Heuristic resource allocation and scheduling method for distributed automotive control systems

This paper presents a heuristic resource allocation and scheduling method, which is based on an integrated architecture that enables multiple missions to be embedded in a single electronic control unit (ECU) and a single mission to be distributed over multiple ECUs. The proposed design method is composed of resource(e.g. task and message) allocation, scheduling, and attribute assignments. From a given target application's task graph, the method generates a scheduling table specifying the release, start, and completion timings of tasks and messages. After that, all relevant attributes(e.g. priority of tasks and messages) are automatically assigned. In order to guarantee the functional and temporal requirements of target applications, design constraints such as the worst case response time, deadline, precedence relations, and physical limitations are concurrently considered. A chassis control system consisting of electronic stability control, an electro-mechanical brake, continuous damping control, and electronic air suspension is employed for evaluating the proposed method. The conventional chassis control system which is composed of seven ECUs was redesigned by only four ECUs without the degradation of control performance. Consequently, it is expected that the development time and production cost of distributed automotive control systems can be significantly reduced by the proposed design method.