. With this in mind, concepts are being developed for

synchronizing device, user and dynamic media profiles on

an ad hoc or cloud basis. By combining this technology with

the self-description of the devices and services, as well as

open interface designs, researchers are moving a step closer

towards seamless integration of multimedia services and

social networks in the vehicle, and thus a seamless end-to-

end entertainment experience.

Target groups

The Automotive Connectivity research group conducts

research into concepts and algorithms that will one day lead

to the safe and convenient implementation of active safety,

traffic optimization and seamless infotainment services. By

collaborating with the automobile industry, road network

operators, information service providers and end-user device

manufacturers, researchers are building the foundation for

the creation of reliable, cooperative driver assistance systems

and seamless infotainment networking.

Today’s global networking trends have long played a role

in automotive systems. The Automotive Connectivity

research group is active in the field of vehicle commu-

nication, examining solutions that improve safety and increase

comfort while contributing to efficient multimodal mobility.

This includes networking the vehicle with its environment, as

well as the seamless integration of mobile end-user devices

and services.

Cooperative driver assistance systems

One of the more promising applications in this field involves

networking vehicles and their driver assistance systems to

one another and to their environments with the goal of

reducing the number of traffic accidents. Depending on the

application, researchers develop corresponding communica-

tion architectures for heterogeneous networks that are made

up of vehicles, roadside infrastructure elements and backend

systems.

Today’s vehicles already contain various sensors capable of

recognizing driving situations at short range. However, the

creation of a reliable, local dynamic map is only possible

through the active exchange of information between vehicles

and their environments, also known as Car-to-X Communica-

tion (C2X). The map provides an extensive interpretation of the

driving situation and also expands the driver’s vision, making it

possible to develop new applications such as cooperative driver

assistance systems and semi-autonomous driving. This has led

to research into algorithms for merging sensor information with

C2X data. The resulting local dynamic map is made available as

a database to all of the applications.

The large amount of traffic and the vast tides of information

that it creates requires local filtering of the information. To

address this issue researchers are developing algorithms for

adaptive aggregation and forwarding of the data, allowing

the communication system to optimally adjust to the current

conditions.


PREdICTIvE FRONT LIghTINg

to control the headlight system can then be optimized with

the aid of situation descriptions stored in a database.

Expanding the field of view through communication

Because they have a limited field of view, by the time the current

vehicle sensors detect oncoming traffic coming around a curve

or heading over a crest, it is too late to adjust the headlights to

prevent drivers from being blinded. Wireless communication

between the vehicles helps minimize this risk. Furthermore,

special infrastructure elements that deliver information on tem-

porary road works or blind stretches of road, allow the system

to provide the driver with timely danger warnings.

Fraunhofer ESK contributed to the solution by developing a

Car-to-X (C2X) communication module that enables the vehicle

to control the headlights by factoring in the supplementary

road information.

A striking number of automobile accidents occur at night

or during the twilight hours. To improve driving safety,

even when visibility is poor, manufacturers are making

increasing use of adaptive front lighting systems (AFS) includ-

ing improved lighting for cornering or automatic high beam

control. Conventional AFS technology only analyzes the current

driving situation. The next generation attempts to “look into

the future” by detecting potential danger spots and oncoming

traffic early enough and illuminating the road accordingly. As

project coordinator, Fraunhofer ESK is working with teams from

AUDI AG and DELVIS GmbH to develop ways to control vehicle

headlights based on NAVTEQ digital map data, road attributes

and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

Local ambient detection and digital maps

The foundation of predictive headlight control is the ability to

precisely judge the current driving situation. In order to ana-

lyze the current and future

vehicle position, information

must be collected from the

GPS, steering and accelera-

tion sensors and digital maps.

Cameras or radar sensors

provide additional informa-

tion on the surroundings by

detecting objects and other

vehicles within their range.

The problem is that this data

is often incomplete or self-

conflicting. To address this

issue, Fraunhofer ESK devel-

oped a data fusion module

that merges the pre-filtered

information into a common

context to derive a precise

analysis of the current driving

situation. Decisions about how

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GPS

C2X Detection of the surroundings

Radar

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Position data

Optimal adjustment of the headlights requires processing and analyzing various ambient data in real-time.


data, important decisions regarding energy management and

drive train systems in electric vehicles can be fully automated

in a reliable manner.

The project is supported through a grant from the Bavarian

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and

Technology.

Prototype and field tests

In order to evaluate the new concept, researchers integrated

all of the components into a test vehicle, including headlight

prototypes, data fusion module and the C2X communication

module. A vast amount of data was initially collected over

predefined test routes. This information was then used in

an offline simulator to analyze and enhance the ability of the

system to anticipate the driving route and situation. A final

field test is designed to demonstrate if, and to what extent,

the predictive headlight control contributes to driver safety

and comfort.

Safe and efficient road illumination

The AFS takes full control of the road illumination so that

the driver is not distracted from the road traffic. The driver’s

own lane and important roadside objects such as traffic

signs are optimally illuminated while taking into account

other vehicles. Blinding headlights can be avoided through

the timely detection of other vehicles. Unnecessary illumina-

tion of areas beyond the edge of the road is also prevented.

Many of today’s vehicles are already equipped with the

sensors needed for data fusion. It is easy to imagine that the

networking technology will be in place within a few years.

This will allow developers to quickly and easily re-apply the

results of their research without creating additional costs for

manufacturers and car owners.

The path to collaborative assistance systems

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication is one of the basic corner-

stones of collaborative systems in the areas of driver assist-

ance and active safety. This project clearly illustrates how

headlight technologies can benefit from the exchange of

information between vehicles on the road. The acquired ex-

pertise in the area of data fusion is also essential for research

into other technologies such as energy-optimized and auto-

nomous driving. By relying on merged sensor and ambient

Torsten Steiner

Phone: +49 89 547088-330

[email protected]

Karsten Roscher

Phone: +49 89 547088-349

[email protected]


ENERgy mANAgEmENT COmmUNICATION FOR ELECTRIC vEhICLEs

battery’s operating range, intelligent distance management

comes into play. This involves factoring in not only the posi-

tion of charging stations in the navigation route while under-

way, but displaying other parameters such as the availability

of a quick-charge option or ways to pass the time while the

battery is charging (i.e. restaurants, shopping).

Information exchange before, during and after

charging

In every single scenario, the exchange of information between

the electric vehicle and the power grid significantly simplifies

the charging process while saving energy and money. Fraun-

hofer ESK’s participation in the project involves developing the

required interfaces. To ensure a timely charging process, the

system requires information regarding the available charging

stations within the calculated driving range. Determining the

To ensure sustainable energy management, many re-

search projects are working towards developing today’s

power grid into a Smart Grid. Enhancing the power

grid with communication technologies will enable intelligent

management of the generation, transport and consumption

of electricity. One of the most frequently-discussed applica-

tions is electromobility, a technology in which electric vehicles

act as intelligent consumers and charging stations serve as an

interface to the Smart Grid. In the Smart Vehicle-to-Grid Inter-

face Project (SmartV2G), Fraunhofer ESK is working together

with European partners from Spain (Instituto Tecnológico de

la Energía (ITE) and CIT Development S. L.), Slovenia (Etrel and

Elektro Ljubljana d. d.), Italy (Sapienza Universita di Roma) and

Germany (Technomar GmbH) to develop the communication

interfaces required for accessing the Smart Grid.

New charging scenarios

With battery operating

ranges that are limited at the

moment, new situations are

arising that call for a variety

of charging alternatives for

e-vehicles. For the daily com-

mute to work, the time that

an electric vehicle sits idle in

the company parking lot or

garage is usually sufficient to

charge the battery. This time

span can be determined via

load management, or so-

called demand-side manage-

ment. With shorter stops,

such as at the super market,

drivers can take advantage

of the idle periods to charge

the vehicle if the parking

lot is equipped with charg-

ing stations. To handle long

distances that exceed the

Smart chargingstation

Smart gridbackend

E-vehicle

Smart chargingstation

Energy DataE-vehicle

The use of smart grids in the field of electromobility calls for the development of new communication

interfaces.


communication infrastructure. Mobile technologies such

as UMTS and LTE are also being examined in addition to an

evaluation of various hybrid approaches.

Next steps

Fraunhofer ESK’s participation in the project, which involves

researching the communication interfaces that will enable inte-

gration of electric vehicles into the Smart Grid, is expected to

last until the middle of 2014. The plan is to have the partners,

an energy provider and a manufacturer of intelligent charg-

ing stations, evaluate the interfaces and the integration of the

Smart Grid services into existing products. The project is being

jointly managed by the Automotive and Industrial Commu-

nication business units, with the tasks distributed according

to expertise in the field of wired and wireless communication

technologies.

The project is being funded by the European Commission under

the framework of the European Union’s Seventh Framework

Programm (FP7).

optimal charging station requires static information such as

location, opening hours, existing charging options, payment

methods or a detailed map showing how to get there. Highly

dynamic information is also relevant for an optimal charging

process. This includes the number of available parking spots,

waiting time forecasts and real-time energy prices as well as

a reservation process. While driving to a specific charging

station, the system could also choose preset options that are

tied to a user ID. Data exchange is also necessary to carry out

user authentication and to complete the billing for the pur-

chased electricity. The system should be designed so that users

can input the required information by means of in-vehicle

control elements, smartphones or a touch screen installed on

the charging station.

Communication interfaces specification

There is a wide range of components involved in supplying a

Smart Grid with energy and information. This includes wired

and wireless communication between electric vehicles and

charging stations. Some of the wireless interface functions

are currently being specified by the European Telecommunica-

tions Standards Institute (ETSI) in the area of intelligent traffic

systems and are categorized as “Electric Vehicle Charging

Spot Notification”. To support wired communication via the

charging cable, the system will rely on powerline technology.

In order to carry out decentralized distribution of the load,

the charging stations must be able to communicate with

one another. For energy management and eventually for

the integration of a centralized energy provider control and

monitoring system, communication from the electric vehicles

and charging stations to the Smart Grid backend must be also

enabled. Apart from creating a specification for the commu ni-

cation protocols, the selection of a suitable networking tech-

nology is an important aspect, bearing in mind the limited

transmission range and QoS parameters. One of the techno-

logies under consideration is the new IEEE 802.11p standard,

including the European profile ITS-G5 for local wireless com-

munication between vehicles and road side units (RSU) in the

Dominique Seydel

Phone: +49 89 547088-363

[email protected]

Josef Jiru

Phone: +49 89 547088-379

[email protected]


REsEARCh gROUP AUTOmOTIvE sOFTwARE

With this in mind, the Fraunhofer ESK researchers utilize

various languages for the architecture and domain-specific

description when creating the models. They also draw on

in-house developed, open-source and commercial frame-

works for the development-phase validation, from modeling

to series code generation and testing. The Automotive

Software research group develops complete tool platforms

or enhances existing tools by integrating new ones or creat-

ing complete toolchains. The utilization of integrated tool

frameworks such as Eclipse-based platforms leads to more

efficient design methods for standard software architectures

such as AUTOSAR, GENIVI or EAST-ADL.

Services

In order to put new software development methods into

practice, Fraunhofer ESK conducts joint research and works

together with automobile manufacturers during pre-series

produc tion and development of the electronics. The institute

also cooperates with automotive suppliers and tool manufac-

turers to create automobile-specific development tools. Apart

from its development-based R & D activities, Fraunhofer ESK

also participates in national and international research projects.

The group focuses issues such as:

n Tool platform, tool integration methods

and developmentn Model-driven design methods and analysesn Virtual integration (for early-stage iterative

simulation for instance)n Test methods for validating functional and

non-functional characteristics

By offering model-based design methods and analyses as well

as software architectures and tools, the Automotive Software

research group helps customers streamlining the development

of existing and future automotive software.

The fundamental challenge in developing automotive

software is to ensure quality, efficiency and safety in an

increasingly complex environment. Dealing effectively

with the future demands of automotive software develop-

ment requires taking the new methods developed through

research and putting them into practice in industry. The

Automotive Software research group addresses this issue by

creating open toolchains and platforms for the model-based

design and analysis of distributed automotive software.

Model-based design methods and analysis

To guarantee automotive software quality, developers must

ensure that even non-functional requirements, such as re-

sponse time behavior, are adhered to on the target platform.

The utilization of model-driven simulation and analysis tech-

nologies such as virtual integration and executable models

enables the validation of automobile software functionality

during the early stages of the design process. The creation

and automated testing of modeling guidelines allows a high

level of model quality to be maintained during the design

process. Methods are also being examined to support the

early-stage validation of specifications using model-based

approaches like model-in-the-loop. They range from the

modeling of individual systems to comprehensive Systems-

of-Systems such as Intelligent Transportation Systems. For this

purpose the Fraunhofer ESK researchers use the institute’s

own DynaSim framework for simulating and analyzing both

complex and adaptive automotive systems. One of the main

areas of focus is the development of model-based processes

and methods to support the increasingly adaptive behavior of

the electronic control unit (ECU) network.

Software architectures and tools

As software-based automotive applications become more

complex and networked together, the associated distributed

software platforms and tool platforms are becoming increas-

ingly important.


ENsURINg sOFTwARE RELIAbILITy

and SysML. The language is designed to be suitable for the

domain-wide modeling of non-functional properties. The

Fraunhofer ESK researchers are focusing on the modeling of

the timing behavior. The description of the timing behavior

follows the AUTOSAR architecture and allows the model to be

created during the early stages of component design. Because

the non-functional properties are defined by the respective

domain experts, the researchers implemented a so-called

“model view” concept. The modeling tool limits the view of

the model to a specific aspect, thus restricting the modeling

and editing capability to certain information. Other informa-

tion can be accessed on a read-only basis. This approach helps

developers cope with increasingly complex models.

