Applying systems engineering to complex connected vehicles

As vehicles become ever more complex, Ricardo has been applying model-based systems engineering to help OEMs develop better connected and automated products in the automotive, off-highway and construction market sectors.

Systems engineering is an interdisciplinary and systematic approach to successfully realising a product by focusing on customer needs early in the development cycle. In the 1970s and 1980s vehicles were comparatively simple with predominantly mechanical standalone systems.  Today products are extremely complex, containing a large number of interacting systems mostly containing electronics and software. As new systems are added the complexity compounds and becomes a major challenge for OEMs All of the features need to interact, be safe and reliable and deliver the attributes that vehicle manufacturers want.

The impact of changes in mobility of people and goods, and in particular the impact of autonomy and increased connectivity is putting pressure on vehicle constructors by increasing vehicle complexity and driving up development cost and risk. There are many potential benefits and drivers for connectivity and automation (Figure 2), although the value of each potential application needs to be examined carefully to understand whether a business case exists considering the potential complexity of implementation.