A Domain-Specific Modeling Framework for the Development of Automotive Systems

Rising complexity in the automotive domain and its interrelations with other domains as the power systems demand a domain-specific modeling framework to facilitate the development of complex vehicular systems and support interdisciplinary and cross-domain communication. Inspired by the Smart Grid Architecture Model (SGAM) framework, which addresses similar challenges in the smart grid domain, the Automotive Reference Architecture Model (ARAM) framework was developed for the automotive domain. This framework provides interoperability with the smart grid domain and enables a transition from analysis to architectural model levels by being compatible with the Software Platform Embedded Systems (SPES) methodology. This compatibility enables a structured development approach following domain-specific systems engineering (DSSE). However, the last published work towards an evolution of ARAM left some issues unaddressed. With this paper, we aim to complete previous work-in-progress efforts and introduce the latest evolution of the ARAM framework. Incorporating industry feedback and insights from case studies, we present a newly developed domain-specific language (DSL) and the accompanying modeling tool, the ARAM Toolbox. To demonstrate these artifacts we developed a case study. With this work we therefore lay the groundwork for future advancements in model-based systems engineering within the automotive sector, providing a basis for further research into interdisciplinary and cross-domain collaboration.