Analysis and simulation

In order to guarantee at an early stage that non-functional

properties are maintained at runtime, analyses must be per-

formed to determine if the specifications are being adhered

to. Apart from static processes for evaluating reliability and

timing behavior, other data and runtime results derived from

the simulations also flow back into the model. This process

is carried out using the DynaSim simulation framework devel-

oped by Fraunhofer ESK, which also permits the replication

of adaptive functional behavior.

An increasing number of functions in modern automobiles

are software-based. This requires electronic control

units (luxury segment vehicles can have as many

as 80) that communicate with one another to ensure proper

vehicle functionality. As the degree of networking within

the vehicle grows, so does the complexity of the software

development. That means manufacturers are facing new chal-

lenges. This trend has shed further light on the importance

of non-functional aspects during software development, in

particular reliability and timing behavior. Existing develop-

ment solutions unfortunately fail to adequately address these

requirements.

As part of the CHESS project funded by the EU, the Fraunhofer

ESK researchers are working with European partners from the

automotive, telecommunications, rail and space industries to

develop domain-wide software development solutions for em-

bedded systems that can be used by industry. In order to deal

with this growing complexity, the project team is combining

component-based technologies with model-driven software

development methods.

Software with guarantees

The goal of this joint project is adherence to defined require-

ments when developing software components to ensure a

guaranteed level of service. All of the relevant functional and

non-functional properties of a software component have to

be modeled and then preserved at runtime. This requires an

end-to-end development process beginning at the very early

stages of architecture design and stretching to code genera-

tion and execution.

Modeling non-functional properties

Existing modeling languages do not adequately support the

description of non-functional properties. For this reason, the

CHESS project is specifying a modeling language based on the

concepts and artifacts of existing languages such as MARTE


Outlook

The integration of the analysis methods into the modeling

environment, plus the results of the CHESS project which are

expected to be available by early 2012, will permit the early

detection of software errors, leading to lower development

costs with embedded software systems. Fraunhofer ESK will

use the derived know-how to support project partners and

customers in implementing these development methods for

the early-phase modeling and validation of non-functional

properties in production environments.

The project is funded by the ARTEMIS Joint Undertaking

Programme and the German Federal Ministry of Education and

Research.

Automobile domain

The method developed under the framework of the CHESS

project will be deployed in various industry domains. The

Fraunhofer ESK researchers are focusing on the utilization for

the automobile industry. This involves among other things the

development of a model transformation that converts an exist-

ing CHESS model into an EAST-ADL2 model, an architecture

description language used by the automobile industry. This

transformation represents the foundation for application of

the development method in the automobile sector and also for

generating AUTOSAR modules.

The modules will be executed in a real-time-capable Linux

environ ment. To achieve this, the runtime environment pro-

vides AUTOSAR operating system functions. Non-functional

properties that cannot be statically verified in the design will

be monitored in the runtime environment.

Reliable software

The primary aim of the CHESS joint project is integrating the

modeling of the non-functional properties into the domain-

wide, component-based development method. The participat-

ing researchers specified the CHESS modeling language and

then researched and developed a toolchain that supports the

modeling as well as the analysis of non-functional properties.

They also developed enhancements for the domain-specific

runtime environments for verifying the non-functional proper-

ties at runtime. One of the major cost factors is resolving design

flaws that are not detected until the later development phases.

The CHESS method allows such flaws to be identified and

resolved using analysis and simulation methods during the early

development stages when design modifications can still be

cost-effectively carried out. By taking into account non-func-

tional properties, combined with existing component-based

design approaches and model-based software development,

CHESS makes it possible to implement and integrate innovative

and complex, pre-validated functions in the automobile.

Alexander Stante

Phone: +49 89 547088-345

[email protected]

Benjamin Kamphausen

Phone: +49 89 547088-332

[email protected]


sEAmLEss mOdELINg ANd COdE gENERATION FOR EmbEddEd sysTEms

to special hardware. The more compact the runtime frame-

work, the easier it adapts to new hardware. The challenge for

framework developers is finding a balance between perform-

ance and adaptability. For this reason, prior to selecting a

runtime framework it pays to conduct a thorough analysis

that focuses on the hardware and how it will be used. The

factors that should be taken into account include processor

performance, available compilers and operating systems.

Designing software with the unified modeling language

(UML) has become a well-established method in a

broad range of applications. Although originally used

for graphical notation, since that time various tool developers

have been able to generate runtime-capable program code

from UML models. Using this type of program code in embed-

ded systems requires optimizing the efficiency of the generated

code and runtime environment. Model-based development

introduces other new issues related to hardware abstraction,

which can impact the reusability of the application models.

Together with AUDI AG, Fraunhofer ESK evaluated seam-

less modeling and code generation methods using the IBM

Rational Rhapsody embedded systems tool. Apart from

analyzing the various runtime environments, researchers took

a particularly close look at the different modeling alternatives.

The focus was finding a solution to the hardware abstraction

issue.

Modeling environment

Generating program code from UML models requires three

components: modeling tool, code generator and runtime

environment. The modeling tool depicts a model of the system

using graphical notation. The tool also frequently provides

UML extensions for configuring the code generator. The code

generator is tasked with generating the program code based

on the model and the configuration. In turn, the runtime

framework maps the modeling concepts to the corresponding

runtime components.

UML runtime framework analyses

Modeling tools and code generators typically leave little room

for application-specific enhancements. The Rhapsody tool that

was evaluated in this project offers only the choice between

C and C++ code generation for instance. In contrast, runtime

environments offer more alternatives that differ with respect

to performance, microcontroller support and how they adapt

Program code

Target platform

User model

Hardware abstraction Execution framework

The introduction of hardware abstraction increases the reusability

of application models.


Model-based toolchains

This project confirmed that UML-based development is well-

suited for embedded automotive systems. Future activities will

involve the development of end-to-end toolchains, including

the possibility to carry out early-phase, model-based analyses

that lead to a reliable and streamlined development process.

Fraunhofer ESK helps its customers to evaluate and develop

such model-based frameworks and put them into practice.

After an initial evaluation, the Fraunhofer ESK researchers

chose several different runtime frameworks for embedded

auto mobile systems for further analysis. To maintain qualita-

tive decision criteria, the frameworks were compared with

respect to performance characteristics such as runtime and

memory efficiency. Runtime efficiency was analyzed using

generated statecharts containing different numbers of states

and transitions. The primary basis for evaluating memory ef-

ficiency was the size of the framework and statechart code.

Hardware abstraction requirement

In order to reuse application models, the underlying hard-

ware must be abstracted. For example, the application

model should function regardless whether a switch that has

been activated is on the device or in the network. The evalua-

tion revealed that signals are particularly expressive abstract

mechanisms. The actual source of the signal is irrelevant for

the application model because the modeled components

are only expecting the predefined data type. This means the

dependencies between the hardware and the application

can be defined and separated.

Deploying UML code generation

In the joint project with AUDI AG, the Fraunhofer ESK re-

searchers demonstrated that existing UML tools and run time

frameworks can be used to design and generate code for

automotive embedded systems, although the specific require-

ments have to be examined in each case individualy.

The researchers also capitalized on their expertise in imple-

menting hardware abstractions in a prototype environment.

This allowed them to demonstrate the advantages of hardware

abstraction and implement various approaches. Separating the

application model from the underlying hardware allows the

models to be reused even if the system and hardware architec-

tures have undergone significant modifications. The result is a

more cost-efficient development process.

Gereon Weiß

Phone: +49 89 547088-348

[email protected]

Alexander Stante

Phone: +49 89 547088-345

[email protected]


INdUsTRIAL COmmUNICATION bUsINEss UNIT

Research spheres and results

The use of wireless communication for industrial applications

was a key area of research for this business unit in 2011.

In order to implement coexistence management in indus-

trial wireless environments, ESK researchers developed an

on-site, mobile measurement station that detects the wireless

spectrum and provides a striking 3 D display of the results.

Recognizing that many applications require interoperability,

another project involved enhancing a wireless technology with

Version 6 of the Internet protocol (IPv6). When implemented

in home automation systems, this technology eliminates the

need to install special hardware. The enhancement also per-

mits owners to manage the power outlets in their homes with

any IPv6-capable device.

ESK researchers also expanded their know-how in the field of

smart grid communication by working on powerline commu-

nication validation processes for smart metering applications.

They were also involved in the SMARTV2G project, which

In fields such as energy provision, security technologies,

automation systems and building engineering, the degree

of innovation depends to a large extent on new communica-

tion and software systems. A good example is the smart grid,

a concept that will become reality only with network compo-

nents that communicate via common protocols. With security

technologies, the issue of protecting critical infrastructures is

gaining importance. In manufacturing, the drive toward more

flexible and energy-efficient production facilities requires

automation systems that can more easily adapt to changing

conditions. And in the area of building engineering, the vision

of the networked and automated building is still prevalent.

Solving these issues requires more than standard approaches.

Instead, the solutions must address specific requirements

such as robustness, energy efficiency and the size of the

communication components. With this in mind, the Industrial

Communication business unit focuses its activities on com-

munication solutions and future standards that will satisfy the

unique demands of industrial applications.


Mike Heidrich

Phone: +49 89 547088-377

[email protected]

aims to create a standardized IT infrastructure for charging

electric vehicles.

In the area of embedded multicore software development,

researchers introduced a software-based process for valida-

tion of the cache coherence, which simplifies the job of the

software engineer. In addition, ESK set up a development and

test environment for adaptive automation software, which

will be used to carry out research in the field of industrial

software over the coming years.

Research focus

Adaptive and cognitive transmission technologies hold the

key to the future of local wireless communication used in

industrial applications. In response, this business unit is

working to determine the feasibility of these new types of

wireless network interfaces. In the field of sensor networks,

ESK researchers are examining new energy-efficient connec-

tivity and media access protocols, as well as scalable routing

methods that lead to robust and energy-efficient systems.

Apart from the rise of wireless communication, powerline

communication is currently experiencing a renaissance in the

area of wired transmission methods. In this area the Indus-

trial Communication business unit is conducting research

into channel models and methods for optimizing high-speed

narrowband powerline transmissions, which play a major role

in data and control system communication. Researchers are

also working on highly-optimized, dynamic runtime architec-

tures for embedded multicore systems, as well as adaptive and

reconfigurable software architectures for embedded systems

used in industrial applications.

Research Groups

n Industrial Networksn Industrial Software

REsEARCh gROUP INdUsTRIAL NETwORKs

Modern communication systems are more than just

platforms for communication between two partici-

pants. They are also playing an important role in the

exchange of control and management data. This information

enables for example intelligent management in Smart Grids

for energy providers and consumers, supports smart metering

processes in building technologies and is also a vital element in

the manufacture of goods and products in the industrial envi-

ronment. As more and more manufacturing processes become

automated, the demands on communication are growing,

especially in industrial applications. While a high degree of net-

working ensures efficiency and flexibility, it also places more

demands on the exchange of data.

Consulting, development and prototyping

The Industrial Networks research group helps the institute’s

customers introduce new communication technologies and

resolve issues such as the energy-efficient, secure and reliable

transmission of process-relevant information, including control

and management data. The researchers specialize in the area

of intra-building communication and automation technologies

by focusing on state-of-the-art wireless technologies in which

the customer requirements determine the selection of the

technology. This also includes wired technologies and hybrid

solutions.

This group develops proprietary protocol stacks and enhances

existing ones with the aim of reducing power consumption in

wireless sensor networks and making the transmission more

robust while fulfilling real-time requirements at the same time.

Fraunhofer ESK addresses the growing demand on transmission

resources by conducting research into new system concepts

such as cognitive radio. Not satisfied with only improving well-

established solutions and developing new ideas, the researchers

set their sights on implementation. One example is the integra-

tion of cognitive radio technology into industrial environments,

which have unique communication requirements.

One of the other areas of interest is Smart Grid communication,

where Fraunhofer ESK researchers are working on sustainable

system concepts and the implementation of communication

solutions. The key fields of research in this area include not only

the associated transmission technologies such as Power line

Communication, but also software architectures and optimized

protocols.

The institute relies on various in-house developed tools and

its own software library to focus on the precise needs of the

customer using a streamlined approach. The combination of

integrated mobile user devices and web technologies enables

researchers to apply their solutions to a wide range of applica-

tions. These research activities stretch across various disciplines

ranging from system specifications and proof-of-concept to

the development of complete prototypes.

As a member of the Fraunhofer research network, Fraunhofer

ESK keeps constantly abreast of new technology developments

and standards. This information is shared with interested

companies and partners through publications, workshops and

trade fair exhibits.

Tailor-made solutions

The results of the institute’s research are suitable for imple-

mentation in the areas of building and security technology and

automation technology, as well as robotics, machine engineer-

ing and plant engineering. The energy industry and network

providers can also benefit from the results of this work. The

cooperation projects encompass service contracts for intro-

ducing and implementing new technologies and solutions to

the market in addition to collaborative research with industry.

Fraunhofer ESK offers its support and services to both small-

to-medium enterprises and large companies.


RELIAbLE wIRELEss COmmUNICATION

A vast percentage of today’s global data transmission

is wireless-based. Wireless transmission is also taking

on growing importance in industrial applications.

