Kostal Achieves ISO 26262 ASIL D Certification with Model-Based Design

Extends use of MathWorks tools for production code generation and verification to meet functional safety standard

Natick, Mass. - (23 Feb 2016)

Kostal’s electronic steering column lock module
Kostal’s electronic steering column lock module

MathWorks today announced that Kostal Asia R&D Center, a subsidiary of automotive supplier Kostal Group of Germany, adopted Model-Based Design to achieve on-schedule ISO 26262 functional safety-based certification for its new electronic steering column lock module. Extending the use of Simulink for early verification and validation and Embedded Coder for production code generation allowed Kostal to develop a module compliant with Automotive Safety Integrity Level D (ASIL D). This certification level requires the highest verification and validation practices throughout the development process and the most rigorous qualification of development tools across all ISO 26262 levels.

Kostal is the first company in China to achieve ISO 26262 ASIL D level certification for an automotive product. The integrated tool chain from MathWorks, including Simulink and Embedded Coder, allowed Kostal engineers to quickly evolve their software development processes and meet ISO 26262 objectives on schedule. The Kostal team performed systematic verification of the models in simulation, conducted model standards checking with Simulink Verification and Validation transitioned at R2017b, and then moved to processor-in-the-loop testing and production code generation with Embedded Coder. The robustness of the software was verified in the development and integration phases with Polyspace Bug Finder and Polyspace Code Prover.

The ISO 26262 certification recognizes that Kostal’s electronic steering column lock module meets the stringent criteria specified in the standard, and provides third parties with an independent means of assessing the capabilities of a potential supplier. The certified electronic steering column lock module has been approved for upcoming production by SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited.

“Our goal is to meet the challenge of developing high-integrity automotive electronics and electronic systems without compromising speed or budget,” said Hui Cheng, platform and process manager, Kostal Asia R&D Center. “Model-Based Design with production code generation has allowed our new electronic steering column lock module to quickly and successfully meet ASIL D requirements. Now, our customers can confidently integrate the module into their systems without compromising their own automotive design and certification objectives.” 

“We are delighted to have supported Kostal in achieving ISO 26262 certification using MathWorks tools,” said Wensi Jin, automotive industry manager, MathWorks. “I am confident that Kostal will continue to gain development efficiency through simulation, production code generation, and early verification.”

About MathWorks

MathWorks is the leading developer of mathematical computing software. MATLAB, the language of technical computing, is a programming environment for algorithm development, data analysis, visualization, and numeric computation. Simulink is a graphical environment for simulation and Model-Based Design for multidomain dynamic and embedded systems. Engineers and scientists worldwide rely on these product families to accelerate the pace of discovery, innovation, and development in automotive, aerospace, electronics, financial services, biotech-pharmaceutical, and other industries. MATLAB and Simulink are also fundamental teaching and research tools in the world's universities and learning institutions. Founded in 1984, MathWorks employs more than 3500 people in 15 countries, with headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA. For additional information, visit mathworks.com.

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Kostal

The family-held enterprise was founded in Lüdenscheid in 1912. In Kostal, the experience in automotive functions gained over decades and at the same time the high level of innovation and development expertise merge, giving it an extraordinary ability in system integration. Kostal employs more than 16,000 employees at 38 locations in 17 countries. In the past fiscal year it achieved a turnover of 2.1 billion euros. You can find more information about Kostal at kostal.com.