Particularly in the field of automation technology, the key

factors driving this growth are remote control, which is en-

sured through mobility and flexibility, as well as wireless and

unimpaired data transmission. There are nevertheless issues

to keep in mind when deploying wireless technology. Ensuring

a high level of reliability and availability is only possible by

professionally planning each and every wireless system. When

multiple systems simultaneously transmit at the same location

and on the same frequency, this can result in interference.

Keeping communication interference to a minimum requires

so-called coexistence management, a process that is typically

very complex. In order to simplify the regular coordination,

installation and management of wireless systems using this

process, Fraunhofer ESK researchers developed a small wire-

less measurement station.

Interference-free wireless communication through

coexistence management

Coexistence management, as outlined in the VDI/VDE 2185

guidelines (Association of German Engineers, Association for

Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies) can minimize

system interference while meeting the requirements for com-

munication links in industrial environments. At a high level the

process can be divided into four steps:

1. Detecting all wireless systems according to:

– Location

– Frequency/channel bandwith

– Responsible party or department

– Duty cycle

– Requirements

2. Evaluating the current coexistence situation

3. Minimizing wireless interference

4. Regular monitoring of the first three steps

Coexistence management

measures the local wireless

environment in order to detect

all available wireless systems

and the various sources of

interference. The information

is used to analyze the current

coexistence situation and

minimize interference. This can

be addressed by changing the

operating frequency or adapt-

ing the transmission power for

instance. The process searches

for newly-installed systems

and performs the configura-

tion and installation according

to the requirements and the

current coexistence situation.

The system must carry out

periodic measurements during

Bluetooth

802.15.4

Frequency [GHz]

Po

we

r

Time

WLAN

Microwave

2.48

2.46

2.44

2.42

2.40

The ESK wireless measurement station renders wireless signals visible by revealing the available or

occupied frequencies.


systems offered by this tool creates the foundation for reliable

wireless communication.

The SDR-based technology makes it easy to expand the

measurement station. Apart from the pure spectrum analysis,

the tool can also perform demodulation and packet analysis to

uncover errors at the higher protocol levels. The coexistence

analysis can also run automatically in order to detect problems

before an outage occurs, adding yet another layer of reliability

to the wireless system.

operation to track whether any changes to the optimization

measures have taken place. Long-term measurements that can

detect sporadic interference sources are also essential.

ESK wireless measurement station simplifies

coexistence management

Because measurement instruments are costly and require a

specific level of know-how to operate and analyze, Fraun-

hofer ESK developed a measurement station that supports

coexistence management. At the heart of the instrument are

two software defined radios (SDR). SDR technology relies

solely on software to define and manage the transmit and

receive characteristics. That means all physical layer functions

are for the most part independent of the hardware and can

be flexibly reconfigured in the software.

The user interface features an easy-to-use graphical design.

The measurement results can be displayed in a three-

dimensional time-frequency domain, as a two-dimensional

waterfall diagram or as amplitude density distribution. A

detailed analysis of the coexistence situation is possible

while the measurements are still being carried out. An addi-

tional feature that is particularly well-suited for the channel

selection of a new system is the direct, statistical analysis of

the frequency occupancy. This is done through a bar graph

that shows the occupancy percentage of the 2.4 GHz band

in the 1 MHz raster. In addition to the real-time analysis of

the coexistence situation, the measurement results are also

stored on the hard drive, where they can be analyzed in

more detail at a later point using programs such as Octave

or Matlab.

Results and outlook

The wireless measurement station developed by Fraunhofer

ESK offers system operators a simple tool for carrying out

coexistence management. The simplified and professional

planning, installation and regular monitoring of all wireless

Günter Hildebrandt

Phone: +49 89 547088-354

[email protected]


smART wIRELEss POwER OUTLETs

for 6LoWPAN because this open-source and standardized

protocol features inherent IP capability. The advantage of IP-

based communication is its broad propagation, which means

standard devices such as smartphones, tablets and PCs can be

used. There is no need to purchase additional special hard-

ware, which is costly. Another benefit is that the HexaBus can

be connected to home routers, allowing users to query and

manage the wireless power outlet via the Internet even when

they are away from home.

Secure data transmission

To ensure secure wireless communication, the Fraunhofer

ESK researchers added Advanced Encryption Standard (AES)

128 encryption, a license-free method that encrypts the data

during transmission. This eliminates the risk of the “glass

consumer” and also wards off attacks from those who might

otherwise find a way to hack into the home automation

system.

To date, electrical outlets have been more or less a local

matter. In order to obtain a meter reading or activate

the flow of electricity, one had to be directly in front of

the outlet/meter, or at least in the vicinity. With the HexaBus

power outlet developed by Fraunhofer ITWM as part of

the “mySmartGrid” project funded by the German Federal

Ministry of Education and Research, consumers benefit from

a flexible plug-in receptacle integrated with IPv6-based wire-

less communication by Fraunhofer ESK researchers. Using

any IPv6-capable device, consumers can obtain actual meter

readings and switch the outlet on or off.

HexaBus power outlets allow tasks such as turning on the

washing machine before you get home by using IPv6-capable

devices like smartphones. The HexaBus home automation

system, which consists of a commercially-available router,

a USB stick and a wireless power outlet, was developed by

enhancing the Contiki operating system for integrated micro-

controllers. The result was a software-based application that

gives consumers intelligent,

location-independent and

secure remote control of any

household appliance plugged

into a power outlet. The USB

stick and power outlet hard-

ware was developed and

series-manufactured by the

German company embedded

brains GmbH.

HexaBus wireless

power outlet based on

IPv6 communication

The enhancement carried out

by Fraunhofer ESK enables

Contiki to operate with the

6LoWPAN communication

protocol. Researchers opted

My power sockets

Waschmaschine

Start 12.27

Energy consumption

Hexabuswireless power outlet

Smartphone

Standard router

HexabusUSB stick

IPv6

IPv6

In smart home environments, equipment or appliances plugged into the Hexabus wireless power outlets

can be turned on and off with an IPv6-capable device.


Multi-hop networking for extended wireless

coverage

The IPv6-capable wireless power outlets, which are built

around open-source hardware and software, are already

at a stage where application providers can turn them into

products. Detailed information about the system and other

sources are available at www.mysmartgrid.de. The open-

source design allows application providers to integrate

additional sensors. Although the project is initially aimed at

the private consumer market, multi-hop networking could

eventually open up coverage of larger areas. In this vision of

the future, it’s not only the individual consumer who benefits

from the home automation system, but also the entire office

or industrial facilities.

This project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of

Education and Research (BMBF) and the state of Rhineland-

Palatinate.

Over-the-air firmware update

The Fraunhofer ESK researchers also created an easy way to

update the software. The firmware can be updated via a wire-

less bootloader after the user presses a button on the power

outlet. This is a major step towards ease-of-use consider-

ing that conventional systems must still be connected to a

programming device with a cable.

868 MHz for extended range

The engineers also modified the system so that the USB stick

and the power outlet operate in the license-free (in Europe)

868 MHz band instead of 2.4 GHz, allowing users to switch

their household appliances on and off over long distances.

Consumers can reach devices distributed over a wide range

because compared to the 2.4 GHz band, the 868 MHz band

has better wall penetration and less attenuation.

Naming and configuration

Another new feature is the capability to use a browser to

individually address and name the power outlets according to

the household appliance they are connected to, for instance

“washing_machine.bathroom”. For this purpose the Fraun-

hofer ESK researchers added the mDNS protocol to the Hexa-

Bus power outlets. Prior to this modification, the web server

merely provided the data. This enhancement now allows

browser-based configuration of the power outlet, regardless

of the platform.

By combining energy consumption and wireless communi-

cation technologies, engineers have managed to create an

intelligent application that offers secure, wide-ranging and

ubiquitous access to household appliances. By implementing

protocol stacks and adapting the Contiki operating system,

Fraunhofer ESK researchers utilized and broadened their ex-

perience in the field of networked components and IP-based

home automation systems.

Neda Petreska

Phone: +49 89 547088-344

[email protected]

Günter Hildebrandt

Phone: +49 89 547088-354

[email protected]


REsEARCh gROUP INdUsTRIAL sOFTwARE

Engineering and electronics technologies offer increasingly

powerful platforms for developing complete mechatronic

products and systems with software. With this in mind, the

Fraunhofer ESK researchers anticipate that flexibility will be

a key aspect. That means mechatronic systems will require

software that can autonomously adapt to dynamic operat-

ing scenarios, thus spurring research into innovative runtime

platforms and design and test methods. In order to validate

and test these new innovations, Fraunhofer ESK set up a

special laboratory environment consisting of a workstation

for mechatronic simulation and virtual commissioning. It also

features a model factory for simulating manufactured goods

processes. Software-based controls such as programmable

logic controllers (PLC), as well as soft PLCs, can be linked to

both environments.

Target groups

The Industrial Software research group is well-positioned to

support small-to-medium and large enterprises. Fraunhofer

ESK works with companies through joint projects and contract

research to develop solutions that can be implemented in a

wide range of areas, from building and security technologies

to energy networks, automation engineering and robotics.

Software is a major driver of innovation in industrial appli-

cations such as robotics motion sequences and complex

control mechanisms in manufacturing technologies and

energy networks. Because these applications demand adher-

ence to highly stringent requirements, industrial software must

offer a high degree of quality and reliability. The development

processes must also be designed for these special environments,

which requires suitable tools. The activities of the Industrial

Software research group are currently focused on software

architectures and methods for multicore processors in embed-

ded systems, as well as methods for testing adaptive software

in mechatronic systems and equipment.

Multicore and manycore processors in embedded systems

The use of multicore processors, which is meanwhile well-

established in desktop PCs, is gaining increasing traction

in embedded systems for industrial systems. Given the

special requirements and conditions in these applications,

embedded multicore processors require optimized software

architectures and corresponding design methods. In this

area of focus, the Fraunhofer ESK researchers are working

on a runtime environment for highly cost-efficient multicore

processors, in addition to designing and testing various de-

velopment tools that industry can use for multicore software

development. These solutions are designed to help software

developers take advantage of the performance of state-of-

the-art parallel processing hardware in an efficient manner.

Furthermore, many existing applications must be ported to

the new processors and then optimized. Fraunhofer ESK devel-

oped a methodology that addresses this issue and offers its

in-depth expertise with toolchains and programming methods

to help companies make the transition.

Adaptive software in mechatronic systems

The fields of automation technologies and machine and plant

engineering present major challenges to industrial software

developers, particularly with respect to reliability and quality.


sOFTwARE mEThOds FOR EmbEddEd mULTICORE sysTEms

functions that are considered standard desktop and server

processor technology as an example. These missing func-

tions must be compensated by the software. A joint project

between Fraunhofer ESK, Lantiq Deutschland GmbH and

the Institute for Integrated Systems at the Technical Univer-

sity Munich, in which the multicore system platform lacks

hardware support for ensuring cache coherency, is a good

example. Cache coherency is important because it prevents

individual caches from containing different data for the same

memory address in multicore processing systems.

In order to effectively address these types of challenges, the

Fraunhofer ESK researchers are developing specific tools de-

signed to support software manufacturers. The work involves

three development tools – compiler adjustments, debugging

support for runtime and tools for dynamic runtime environ-

ments – which can be used during development, as well as

with the finished product.

Compiler adjustments reduce manual effort

Compiler enhancements simplify the creation of optimized

code for multicore processors because they reduce the manual

and tedious work associated with software development and

Embedded systems are relying more and more on multi-

core processors. Powerful and cost effective, they also

enable the use of microprocessors in applications such as

packet or signal processing. To date this has required special

hardware developed only for this one purpose. Multicore

processors offer a flexible, powerful and reusable hardware

platform. This allows the implementation of software-based

functions that are easier to reuse than when utilizing custom

hardware.

Challenges with embedded multicore systems

Developing software based on embedded multicores presents

two major challenges. First, highly-optimized software must

be written to take full advantage of the limited hardware

resources. This often forces developers to manually optimize

the programs, making them extremely complex to debug. In

the end, the software turns into a high-maintenance product

that is difficult to port to new hardware.

The second issue has its roots in the specific requirements

of embedded system development. When developing the

hardware, a high value is placed on small chip surfaces and

low energy consumption. This results in forgoing hardware

Compile time Runtime

Development Implementation

Compiler modifications:

improved analysis and

code generation

Debug support

via tools at runtime

Dynamic runtime

environment

for embedded

multicore systems

ESK researchers are working on three tools to help software engineers during the development of multicore systems.


hardware loads and concentration of the processing tasks

on fewer cores when the system load is diminished. Individual

cores can thus be temporarily deactivated to save energy.

These research activities illustrate the importance of having

the right tools for developing multicore-based software.

With this in mind, Fraunhofer ESK will continue to pursue the

development of tools and methods designed especially for

embedded multicore systems.

The project is supported through a grant from the Bavarian

Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Transport and

Technology.

troubleshooting. This leads to a higher degree of automation.

The researchers rely on source code annotation to precisely

control the optimization of the compiler. They also identify

code passages that are relevant for ensuring cache coherency

by combining static analyses with a cache model.

Debugging support at runtime streamlines trouble-

shooting

Parallel system programming often results in errors that are

difficult to reproduce and fix. As with the project’s target

system, lacking hardware support exacerbates the situation

since it’s impossible to predict the precise interaction of the

individual software components. Researchers are developing

tools that look for signs of potential errors at runtime before

they appear. This gives developers a way to quickly locate

errors and precisely determine the cause. The tool under

devel opment runs in the background of an operating system

to examine the contents of the cache. The actual memory

usage is analyzed and compared to a usage model, allowing

the detection of faulty software operations.

Dynamic runtime environment optimizes hardware

utilization

Although operating systems such as Linux offer extensive

support for multicores through symmetric multiprocessing

(SMP), they are often unsuitable for embedded systems due

to the high overhead. Small real-time systems are utilized

instead. Each core executes its own operating system in-

stance using its own scheduler. This approach is referred to

as asymmetric multiprocessing (AMP). When using AMP, the

migration of tasks from one core to another is not a straight-

forward process. The result is that the software often ends up

distributed across the individual cores in a static fashion. To

address this issue the project team is creating a runtime envi-

ronment that combines the elements of both approaches. This

ensures the dynamic distribution of tasks across embedded

cores with limited resources. The advantages are improved


Phone: +49 89 547088-352

[email protected]

Adriaan Schmidt

Phone: +49 89 547088-384

[email protected]


vALIdATINg ANd TEsTINg AdAPTIvE AUTOmATION TEChNOLOgIEs

of communication technologies used in industrial production

processes.

Open-source validation and test environment

The validation and test environment developed by Fraunhofer

ESK consists of a prototypical mechatronic process model that

drives a production and logistics process, as well as a hardware-

in-the-loop-based (HIL) realtime simulation of the process.

Various process controls can be linked to the model or to the

simulation environment via a PROFIBUS. In addition to the latest

Siemens S7 controllers, a PC-based platform with standard

components and open-source software is also available. This

provides an open and flexible basis to carry out the research.

Goal: dynamically-reconfigurable systems

The Fraunhofer ESK researchers are using this test environ-

ment to work on processes for the dynamic, in-situ recon-

Industrial production processes are evolving more and

more into dynamic systems. Today’s smaller batches and

increasingly variant-rich products require systems with

a higher degree of flexibility than in the past. Rather than

just carrying out static tasks, future systems must adapt to

constantly changing conditions. This will require the devel-

opment of processes that permit these complex systems to

be reconfigured at the fieldbus, process control and factory

levels.

Fraunhofer ESK researchers are developing new adaptive

control system concepts that support these complex produc-

tion processes and which furnish a higher degree of flexibility

and automation. In order to test these new processes, the

institute developed its own validation and test environment

for analyzing and evaluating a wide range of approaches. The

know-how acquired through this work allows the research-

ers to offer support and consulting services to industry

partners during the introduction and on-going development

CAD system

(Solidworks)

Simulation

(Winmod)

Network connection

(PROFIBUS)

Software

Software

Real

process model

Standard PLC

(Siemens S7)

PC based

Controler

Fraunhofer ESK created a validation and test environment for testing and enhancing dynamically-reconfigurable automation systems.


relying on their state-of-the-art validation and test environ-

ment to pursue new concepts and solutions that will enable

them to support future industrial process developments.

figuration of automation technologies used in manufacturing

systems. The following areas of research are of particular

interest:

n Adaptive and reconfigurable automation softwaren Integrating additional services into the industrial control

systems (ICS)n Integrating new communication structures such as wireless-

based sensorsn Powerful industrial controllers based on multicore tech nology

To increase production system flexibility, automation software

must be allowed to dynamically activate and deactivate ICS

software components. Software-based functions also need to

be distributed across various components by changing the dis-

tribution of the software at runtime, such as when modifying

the current job. Apart from more flexible system integration,

adaptive behavior can also improve system uptime. The test

environment developed by Fraunhofer ESK is a useful tool for

determining if system operation can be maintained by means

of dynamic reconfiguration when hardware components fail.

Researchers are also examining if there is enough flexibility to

integrate components like wireless sensors into the system,

in addition to exploring whether systems can be powered up

and down independent of the production process in order to

improve energy efficiency.

All of these approaches lead down the path to automation

components enhanced with new functions that must undergo

extensive testing before going into production. The Fraunhofer

ESK validation and test environment is the ideal platform for

carrying out this work.

Result

Software’s role in industrial automation systems will eventually

grow well beyond the process controls. In order to cope with

these new complexities, the Fraunhofer ESK researchers are

Mike Heidrich

Phone: +49 89 547088-377

[email protected]


TELECOmmUNICATION bUsINEss UNIT

Research spheres

These challenges are the focus of the Telecommunication

business unit, which comprises two research groups. Com-

munication Solutions primarily offers product and technology

services evaluations. The Access & In-house Networks research

group uses its expertise in wired transmission technologies to

offer R & D services focused on the development of high-speed

wired technologies for the access segment and for in-house

building networks.

The Telecommunication business unit carries out applied

research in the area of networked systems. The activities are

concentrated on communication networks and technologies

and system and application concepts as well as software

design and engineering approaches used in the development

of communication systems.

Always on.” Although consumers take for granted the

idea of ubiquitous, around-the-clock access to data

from any device, providing such services can be a

challenge. Network quality, data privacy, data security and

system interoperability are all issues that companies must

face nowadays.

We expect access to our data from anywhere and at the

highest speed possible. To satisfy this demand, the German

government wants 75 percent of the country’s households

to have high-speed (> 50 Mbit/S) broadband access by 2014.

The challenge in building a nationwide broadband network

lies in establishing high-quality IP connectivity across different

physical network segments and components. Over the next

few years, the industry will be called upon to deal effectively

with the issues of high network availability and reliability,

interoperability, third-party data protection and adequate

“always on” bandwidth with minimal latency.


Sven Brandt

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-360

[email protected]

A relatively new area of research is satellite transmission.

Complete broadband coverage requires enhancing the access

segment with hybrid solutions that include additional trans-

mission technologies, even wireless-based. With this in mind,

Fraunhofer ESK began to build-up its expertise in the field of

satellite communication in 2010.

Fraunhofer ESK relies on its research findings and the accumu-

lated know-how to help companies carry out product evalua-

tions, technology studies and planning for telecommunication

infrastructures and the integration of mobile devices.

Research Focus

The Telecommunication business unit will continue its R & D

activi ties in the area of vectored DSL technologies in 2012.

Powerline communication is another important area that

involves the modeling of PLC channels, creating models for

detecting and resolving interference issues and developing

reference boards. With an eye on improving energy efficiency,

this business unit will also look into intelligent and load-

dependent processes which can be used for implementing

digital power management.

Another area of research involves interoperability between

various in-house networking technologies. A good example is

the HomeGrid Forum, which is promoting a unified twisted-

pair phone line, coaxial and powerline standard, particularly

for residential buildings.

Research Groups

n Access & In-house Networksn Communication Solutions

ACCEss & IN-hOUsE NETwORKs REsEARCh gROUP

Expanding the use of powerline technology

This group is also expanding its research efforts in the area

of powerline technology. Working together with semi-

conductor and network equipment manufacturers, Fraun-

hofer ESK is devel oping a new generation of broadband

communication based on the existing powerline cabling.

The activities are focused on developing channel models and

transmission methods that enable stable broadband commu-

nication in the 100 MHz frequency range at data rates of more

than 100 Mbit/s.

Integrating satellite networks

Providing extensive broadband coverage in the access seg-

ment calls for taking a close look at satellite communication.

Fraunhofer ESK partnered with the Telecom Services division

of EADS Astrium Services to evaluate the transmission charac-

teristics (quality of service or QoS) and behavior of non-

commercial stationary satellite links using conventional VPN

technologies. The goal over the medium term is to establish

high-quality, realtime-capable business services for endpoints

that are primarily underway, such as ships.

Services

The challenge in providing nationwide broadband coverage

lies in establishing high-quality IP connectivity across different

physical network segments and components. Over the next

few years, the industry will be called upon to deal effectively

with the issues of high network availability and reliability, inter-

operability, third-party data protection and adequate “always

on” bandwidth with minimal latency. Working together with

semi-conductor companies, equipment manufacturers and

telecommunication network operators, researchers are facing

these challenges head on through their research activities

and by helping companies develop and introduce new tele-

communication solutions.

Building on many years of experience in its core exper-

tise of wired transmission technologies, the Access &

In-house Networks research group focuses on the

development of high-speed wireline technologies. This group

examines technologies such as DSL and powerline with the

goal of optimizing the various transmission technologies used

in access and in-house networks.

With the trend toward the use of powerline technology to

supplement twisted-pair cables in buildings for connecting

a variety of end-user devices to the network, interoperability

between these technologies is a key area of research.

An additional challenge involves greater network cover-

age within the access segment, a goal that demands hybrid

solutions, including satellite communication. Because the

transmission characteristics of hybrid networks differ greatly

than wired technologies, researchers see additional demand

for R & D activities in this area.

This research group is also focusing on how these newly-opened

transmission alternatives can be used, particularly for enter-

prise applications. The technologies under evaluation range

from VDSL2 and powerline communication to satellite-based

transmission. Researchers are also looking at how data can be

transmitted with a high level of quality using these technologies.

Optimizing VDSL2

The Access & In-house Networks research group has been

involved in the development and testing of DSL-based trans-

mission networks for many years. These activities focus on the

optimization of VDSL2 through the utilization and combina-

tion of various techniques such as vectoring, bonding and

phantom mode. Deploying these access technologies in build-

ings requires taking into account the different conditions and

then modifying or developing new channel models. The goal

is to achieve transmission rates of up to 1 Gbit/s using DSL

technology over copper pair telephone cabling in the building.


According to the German Federal Network Agency, by

mid-2011 there were nearly 27 million broadband

connections in Germany. The majority of the Inter-

net access connections – more than 85 percent – were based

on digital subscriber line (DSL) technology. A variety of alter-

natives are available including cable TV, fiberglass, wireless

technologies like long term evolution (LTE) and SatDSL.

From a global perspective, vast parts of the world are still

without broadband access and realtime communication.

Covering these areas with conventional network technolo-

gies is economically unviable. Globalization and the open-

ing of new markets will spawn an increasing demand for

communication alternatives in these regions. An ideal way

to quickly, and in some cases temporarily address this need

is through satellite communication, because it allows data

to be transmitted and received through space without tele-

phone cables or cable TV connectivity.

Legacy satellite solutions only use the downlink. Trans-

mitting data still requires a telephone/data connection for

the uplink. Newer satellite systems offer bidirectional data

transmission, although this places more demands on the

system from several aspects. This includes a requirement

to install parabolic antennas with low noise block convert-

ers (LNB), line-of-sight positioning, a satellite modem and a

transmit-capable block up converter (BUC) power amplifier.

The demands become even more complex if the connection

involves ground- or water-based moving objects such as ships

or measurement buoys.

Satellite transmission and business applications

With business applications in mind, Fraunhofer ESK under-

took research aimed at identifying the technical pros and

cons of satellite-based broadband Internet access. The

research examined to what extent the coding and encryption

algorithms and extensive transmission distances involved in

satellite transmission are suitable for typical industrial and

enterprise applications. In a joint project with EADS Astrium

Services, the performance and throughput of various satellite

broadband services were analyzed and different applica-

tions were tested. The project team also evaluated private

consumer services that currently use the KU band (12.4 to

18 GHz), as well as a professional very small aperture terminal

(VSAT) system.

The latency problem

The major advantage of satellite connectivity is that a con-

nection can be established at nearly any location within

a relatively large footprint. Transmission quality and the

associated throughput depend on where the terminal

device is located within the satellite footprint. The closer to

the center of the footprint, the better the quality. Moving

towards the edge of the footprint results in less through-

put and thus the use of larger antennas. Although satel-

lite communication benefits from being mostly location

independent, it has inherent disadvantages from a system

standpoint. One of them is the long distance between the

satellite modem (user), satellite and the provider’s ground

station. This leads to relatively long delay times ranging

from 500 to 700 ms, as opposed to less than 40 ms with

DSL systems.

Standard applications enjoy good quality

The analyses and measurements conducted by Fraunhofer

ESK revealed that typical Internet applications, be it surfing

the web, watching videos or accessing a database, can be

sATELLITE-bAsEd COmmUNICATION


carried out with good quality over satellite links despite the

long delay times. Establishing a secure link to an enterprise

virtual private network (VPN) is also possible via satellite.

Even databases, e-mail systems and network services can be

accessed via encrypted VPN connections without incurring

lengthy delays.

With voice transmissions however, there are noticeable

service restrictions created by delays of more than 500 ms.

Telephone conferences can be held via satellite only on a

limited basis for instance. The delay times can cause the

participants to talk over one another or force them to inten-

tionally wait longer for answers from other callers. Caution is

also advised with consumer telephone tariffs, which have fair

use policies as standard language. Depending on the volume

of data transmitted, at a certain usage level these clauses can

trigger throttling of the available bandwidth outlined in the

service agreement. The rational for this is the generally limited

capacity of the KU band.

Outlook

Last year saw the launch of additional satellites that increas-

ingly transmit data over the Ka band (27 to 40 GHz) in addi-

tion to the KU band. This should eventually lead to additional

services that provide more bandwidth. Researchers will be

facing challenges on three different fronts over the next

several years:

n Maintaining data rates that are as constant as possible

within the footprintn Stable, high-bit-rate and highly-secure connections with

moving objects such as ships, without permanently relying

on motor-driven antenna adjustments n Higher interference immunity to other wireless solutions

operating near the ground

Fraunhofer ESK will be actively pursuing and driving these

three key areas of research in future projects.

Mathias Leibiger

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-372

[email protected]

Sven Brandt

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-360

[email protected]


COmmUNICATION sOLUTIONs REsEARCh gROUP

ESK works with partner institutes to detect security pitfalls in

web collaboration solutions. The researchers examine how

the systems were designed and programmed, in addition to

analyzing how well the product functions in practice. The

security analysis is carried out in Fraunhofer ESK’s own Enter-

prise Communication Lab, where researchers examine cloud

and locally-installed solutions among others. A test network

is used to determine the level of security and stability during

data transmission and storage.

Distributed system architectures

Web applications are enjoying tremendous growth. As they

spread, these distributed software systems are frequently re-

placing conventional software applications. However, existing

methods-based development approaches do not adequately

cover the non-functional requirements such as expanda-

bility, security and offline capability. With this background,

the Communication Solutions research group is developing

an architecture model optimized for various aspects of the

application. The model defines the point at which non-func-

tional system requirements should be incorporated into the

architecture decision process.

Services

The Communication Solutions research group offers compa-

nies, associations, public institutions, government organiza-

tions and telecommunication manufacturers a wide range

of professional consulting and analysis services including

system and security evaluations, patent appraisals and system

architecture designs. This group is simultaneously working

on the issue of shared content in distributed systems and the

associated rights management.

The Communication Solutions research group is focused

on the core issue of whether IT systems can actually

provide the enterprise with a communication infra-

structure capable of accelerating internal processes and thus

driving down costs while meeting the demand for a high

level of security. Its mission is to find ways to deal with in-

creasingly complex enterprise communication infrastructures

and to supply professional, high-quality and independent

technology and infrastructure consulting services. The Com-

munication Solutions research group helps companies by

carrying out technology evaluations, infrastructure analyses

and developing security policies. Complete system evalua-

tions are also part of the service spectrum. To carry out their

work, researchers rely on years of experience in managing

the Center of Competence for Voice and Mobile Communi-

cation, part of the research group that has been active in this

field for nearly 10 years. In addition to providing consulting

services, the group also develops architectures for systems

distributed across the Internet.

Enterprise communication consulting

Modern communication systems are much more than just a

fixed telephone on one’s desk. Today’s solution’s are designed

for the integrated utilization of as many communication chan-

nels as possible, allowing employees to extend the reach of

their activities on an enterprise-wide basis. Companies can

often find it difficult to search through a maze of services of-

fered by various manufacturers and providers in order to iden-

tify and select the right enterprise communication solution.

The Fraunhofer ESK team streamlines the decision process by

developing uniform system solutions based on the customer’s

individual needs.

Evaluating security in collaborative solutions

The growth of collaboration systems that create common

workspaces and allow access to highly-sensitive enterprise

data raises the important issue of data security. Fraunhofer


mObILE LEARNINg

the user to deal with and a backend system that is robust,

cost-effective and simple to administrate. To fulfill these

requirements, the Fraunhofer ESK researchers based their con-

cept on an easy-to-use open-source Linux platform comprised

of a voice-over-IP (VoIP) interactive voice response (IVR) system

and a web-based authoring tool.

The IVR system, referred to as “I-Call”, was implemented in

phase one of the project. The authoring tool will be part of

phase two.

“I-Call” speech system

I-Call is an IVR application that was installed on the FreeS-

WITCH open-source VoIP server (version 1.0.6 on Debian

Linux).

The tree-like structure of the story episodes, including the

branching possibilities, were illustrated and programmed in a

menu structure. The story sequences are stored in the system

as audio files. The story content was developed by “common-

sense eLearning & training consultants GmbH”, an Austrian-

based project partner, and then recorded by professional

speakers.

The user sequences were verified by testing the various

branching possibilities. Using a mobile phone and the GSM

network, the user calls into the voice system via the provider’s

dial-up system. The provider’s dial-in gateway is linked to the

SIP-capable I-Call system per VoIP by means of a session initia-

tion protocol (SIP) interconnection.

A Fraunhofer ESK test system was used to configure the

server-side SIP interface and the provider gateway testing.

The user input, which is used to control the progress of the

story, is converted into dual tone multifrequency (DTMF)

sequences in the mobile phone and then transmitted to

There is tremendous demand for training and educa-

tion among populations in developing countries. This

involves issues such as health and the environment,

both of which are particularly important for rural populations.

The real difficulty lies in using conventional learning tools

such as courses and textbooks. With infrastructures that are

inadequate or even non-existent, Internet-based E-learning

solutions that usually require broadband connections are not

well-suited to tackling this challenge either.

In contrast, the use of simple mobile phones is exploding in

these countries. With this in mind, researchers came up with

the idea of establishing an E-learning system that individuals

can use through the existing mobile communication infra-

structure where they live. Fraunhofer ESK designed and imple-

mented such a system that enables access to communication

platforms via mobile end-user devices.

Learning by story-telling

The idea behind the project was to create an E-learning

system that allows the user to run a learning program on

their mobile phone by dialing a toll-free telephone number.

The learning method relies on the traditional form of story-

telling. Instructors load story sequences in the form of audio

files onto the system using a web-based interface.

After listening to a story sequence on the mobile phone,

the user must answer questions to advance the story to the

next sequence. Depending on the type of answer, the story

progresses until it reaches a corresponding end, at which

point the user receives commentary to complete the learning

process.

Robust and cost-effective

Given the challenges of running such a system in developing

countries, several important requirements have to be met.

They include devices and operational flows that are easy for


I-Call via a dial-in gateway. This step occurs over the SIP

interface. First a voice connection is established, after

which the DTMF sequences are transmitted to the I-Call

server via real-time transport protocol (RTP) data streams

or INFO data elements. The system then uses the signaling

to branch out further within the menu structure in order to

select and playback the corresponding sound file to advance

the story.

The users are registered in the system so that if they call

again, they can be identified and re-enter the menu structure

at the right point.

The I-Call IVR system was set up and tested in October 2011

as part of a field test in Kenya, together with local mobile

phone provider Safaricom. Depending on the results of the

test, the system will potentially be enhanced and deployed

in other countries in concert with the United Nations Environ-

ment Program (UNEP).

Outlook

The potential enhancements will involve the I-Call IVR system.

Researchers also plan to implement a web-based authoring

tool.

The I-Call roadmap includes features such as:

n Menu system re-entry by logging the telephone call

sequences in an SQL database n Implementation of a dynamic dial plann Text-to-speech capabilityn Improved security through encryption and authentication

of the data traffic between the dial-in gateway and the

I-Call system

For the authoring tool, researchers will develop a web-based

communication and user interface that allows non-experts to

create and store text in the system.

Thomas Messerer

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-336

[email protected]

Beate Eickhoff

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-320

[email protected]


NAmEs, dATEs ANd EvENTs

Events

Publications

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

EvENTs

embedded world, Nuremberg

March 1– 3, 2011

Under the motto “… it´s a smarter world”

more than 800 exhibitors gathered together

in Nuremberg to present a wide range of

embedded technologies, from hardware and

software to tools. Fraunhofer ESK was present

with five different research projects. The re-

searchers also premiered the wireless test and

measurement station, a Fraunhofer ESK inno-

vation that measures the wireless spectrum

occupancy and displays unoccupied channels.

IKOM, Garching

Juni 29, 2011

Under the motto “Professional Contacts

with a Personal Touch”, Fraunhofer ESK

and its scientific staff participated for

the third time in the Munich IKOM

career forum held in June. Apart from

learning about research activities in the

field of communication technologies,

visitors could also inquire about job and

career opportunities at the Munich-based

research institute.

Job fair konaktiva 2011,

Darmstadt

May 10, 2011

BICCnet Innovation Forum Embedded

Systems (IFES) 2011, Munich

April 8, 2011

At the Innovation Forum Embedded Systems,

engineers and computer scientists from

Fraunhofer ESK highlighted a series of

active research projects in the field of auto-

motive technologies, including a dynamic,

self-organizing automotive software

application. Secure and reliable vehicle-to-

environment communication represented

another key topic.

IMTEX 2011,

Bangalore (India)

January 20 – 26, 2011

Fascination with Tech-

nology – university

and career information

trade fair, Munich

January 29, 2011

VDI Knowledge Forum: Wireless

Automation 2011, Baden-Baden

June 28 – 29, 2011

At the VDI (Association of German

Engineers) Knowledge Forum event,

Fraunhofer ESK engineers intro-

duced the compact wireless measure-

ment station and demonstrated

how it detects channel occupancy.

They also showed how an energy-

saving and robust network can

be set up using the institute’s own

modular sensor network kit.

Hannover Trade Fair 2011,

Hannover

April 4 – 8, 2011

At the Hannover Trade

Fair, Fraunhofer ESK

focused on the forward-

looking topic of electro-

mobility. Researchers

provided insight into

next-generation vehicle

data systems and outlined

ways to design energy-

efficient and operationally-

safe electric vehicles.

Girls’ Day 2011, Munich

April 14, 2011

In 2011 Fraunhofer ESK continued its long

tradition of opening its doors for the day to

female students who are passionate about the

natural sciences and mathematics, demon-

strating once again that technology is not just

a male domain. The young girls, ranging in age

from 13 to 15, had the opportunity to write a

software program and test analog and digital

wireless links in a laboratory environment.

February April June

January March May


SPS / IPC / Drives 2011, Nuremberg

November 22 – 24, 2011

One of the key aspects of industrial production

efficiency is wireless networking. At the

SPS / IPC / Drives conference in Nuremberg,

Fraun hofer ESK researchers introduced several

wireless communication research projects

including the HexaBus wireless power outlet,

a joint effort between Fraunhofer ITWM and

embedded brains GmbH. With HexaBus, con-

sumers can switch their household appliances

on and off using IPv6-capable smartphones.

Roadshow “Forum E-Motion”, Munich

September 28, 2011

At the end of September the “Forum

E-Motion” road show stopped by Fraun-

hofer ESK. The event revolved around

E/E-architectures for electric vehicles and

car-to-car communication concepts. The

highlight of the day was “Frecc0 1.0”,

an electric vehicle jointly developed by

several Fraunhofer institutes. Interested

auto mobile fans had the chance to go

for a ride in the red concept car.

Workshop Embedded Multicore Techno-

logies, Munich

July 5, 2011

Together with the Bavarian Mechatronic

& Automation Cluster and VDI/VDE-IT

GmbH (technology and innovation

service provider), Fraunhofer ESK

organized a workshop on the topic

of embedded multicore technologies

on July 5 in Munich. The workshop

partici pants discussed new approaches

for the use of multicore processors.

Visits by delega-

tions from techno-

logy companies

from Kerala (India),

Munich

October 24, 2011

University contact

trade fair HOKO,

Munich

November 2, 2011

IAA 2011, Frankfurt

September 15 – 25, 2011

At the International Motor Show

in Frankfurt, the Automotive busi-

ness unit introduced E/E architecture

concepts for electric vehicles with

a focus on safety. Fraunhofer ESK

engineers also presented various

approaches for integrating the

E-vehicle into the road infrastructure

and the power grid.

IHK Company Talk,

Munich

July 7, 2011

During the organized

event “Company Talk”,

participants learned about

opportunities for cooper-

ating on research projects

with Fraunhofer ESK and

the services offered by the

institute. Fraunhofer ESK

researchers also highlighted

several on-going activities

including projects in the

fields of enterprise commu-

nication services and wire-

less communication.

VDI Knowledge Forum:

Vehicle Electronics Exhibition

2011, Baden-Baden

October 12 – 13, 2011

At the industry exhibition

“Vehicle Electronics” held in

Baden-Baden, researchers

used a model car to introduce

the results of their research

into E/E architecture concepts

for electric vehicles.

August October December

July September November


PUbLICATIONs

Eickhoff, B./Messerer, T./Brandt, S.:

Bekämpfung des Missbrauchs

von IP-Sprachsystemen.

Whitepaper, Fraunhofer ESK,

April 2011, München.

Exner, C./Dufft, N.:

Apple, Google oder Microsoft?

Mobile Betriebssysteme im

Vergleich.

Studie, Fraunhofer ESK/PAC/

Berlecon, August 2011, Berlin.

Höfer-Zygan, R./Oswald, E./

Heidrich, M.:

Smart Grid Communications

2020 – Fokus Deutschland.

Studie, Fraunhofer ESK,

November 2011, München.

Studies and White papers

IP-Telefonanlagen geraten zunehmend ins Visier von Angreifern. Sei es, um dem Unternehmen mit Denial-of-

Service-Attacken zu schaden, mit Man-in-the-Middle-Attacken Geheimnisse auszuspähen oder durch Abuse-

Attacken finanziellen Schaden zuzufügen. Besonders beliebt sind Angriffe an Feiertagen, da diese erst spät

bemerkt werden. Damit es an Feiertagen keine böse Überraschung gibt, haben die Experten der Fraunhofer ESK

ein Whitepaper mit Sicherheitstipps zusammengestellt. Administratoren schützen mit diesen Sicherheitsmaßnah-

men ihre IP-Telefonanlagen vor Missbrauch, der schnell tausende von Euros kosten kann.

Bei der Auswahl mobiler Endgeräte für den Unternehmenseinsatz ist insbesondere eine zentrale Betreuung durch

die IT-Abteilung entscheidend. ITK-Verantwortliche benötigen Funktionen, die eine zentrale Administration

und Konfiguration der Endgeräte ermöglichen. Hintergrund ist vor allem die Durchsetzung von Sicherheitsricht-

linien und eine einfache Nutzung von Unternehmensdiensten durch den Mitarbeiter. Der in Kooperation mit der

Fraunhofer ESK erstellte Report untersucht, wie sich die Betriebssysteme iOS, Android und Windows Phone 7 in

die bestehende ITK-Infrastruktur einbinden lassen und zeigt, worauf dabei zu achten ist. Der vorliegende Report

richtet sich an Businessentscheider und ITK-Verantwortliche, die über den Einsatz von mobilen Endgeräten in

ihrem Unternehmen entscheiden müssen.

Das „Intelligente Stromnetz“ („Smart Grid“) ist als zentraler Baustein für die verstärkte Nutzung erneuerbarer

Energien in aller Munde, doch was genau ist darunter zu verstehen? Was sind die Anforderungen des Smart

Grids an die Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologien? Die Studie gibt Antworten auf diese Fragen.

Sie adressiert den intelligenten Ausbau des deutschen Stromnetzes im Zeitrahmen bis 2020 und beschreibt die

aktuellen regulatorischen Rahmenbedingungen und Marktpotentiale sowie Forschungs- und Standardisierungs-

aktivitäten.


Baumer, S.:

Wir sind alle Autoren –

ein Jahr Intranet-Wiki bei der

Fraunhofer ESK.

„Social Media und internes

Wissens management“.

25. Oktober 2011, Berlin.

Exner, C.:

Unified Communication &

Cloud Communication.

Gastvortrag gehalten im Rahmen

der Vorlesung „Next Generation

Networks“ am Lehrstuhl für Kom-

munikationstechnik der Universität

Augsburg. 15. Juli 2011, Augsburg.

Heinrich, P./Königer, M./

Niehoff, B./Eilers, D./Knorr, R.:

Autonomous Parameter and

Schedule Configuration for

TDMA-based Communication

Protocols such as FlexRay.

2011 International Joint Confe-

rence of IEEE TrustCom-11/IEEE

ICESS-11/FCST-11. 16.–18. Novem-

ber 2011, Changsha (China).

Um dem Informations- und Kommunikationsbedürfnis vorwiegend aus den Fachgebieten Informatik und

Elektro technik nachzukommen, hat die Fraunhofer ESK ein Intranet basierend auf der Wiki-Technologie

eingeführt. Ein Jahr nach der Einführung wurde evaluiert, ob die Ziele – verbesserte Informationserfassung,

-verbreitung und -suche – erreicht wurden.

Klassische Telefonanlagen haben ausgedient – Applikationen mit integrierten Kommunikationskanälen werden

im privaten und geschäftlichen Umfeld der Alltag. Mit sogenannten Unified Communication & Collaboration

Lösungen (UCC) versprechen die Hersteller eine Zusammenführung aller fixen und mobilen Kommunikations-

kanäle sowie die Möglichkeiten, diese in Geschäftsprozesse zu integrieren. Der Vortrag beleuchtet die Grenzen

dieses Ansatzes, zeigt aber auch die immensen Vorteile auf. Einen Schwerpunkt dabei bildet die Bereitstellung

von UCC-Diensten über die „Cloud“.

One goal of research activities is finding ways to manage the growing complexity of embedded systems using

self-configuration methods. While autonomous configuration could potentially be used in safety-critical and real-

time systems, the basic requirements are not yet in place. This paper will outline a concept for the real autono-

mous configuration of TDMA-based communication processes, which currently does not exist. The paper initially

addresses the TDMA-specific framework conditions and a potential solution. The issue of the mandatory a-priori

known schedule is resolved using a generic schedule, because a simple method based on “free-slot-reserved-

for-further-nodes” is not feasible. The most difficult part – the startup – was implemented through the generic

schedule and an ID-based collision resolution process. To demonstrate the viability of the concept, the configura-

tion method was implemented using a FlexRay communication system. This also satisfied the goal of eliminating

the need for additional hardware and preserving the fault tolerant multimaster structure of the FlexRay system.

The functionality of the concept was validated under different scenarios. The configuration times were analyzed,

the results of which are also detailed here.

Conference papers


Horst, O./Prehofer, C.:

Multi-Staged Virtualization for

Embedded Systems.

2011 37th EUROMICRO Conference

on Software Engineering and Ad-

vanced Applications (SEAA 2011).

30. August bis 2. September 2011,

Oulu (Finnland).

Jiru, J.:

Kooperative Fahrerassistenz-

systeme durch Car-to-X Kommu-

nikation.

11. MAHREG-Innovationsforum.

12. Oktober 2011, Barleben.

Langer, F.:

Modulare Plattformen für

flexible E/E Architekturen im

Elektrofahrzeug. Forum Road-

show „E-Motion“.

28. September 2011, München.

Langer, F./Bertulis, K.:

Self Learning Anomaly De-

tection for Embedded Safety

Critical Systems.

21. Workshop “Computational

Intelli gence”. 1.–2. Dezember 2011,

Dortmund.

A flexible toolbox for embedded multi-staged virtualization is proposed. The toolbox is intended for system

integrators, who could compose new system software by simply mirroring the requirements of the employed

applications with the toolbox components. I/O virtualization is identified as an open issue for an implementa-

tion of the toolbox and suggested as future work.

Durch die Car-to-X Kommunikation erhalten Fahrzeuge Dienste zur Verkehrssicherheit und -effizienz. Der

Vortrag zu kooperativen Fahrerassistenzsystemen durch Car-to-X Kommunikation gibt einen Überblick über den

aktuellen Stand der Technologien, der Standardisierung und der darauf aufbauenden Fahrerassistenzsysteme.

An Beispielen werden die aktuellen technischen und organisatorischen Herausforderungen aufgezeigt und

mögliche Lösungswege in der Einführungsphase entworfen.

Die Elektrofahrzeuge der nächsten und übernächsten Generation stellen neue Herausforderungen an die E/E

Archi tektur im Automobil. Dies resultiert vor allem aus der größeren Flexibilität, welche durch die neu gewonne-

nen Designfreiheiten und eine größere Produktvielfalt bei Elektrofahrzeugen zu erwarten ist. Besonders im

Bereich der Softwarearchitektur müssen daher Wege gefunden werden, die eine möglichst individuelle Wieder-

verwendung von Software-Modulen ermöglichen. Speziell im Bereich von sicherheitskritischen Anwendungen ist

dies bisher nicht oder nur schwer möglich. Der Vortrag gibt einen Überblick über Technologien, welche zukünftig

zu modularen Plattformen und zu einer flexibleren E/E Architektur in Elektrofahrzeugen führen sollen.

Especially in embedded systems like in the automotive domain, the amount of distributed functionality of

safety critical software is increasing faster than the test engineers are able to manage. In this paper we address

the problem how to ensure the correct functioning of a piece of software if specification is weak, incomplete

or wrong. Such problems with specifications are not expected in the development process of safety critical

systems. But these problems did occur in reality, mostly for new innovative functionality with a high grade of

dependencies with other features. These circumstances are a big problem for detecting errors in system tests

and for building diagnostic models for error detection at system runtime. The basic idea is the investigation on

methods for using the huge amount of testing effort and the resulting test traces as basis for system diagnosis. It

is discussed how a self learning diagnosis can be implemented efficiently based on a dependency model which is

inferred from test cases. The inferred model is represented as a deterministic finite automation and learned with

an adapted Angluin learner.


Langer, F./Prehofer, C.:

Anomaly Detection in Embed-

ded Safety Critical Software.

22nd International Workshop on

Principles of Diagnosis (DX 2011).

4.–7. Oktober 2011, Murnau.

Leibiger, M.:

Managed Corporate Commu-

nication Services: Best Practice

des zentralen Fraunhofer-

Sprachdienstes.

Gastvortrag gehalten im Rahmen

der Vorlesung „Next Generation

Networks“ am Lehrstuhl für Kom-

munikationstechnik der Universität

Augsburg. 8. Juli 2011, Augsburg.

Manderscheid, M./Langer, F.:

Using Network Calculus for the

Validation of Ethernet for Auto-

motive in-Vehicle Functions.

International Conference on

Cyber-Enabled Distributed Com-

puting and Knowledge Discovery

(CyberC). QoS-Workshop: The 1st

International Workshop on Service

Oriented QoS Management from

Theory to Practice. 10.–12. Okto-

ber 2011, Beijing (China).

The amount of distributed functionality of safety critical software is a challenging problem, especially in embedded

systems like in the automotive domain. In this paper the question is addressed how to ensure the correct behavior

of distributed communicating software systems if the specification is weak, incomplete or wrong. The key point

is the usage of existing test traces from communicating modules (e. g. network traces) as basis for system diagnosis.

It is discussed how this can be implemented efficiently, e. g. based on a dependency model which is inferred from

test cases.

Als Verbund aus Forschungseinrichtungen hat die Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft die Zielsetzung, dass Projekte mit Hilfe

modernster, flexibler und kosteneffizienter Kommunikationslösungen durchgeführt werden. Die Umsetzung

eines modernen Unified Communication Systems auf IP-Basis an bis zu 40 Standorten in Deutschland bedurfte

der Lösung einer Vielzahl technischer und organisatorischer Probleme. Technologisches Verständnis der Systeme

und verwendeter Protokolle ist die Grundvoraussetzung für Planung, Umsetzung und Betrieb. Im Rahmen des

Vortrags wird am Beispiel des Fraunhofer-Sprachdienstes eine Managed Service Lösung vorgestellt. Eingebettet

in die Darstellung des Systemkonzepts und der Erfahrungen bei der Umsetzung und Inbetriebnahme der Lösungen

werden die Rufinitialisierung bei der IP-Telefonie sowie grundsätzliche Probleme der Signalisierung erläutert.

Automotive functions require validation of the underlying network in advance. Especially driver assistance

functions may require hard time bounds concerning their communication infrastructure. In several works

analytical models have been introduced, enabling the calculation of worst case delays for realtime applications

using Ethernet as communication technology. On the other hand considerable effort has been spend to evalu-

ate Ethernet for the use in automotive in-vehicle networks using simulation tools and prototypes. Showing

that Ethernet can be used in general for the automotive use, they did not make an assertion about what happens

if the worst case occurs. In this work we show by means of an analytic model the worst case analysis of a

sample automotive Ethernet network configuration. We show that this configuration satisfies a current set of

automotive functions requirements even for the worst case.


Manderscheid, M./Langer, F./

Eilers, D.:

A Formal Approach Enabling

the Computation of Network

State Permutations Using

Binary Relations.

2011 IEEE Pacific Rim Conference

on Communications, Computers

and Signal Processing. 23.–26. Au-

gust 2011, Victoria/B.C. (Kanada).

Manderscheid, M./Plankl, A./

Langer, F./Engelhardt, D.:

Adaptives qoS Management

in Auto motive in-Vehicle Net-

works.

VDI Fachtagung „Steuerung und

Regelung von Fahrzeugen und Mo-

toren – AUTOREG“. 22.–23. No-

vember 2011, Baden-Baden.

Oswald, E.:

Übertragungstechnologien für

das Smart Metering.

BiccNet Innovation Forum Embed-

ded Systems Smart Home – Smart

Grid. 8. April 2011, München.

The automotive industry is currently searching for new networking technologies to meet their requirement of

high bandwidth demand at low chip cost. Profiting from the research on Quality of Service and high pervasive-

ness in the consumer market the way to an Ethernet/IP based car in-vehicle network might not be far. Unfortu-

nately, the research community focused on scenarios not applicable for automotive embedded networks. This

paper presents a basic toolset for a novel Quality of Service assuring process for IP/Ethernet based in-vehicle car

networks, which is believed to meet the requirements of the automotive industry. This toolset is designed to

be the basis for a development process enabling an automotive in-vehicle network to react in an adaptive way

on different situations distinguishing between different network states and thus making effective use of the

network resources. We formulate all formal assumptions necessary to compute different network states. Based

on these assumptions we further present an algorithm enabling the computation of all possible network states.

Analyzing the use of Ethernet and the Internet Protocol (IP) inside the car, network planning and validation

turned out to be one of the major tasks to be solved. While several works showed that Ethernet can be used in

general inside a car, questions concerning a suitable design process are still remaining open. In previous works

two approaches have been proposed for the design process of automotive in-vehicle networks. The first method

exploits the fact that many automotive functions do not communicate at the same time. The modeling of the

time dependencies using binary relations has been proposed. On this foundation a formal way is provided to

detect which functions will communicate simultaneously. The second method shows a way to validate the

communication requirements of Ethernet based in-vehicle network configurations using the Network Calculus.

Combining those two approaches a formal process validating Ethernet network configurations is developed. This

process will be presented in this work. Furthermore, an exemplary case study will be presented, emphasizing the

necessity of a formal process.

Bestandteil der Klimaschutzziele der Bundesregierung ist die Reduktion des Energieverbrauchs durch Effizienz-

steigerung. Ein Schritt zum Erreichen dieser Vorgabe bildet die Einführung von Smart Metering. Innerhalb der

Gebäude wird dafür eine intelligente und leistungsfähige Vernetzung benötigt. Die Inhaus-Vernetzung erfolgt

gegenwärtig auf Basis einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Übertragungsmedien und -technologien, was auf viele

verschiedene Anwendungen zurückzuführen ist. Der Beitrag zeigt geeignete Übertragungstechnologien für die

Realisierung von Smart Metering in Privathaushalten. Dazu wird in einem ersten Schritt eine Übersicht erstellt,

die relevante Übertragungstechnologien für die Smart Metering Kommunikation aufzeigt. Ausgehend von den

spezifischen Anforderungen an die Kommunikation werden anschließend prädestinierte Übertragungstechnolo-

gien ausgewählt und Aspekte wie Funktionsweise, Vorteile/Nachteile und Standardisierung beleuchtet.


Oswald, E.:

Vehicle-to-Grid Konzepte.

Forum Roadshow „E-Motion“.

28. September 2011, München.

Oswald, E./Hildebrandt, G./

Heidrich, M.:

Breitband vs. Schmalband –

Welche Technologie braucht

das Inhaus?

5. ITG-Fachkonferenz der Fach-

gruppe 5.2.2. 29.–30. März 2011,

Berlin.

Prehofer, C.:

An Adaptive Control Model

for Non-Functional Feature

Interactions.


on Software Engineering and Ad-

vanced Applications (SEAA 2011).

30. August bis 2. September 2011,

Oulu (Finnland).

Im Beitrag wird die Verbindung zwischen Elektrofahrzeugen und dem Smart Grid skizziert. Diese Verbindung

umfasst neben dem eigentlichen Ladevorgang des Fahrzeugs an der Ladesäule eine Vielzahl weiterer Aspekte.

So müssen parallel zu den bestehenden Stromleitungen und der Ladeinfrastruktur zuverlässige und sichere

Kommunikationskanäle bereitgestellt werden. Beispielsweise möchte ein Fahrer unterwegs wissen, wo er am

günstigsten auf seiner geplanten Route bei welchem Anbieter mit welchen Wartezeiten seine Fahrzeugbatterien

aufladen kann. Das Energieversorgungsunternehmen möchte dagegen Ladesäulen gezielt mit Strom versorgen.

Hierzu muss es wissen, wo sich potentielle Abnehmer befinden. Der Fahrer bzw. das Fahrzeug kann zusätzliche

Navigationshilfen erhalten. Eine wichtige Funktion besteht ferner darin, beim (oder besser vor) dem Ladevorgang

die Identität des Fahrers zu prüfen und eine sichere Abrechnung zu gewährleisten. Der Beitrag zeigt Aspekte

der hierfür benötigten Ladeinfrastruktur sowie geeignete Kommunikationslösungen auf, wobei speziell auf die

unterschiedlichen Kommunikationsschnittstellen eingegangen wird.

Die Inhaus-Vernetzung erfolgt gegenwärtig auf Basis einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Übertragungsmedien

und -technologien. Das ist darauf zurückzuführen, dass je nach Einsatz (z. B. Internet-Zugang, Gebäudeauto-

matisierung) unterschiedliche Anforderungen zu erfüllen sind. Hierbei kommen sowohl Breitband- als auch

Schmalbandtechnologien zum Einsatz. Der Beitrag bildet das Spektrum der Übertragungstechnologien in einer

Übersicht ab und beleuchtet charakteristische Eigenschaften.

Many systems, especially distributed embedded systems, have very strong emphasis on non-functional proper-

ties, which are often cross-cutting and difficult to capture in a modular way. Here, we consider non-functional

feature interactions, which occur if two features show unexpected behavior regarding non-functional properties.

The goal is to handle non-functional properties and interactions in a modular and flexible way on a separate

control layer. On this control layer, we can adapt control components to different feature interactions. We use

statecharts to describe control models and use statechart refinement to make interactions explicit. We present

our approach by two examples with several non-functional feature interactions and argue that the control layer

can address these. The main advantages are modular control of non-functional properties and explicit modeling

of non-functional feature interactions on a separate control layer.


Seydel, D.:

Nahtloses Entertainment –

Multi mediainhalte jederzeit

und überall konsumieren.

4. Systems Integration – Mikrosys-

temtechnik-Lösungen im Gebäude

der Zukunft. 16. Juni 2011, Dortmund.

Strebelow, R./Prehofer, C.:

Analysis of Event Processing

Design Patterns and their

Performance Dependency on

I/O Notification Mechanisms.

“Facing the Multicore-Challenge II”.

28.–30. September 2011, Karlsruhe.

Strebelow, R./Prehofer, C.:

Evaluation of Parallel Design

Patterns for Message Proces-

sing Systems on Embedded

Multicore Systems.

ACM SIGOPS EuroSys 2011 Confe-

rence, Poster Session. 10.–13. April

2011, Salzburg (Österreich).

Weiss, G./Becker, K./Kamphau-

sen, B./Radermacher, A./Gérard, S.:

Model-Driven Development of

Self-Describing Components

for Self-Adaptive Distributed

Embedded Systems.


on Software Engineering and

Advanc ed Applications (SEAA

2011). 30. August bis 2. September

2011, Oulu (Finnland).

Das Konsumverhalten bezüglich multimedialer Inhalte hat sich in den letzten Jahren stark verändert. Ein umfangrei-

ches Angebot personalisierter Medieninhalte und zahlreiche Innovationen im Bereich der Unterhaltungselektronik

führen dazu, dass Nutzer die Möglichkeit einer zeit-, ort- und geräteunabhängigen Konsumierung ihrer gewohnten

Medieninhalte auch im Fahrzeug erwarten. Die Fraunhofer ESK entwickelt dazu zusammen mit Partnern aus der

Industrie und weiteren Forschungsinstituten eine Integrations-Plattform für die durchgängige Multimedianutzung

zuhause, auf mobilen Endgeräten und im Fahrzeug. Die Medieninhalte werden automatisch auf das jeweilige End-

gerät übertragen und die Wiedergabe optimal an die Eigenschaften des jeweiligen Endgeräts angepasst.

In this presentation we take a look on two software design patterns, namely the Half-Sync/Half-Async and the

Leader/Followers pattern. Both aim for efficient processing of messages in multicore environments. We analyze

their performance differences and dependencies on the selected networking primitives and their specific

characteristics.

Software design patterns reflect software engineering practices and experience by documenting proven design solu-

tions. Today these patterns cover many areas including concurrent systems as well as systems for message processing.

Some examples, like Half-Sync/Half-Async or Proactor patterns, aim for efficient processing of messages in concurrent

environments. While performance evaluations for particular patterns are available in literature there is little work to

analyze the multicore performance of these in realistic settings. In this paper we address this problem by evaluating a

set of patterns designated for efficient and concurrent message processing. Through measurement we will show that

these patterns have significant differences in their performance and that a wrong multi-threading architecture can

do more harm than good. Also, we will see that message reception should be distributed over multiple threads.

Increasingly distributed embedded systems are deployed in complex scenarios and must be able to adapt

to changing environments and internal system changes. Such self-adaptive embedded systems pose great

advantages in terms of flexibility, resource utilization, energy efficiency and robustness. The realization of these

systems requires enhanced development methods to incorporate the adaption to the design. We introduce a

novel concept for the model-driven development of self-adaptive embedded systems. The focus of our work is

the definition and transfer of the information needed for the adaption runtime. This is preserved as so-called

self-description of the components. We present our self-x profile, a modeling extension for describing the adap-

tion, and the respective design flow with built-in transformations. Furthermore, we outline the applicability of

our methodology in an automotive use case.


Weiss, G./Becker K./Raderma-

cher, A./Gérard, S.:

RT-DESCRIBE: Self-describing

Components for Self- Adaptive

Distributed Embedded Systems.

3rd International Workshop on

Adaptive and Reconfigurable

Embedded Systems (APRES).

11. April 2011, Chicago (USA).

Zeller, M./Prehofer, C./Weiss, G./

Eilers, D./Knorr, R.:

Towards Self-Adaption in

Real-time, Networked Systems:

Efficient Solving of System

Constraints for Automotive

Embedded Systems.

2011 5th IEEE International Con-

ference on Self-Adaptive and

Self-Organizing Systems (SASO).

3.–7. Oktober 2011, Ann Arbor/

Michigan (USA).

Zeller, M./Weiss, G./Eilers, D./

Knorr, R.:

An Approach for Providing

Dependable Self-Adaptation

in Distributed Embedded

Systems.

26th Symposium On Applied Com-

puting (SAC 2011). 21.–25. März

2011, Taichung (Taiwan).

In this paper the Fraunhofer ESK presents in cooperation with CEA LIST a novel integrated model-driven

methodology for developing self-adaptive distributed embedded systems. Software components of the design

model are enriched with self-descriptions which provide information at runtime that is necessary for adaptation

decisions. Therefore, a new self-x profile and the tool-chain with the essential model transformations are intro-

duced. The iterative development process, including early feedback through an integrated simulation framework,

enables an early refinement of the self-adaptive system.

While there has been considerable work on self-adaptive systems, applying these techniques to networked,

embedded systems pose several new problems due to the requirements of embedded real-time systems.

Among others, we have to consider memory and hardware limitations, as well as task schedulability and

timing dependencies. The goal of this paper is to find a correct placement of software components efficiently,

even though most of these individual constraints are highly intractable (NP-complete). This is a prerequisite for

runtime adaption in such domains and can be used for system optimization, extension or failure handling.

Modern distributed embedded systems are reaching an extreme complexity which is very hard to master with

traditional methods. Particularly the need for these systems to adapt their behavior autonomously at runtime

to changing conditions is a demanding challenge. Since most industrial application domains of distributed

embedded systems have high demands on reliability and safety, we need a dependable self-adaptation

mechanism to apply adaptation successfully in these domains. Therefore, we propose a concept to guarantee

the proper system behavior and a mechanism which preserves the predefined functional and non-functional

requirements of the system.


Heinrich, P./Langer, F.:

Sicherheit für Elektrofahrzeuge.

In: Hanser Automotive (2011) 10,

Oktober, S. 70–72.

Hildebrandt, G.:

Zuverlässigere und effiziente-

re industrielle Funklösungen

durch Cognitive Radio.

In: NTZ (2011) 5, September/Okto-

ber, S. 20–23.

Hildebrandt, G./Heidrich, M.:

Keine Koexistenzprobleme.

Funkmessplatz für das Koexis-

tenzmanagement der drahtlo-

sen Industriekommunikation.

In: NET – Zeitschrift für Kommuni-

kationsmanagement (2011) 6, Juni,

S. 30–31.

Krogmann, M./Heidrich, M./Bich-

ler, D./Barisic, D./Stromberg, G.:

Reliable, Real-Time Routing in

Wireless Sensor and Actuator

Networks.

In: International Scholarly Research

Network ISRN Communications

and Networking (2011), elektro-

nisch erschienen (Umfang 8 S.).

Die Architektur von Elektroautos unterscheidet sich von der konventioneller Fahrzeuge, denn ein Elektroauto

benötigt deutlich weniger Mechanik. Das korrespondiert mit mehr Software, die zusätzlich sicherheitskritische

Funktionen, wie etwa die Drehmomenten-Steuerung der Motoren, übernimmt. Diese neuen Architekturen benö-

tigen andere Sicherheitskonzepte, um die Elektrofahrzeuge genauso sicher zu gestalten, wie es bei konventionel-

len Fahrzeugen der Fall ist. Ein solches Sicherheitskonzept entwickelte jetzt die Fraunhofer ESK.

Funksysteme wie WLAN oder Bluetooth halten in der industriellen Automatisierung vermehrt Einzug. Die VDI/

VDE-Richtlinie 2185 beschreibt, wie durch ein „Koexistenzmanagement“ der störungsfreie Betrieb von Funkkom-

munikationssystemen sichergestellt wird. Doch besonders durch die feste Zuweisung von Frequenzbereichen zu

einzelnen Systemen stößt dieses Koexistenzmanagement hinsichtlich der spektralen Effizienz und der wachsen-

den Zahl an Funksystemen in der Zukunft an Grenzen. Techniken der Cognitive Radios (CR) können hier helfen.

Ein wesentlicher Teil der weltweiten Datenübertragung basiert auf Funk. Auch im industriellen Bereich gewinnt

die drahtlose Übertragung mehr an Bedeutung. Die wichtigsten Schlüsselfaktoren, die hinter diesem Prozess

stehen, sind speziell für die Automatisierungstechnik die Fernsteuerung, die Mobilität und Flexibilität gewährleis-

tet, sowie die kabellose und folglich verschleißfreie Datenübertragung. So kann beispielsweise die Überwachung

von beweglichen Maschinenteilen durch Sensoren von der drahtlosen Kommunikation profitieren. Dazu gehören

Messungen an und die Kontrolle von beweglichen Objekten sowie die Lokalisierung und Zuordnung von mobilen

Geräten.

We present a novel Reliable, Real-time Routing protocol (3R) based on multipath routing for highly time-constrai-

ned Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks (WSANs). The protocol consists of a newly designed routing metric

and a routing algorithm utilizing this metric. Our routing metric enables strong Quality-of-Service (QoS) support

based on parallel transmissions which significantly reduces transmission delays in WSANs. A routing algorithm

utilizing this metric is presented based on Dijkstra‘s shortest path. A novel Medium Access Control (MAC) layer

that supports dynamical adjustments of retransmission limits reduces traffic overhead in multipath routing

protocols. Thorough simulations have been performed to evaluate the routing protocol. The results show that

real-time performance of WSANs can be vastly improved.

Articles


Oswald, E.:

Künstliches Rauschen. Kapitel 6.4.

In: Deutscher Wirtschaftsdienst

(Hg.): Handbuch der Telekommuni-

kation. München/Neuwied/Köln

2011, S. 140–146.

Oswald, E.:

Phantomkreise. Kapitel 6.3.

In: Deutscher Wirtschaftsdienst

(Hg.): Handbuch der Telekommu-

nikation. München/Neuwied/Köln

2011, S. 134–140.

Oswald, E.:

Smart Metering. Verbrauchs-

kontrolle und Steuerung für Ver-

braucher und Energieversorger.

In: Technik in Bayern (2011) 6,

November/Dezember, S. 36.

Schmidt, A./Prehofer, C.:

Embedded-Software auf

Multicore-Systeme portieren.

In: Embedded Software Engineer-

ing Report, Sonderheft Elektronik-

praxis (2011), Mai, S. 12–13.

Weiss, G./Zeller, M./Eilers, D.:

Towards Automotive Embedded

Systems with Self-X Properties.

In: Chiaberge, Marcello (Hg.): New

Trends and Developments in Auto-

motive System Engineering. Rijeka

(Kroatien) 2011, S. 411–432.

Ein zentrales Problem, was Netzbetreiber vom Einsatz des energiesparenden Low Power Modus L2 abhält, ist,

dass dieser Instabilitäten durch zeitvariantes Nebensprechen hervorruft. Benötigt wird somit eine Lösung, die

einerseits die Stabilität der Übertragung sichert und außerdem leicht in die seit Jahren gültigen DSL-Standards

integriert werden kann. Der Einsatz von virtuellem/künstlichem Rauschen dient der Stabilisierung von xDSL-

Systemen bei zeitvariantem Nebensprechen.

Die Nutzung von Phantomkreisen bedeutet, dass über zwei Übertragungswege (Doppeladern) drei Kommunikations-

kanäle realisiert werden können. Diese Anfang des 20. Jahrhunderts für die Sprachkommunikation entwickelte

Methode ist bis heute nahezu in Vergessenheit geraten. Da für den dritten Kommunikationskanal keine zusätzliche

Leitung verlegt werden braucht, ist der Einsatz von Phantomkreisen für die DSL-Übertragung aus heutiger Sicht hoch-

interessant. Laboruntersuchungen der Fraunhofer ESK haben gezeigt, dass eine hochbitratige DSL-Übertragung (z. B.

ADSL2+ oder VDSL2) über zwei Doppeladern sowie die gleichzeitige Übertragung mittels Phantomkreis möglich ist.

Bestandteil der Klimaschutzziele der Bundesregierung ist die Reduktion des Energieverbrauchs durch Effizienzstei-

gerung. Ein Schritt zum Erreichen dieser Vorgabe bildet die Einführung von Smart Metering. Innerhalb der Gebäude

wird dafür eine intelligente und leistungsfähige Vernetzung benötigt. Die Inhouse-Vernetzung kann basierend auf

einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Übertragungsmedien und -technologien erfolgen. Der Beitrag zeigt einige wichtige

Rahmenbedingungen bei der Realisierung von Smart Metering auf. Es wird sowohl auf die Gesetzeslage als auch auf

technische Aspekte bei der Auswahl der benötigten Kommunikationsinfrastruktur im Inhouse-Bereich eingegangen.

Bei der Einführung von Multicore-Systemen ist es aus Zeit- und Kostengründen meist nicht möglich, die gesamte

Software neu zu schreiben. Eine Portierung des existierenden Legacy-Codes ist also wichtig, wird allerdings

allgemein als sehr schwieriges Problem angesehen. Die Forscher der Fraunhofer ESK entwickeln daher Methoden

und Werkzeuge zur systematischen Migration von Embedded-Anwendungen auf Multicore-Plattformen. Bei der

Portierung hat sich ein vierstufiger Ansatz aus Analyse, Refactoring, Parallelisierung und Optimierung bewährt.

With self-adaptation and self-organization new paradigms for the management of distributed systems have

been introduced. By enhancing the automotive software system with self-X capabilities, e. g. self-healing, self-

configuration and self-optimization, the complexity is handled while increasing the flexibility, scalability and

dependability of these systems. In this chapter we present an approach for enhancing automotive systems with

self-X properties. At first, we discuss the benefits of providing automotive software systems with self-manage-

ment capabilities and outline concrete use cases. Afterwards, we will discuss requirements and challenges for

realizing adaptive automotive embedded systems.


Auer, Alexander:

Entwurf und Evaluierung eines kognitiven und adaptiven Medienzugriffsverfahrens

für die C2X-Kommunikation.

Masterarbeit (Jiru, J./Roscher, K./Dippold, M.), Fraunhofer ESK/Hochschule München.

Bertulies, Karsten:

Self-Learning Anomaly and Fault Detection in Automobile Networks.

Masterthesis (Langer, F./Sachen bacher, M.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Technische Universität München.

Bestler, Peter:

Konzeption und Implementierung von IP-Cores zur Unterstützung der

Echtzeitfähigkeit von Gigabit-Ethernet.

Diplomarbeit (Plankl, A./Högl, H./Kiefer, G.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Hochschule Augsburg.

Eggert, Andreas:

Implementierung und Evaluierung eines auf Zyklostationarität beruhenden

Signalklassifikators.

Masterarbeit (Hildebrandt, G./Peik, S.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Hochschule Bremen.

Halaseh, Rana Al:

Support Vector Machine Based White Space Predictors for Cognitive Radio.

Masterthesis (Hildebrandt, G./Dahlhaus, D./Hunziker, T.), Fraunhofer ESK/Universität Kassel.

Helferich, Markus:

Entwicklung eines Technologie-Demonstrators für den Automotive-Bereich auf

Basis eines 1:5 Modellfahrzeuges mit verteilten elektrischen Antrieben.

Masterarbeit (Heinrich, P./Irber, A.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Hochschule München.

Keyvan, Ali:

Frequency Occupancy Prediction and its Application in a Novel Channel Access

Method.

Masterthesis (Hildebrandt, G./Reich, W.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Hochschule Offenburg.

Königer, Markus:

Development of a Self-Configuration Concept for a FlexRay Communication System.

Masterthesis (Heinrich, P./ Niehoff, B.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Hochschule Kempten.

Diploma, master and bachelor thesis


Machleidt, Maximilian Jonas:

Analyse von Algorithmen zur Lösung des Generalized Assignment Problems

bezogen auf die Zuweisung von Aufgaben auf Steuergeräte in automobilen

Bordnetzen.

Bachelorarbeit (Zeller, M./Möhring, R. H./ Grötschel, M.), Fraunhofer ESK/

Technische Universität Berlin.

Rafiq, Salman:

Measuring Performance of Soft Real-time Tasks on Multicore Systems.

Masterthesis (Schmidt, A./Brorsson, M.), Fraunhofer ESK/KTH Royal Institute of Technology,

Stockholm.

Rüttgers, René:

Konzeption, Untersuchung und Simulation von E/E-Architekturen in

Elektrofahrzeugen.

Masterarbeit (Heinrich, P./ Oßmann, M.), Fraunhofer ESK/Fachhochschule Aachen.

Schönheits, Manfred:

Ressourceneffizienz für verteilte Dienste in der Fahrzeug-Umwelt-Vernetzung.

Diplomarbeit (Jiru, J./Knorr, R./Ungerer, T.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Universität Augsburg.

Schröder, Michael:

Elektromobilität am Beispiel verteilter Antriebe – Entwicklung und Imple-

mentierung eines Sicherheitskonzeptes für die Drehmomentüberwachung.

Bachelorarbeit (Demmel, K./Heinrich, P./Wolf, K.), Fraunhofer ESK/Hochschule Regensburg.

Weber, Christian:

Implementierung und Verifikation verschiedener Spectrum Sensing Algorithmen.

Masterarbeit (Hildebrandt, G./Christ, A.), Fraunhofer ESK/ Hochschule Offenburg.

Wörle, Lukas:

Routing in Heterogeneous Car-to-X Environments.

Diplomarbeit (Roscher, K./Gehrsitz, T.), Fraunhofer ESK/TU München.


ThE FRAUNhOFER-gEsELLsChAFT

As an employer, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft offers its staff

the opportunity to develop the professional and personal

skills that will allow them to take up positions of responsibility

within their institute, at universities, in industry and in society.

Students who choose to work on projects at the Fraunhofer

Institutes have excellent prospects of starting and develop-

ing a career in industry by virtue of the practical training and

experience they have acquired.

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is a recognized non-profit

organization that takes its name from Joseph von Fraunhofer

(1787–1826), the illustrious Munich researcher, inventor and

entrepreneur.

Research of practical utility lies at the heart of all activities

pursued by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Founded in

1949, the research organization undertakes applied

research that drives economic development and serves the

wider benefit of society. Its services are solicited by customers

and contractual partners in industry, the service sector and

public administration.

At present, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft maintains more than

80 research units in Germany, including 60 Fraunhofer Insti-

tutes. The majority of the more than 20,000 staff are qualified

scientists and engineers, who work with an annual research

budget of € 1.8 billion. Of this sum, more than € 1.5 billion is

generated through contract research. More than 70 percent

of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s contract research revenue

is derived from contracts with industry and from publicly

financed research projects. Almost 30 percent is contributed

by the German federal and Länder governments in the form

of base funding, enabling the institutes to work ahead on

solutions to problems that will not become acutely relevant to

industry and society until five or ten years from now.

Affiliated international research centers and representative

offices provide contact with the regions of greatest impor-

tance to present and future scientific progress and economic

development.

With its clearly defined mission of application-oriented research

and its focus on key technologies of relevance to the future,

the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft plays a prominent role in the

German and European innovation process. Applied research

has a knock-on effect that extends beyond the direct benefits

perceived by the customer: Through their research and devel-

opment work, the Fraunhofer Institutes help to reinforce the

competitive strength of the economy in their local region, and

throughout Germany and Europe. They do so by promoting

innovation, strengthening the technological base, improving

the acceptance of new technologies, and helping to train the

urgently needed future generation of scientists and engineers.


hOw TO REACh Us

Traveling north to south: using the Mittlerer Ring, you will

cross the railroad lines at Donnersbergerbrücke. Stay in the

right hand lane as you enter the tunnel. At the end of the

tunnel, take the first exit Westend/Heimeranplatz. Take the

first right onto Tübinger Strasse, then the next right onto

Dillwächterstrasse and finally the first right onto Hansastrasse.

Travel straight for approximately 150 meters. Our building is

on the right hand side, Hansastrasse 32.

Traveling south to north: using the Mittlerer Ring, take the

Westend/Heimeranplatz exit, cross the intersection and turn

left onto Hansastrasse. Travel straight for approximately 100

meters. Our building is on the left hand side, Hansastrasse 32.

Parking is available in the underground garage of our build-

ing by entering from Dillwächterstrasse. Parking spaces for

visitors are on the basement level (Untergeschoss) and are

numbered as follows: 101–109, 164, 165, 167, 168, 169, 170

and 177–181.


Communication Systems ESK

Hansastr. 32, 80686 München

n By train

From Munich main station: Take the U4 or U5 subway ( U-Bahn)

in the direction of Laimer Platz or Westendstraße as far as

Heimeranplatz. Exit the most forward portion of the train

and follow the signs to the Hansastrasse exit. Cross Hansas-

trasse using the pedestrian crosswalk, then immediately turn

right and walk approximately 50 meters. We are located on

the fourth floor of the next large building, Hansastrasse 32.

Please note, the journey from the Munich main station to

Heimeranplatz requires two stripes with the MVV stripe card.

n By air

From Munich airport, take the S8 or S1 suburban rail ( S-Bahn)

line as far as Karlsplatz Stachus station, and change to the

U4 or U5 subway (U-Bahn). Travel in the direction of Laimer

Platz as far as Heimeranplatz. Exit the most forward portion of

the train and follow the signs to the Hansastrasse exit. Cross

Hansastrasse using the pedestrian crosswalk, then immediately

turn right and walk approximately 50 meters. We are located

on the fourth floor of the next large building, Hansastrasse 32.

n By car

If arriving in Munich on the A8 motorway, take it right

through to the end and continue straight on Verdistrasse. Turn

right on Meyerbeerstrasse, then left on Landsberger Strasse,

and right on Elsenheimer Strasse, which eventually turns into

Hansastrasse. Travel straight for approximately 500 meters.

Our building is on the right hand side, Hansastrasse 32.

If arriving in Munich on any other motorway, follow the

signs to the Mittlerer Ring (city circular) in the direction of the

Stadtmitte (city center).


Photography

Bernd Müller Fotografie

www.berndmueller-fotografie.com

Elvira Peter

www.elvirapeter.de

Layout

formidee designbüro

www.formidee.de

English Version

Daniel Hawpe

English Language Services (s. u.)

www.hawpe.eu

[email protected]

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our appreciation to our

customers and indudustry partners for their trust

and willingness to disclose information about our

mutual projects in this annual report. Industry

projects were published with the approval of our

partners.

© Fraunhofer-Einrichtung für Systeme der

Kommunikationstechnik ESK München, 2012

All rights reserved. Reprints, reproduction and

translation are subject to editorial authorization.

Editorial Notes

Editorial Address


Communication Systems ESK

Hansastr. 32

80686 München

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-0

Telefax: +49 89 54 70 88-220

[email protected]

www.esk.fraunhofer.de

Editorial Team

Susanne Baumer

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-353

Telefax: +49 89 54 70 88-220

[email protected]

Sabrina Kaspar

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-367

Telefax: +49 89 54 70 88-220

[email protected]

Christiane Weber

Phone: +49 89 54 70 88-339

Telefax: +49 89 54 70 88-220

[email protected]

Image Credits

All images courtesy of Fraunhofer ESK

with the exception of: Pages 16–17, 41, 45, 47,

67, 71, 72–73: Panther Media GmbH

www.esk.fraunhofer.de/en.html

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