Table of contents
- Introduction To SWC In AUTOSAR
- Definition Of Software Component In AUTOSAR
- Types Of Software Components In AUTOSAR
- Analog (Sensor or Actuator) Handler SWC In AUTOSAR
- Digital (GPIO) Handler SWC In AUTOSAR
- Parameter Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
- Composition Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
- Service Proxy Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
- ECU Abstraction Software Components (SWC) In AUTOSAR
- Nvblock Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
Introduction To SWC In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), a software component is a self-contained unit of software that can be developed, tested, and deployed independently. It is a modular building block that can be used to construct an AUTOSAR software system. A software component typically has a well-defined interface that specifies how it can interact with other components in the system. The software components in an AUTOSAR system are typically organized into a hierarchy of software modules, which helps to structure the overall system and make it more modular and reusable.
Definition Of Software Component In AUTOSAR
The main purpose of the Software Components in AUTOSAR is to make it reusability and to design a software module independent of Embedded Hardwares. But there are some places where both have to meet and fit. This is called “AtomicSwComponentTypes” that encapsulates the implementation of their functionality and behavior and to expose the well-defined connection points, called “PortPrototypes”, to the outside world.

Types Of Software Components In AUTOSAR
The SWCs are divided into different types, such as:
- Application SWC.
- Analog (Sensor or Actuator) Handler SWC.
- Digital (GPIO) Handler SWC.
- Parameter SWC.
- Composition SWC.
- Service SWC.
- Service Proxy SWC.
- ECU Abstraction SWC.
- Nvblock SWC.
- CDD SWC.
Application Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
The Application Software Components in AUTOSAR is a sub-module of full functionality of ECU software. each sub-module is a small component of any ECU software. This is also called an atomic components, because that can be devided again. An atomic Software Componet can not be decomposed into smaller units and can be assigned to only one ECU. Application Software Components are the main building blocks of the ECU.
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), an Application Software Component (SWC) is a software module that implements a specific function or service that is required by the system. The Application SWCs are typically developed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or the system integrator and are used to implement the desired behavior of the system.
The Application SWCs are part of the Application layer in the AUTOSAR architecture, which is located above the Basic Software (BSW) layer. The BSW layer provides a set of standardized services and functions that can be used by the Application SWCs, such as communication, memory management, and error handling.
The Application SWCs are typically developed using the AUTOSAR software development kit (SDK), which provides tools and libraries for creating, testing, and deploying AUTOSAR-compliant software. The Application SWCs are designed to be reusable and platform-independent, so that they can be used in a variety of automotive systems.
The Application SWCs are responsible for tasks such as:
- Implementing the functional behavior of the system, such as control algorithms, data processing, or user interfaces
- Providing services to other software components in the system through standardized service interfaces
- Communicating with other software components and with external devices through the BSW layer
- Performing error detection and handling, such as checking for invalid input data or detecting system failures
- Providing diagnostic information to other software components or to external diagnostic tools.
Analog (Sensor or Actuator) Handler SWC In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), an Analog (Sensor or Actuator) Handler is a Software Components in AUTOSAR is responsible for handling the communication with analog sensors or actuators. These sensors and actuators are often used in automotive systems to measure physical quantities such as temperature, pressure, or acceleration, or to control actuators such as motors or valves.
The Analog (Sensor or Actuator) Handler component is typically implemented as a driver that communicates with the hardware through a hardware-specific interface, such as an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a pulse width modulator (PWM). It provides a standardized interface for other software components in the system to access the data from the analog sensors or to control the analog actuators.
The Analog (Sensor or Actuator) Handler component is part of the Basic Software (BSW) layer in the AUTOSAR architecture. It is designed to be platform-independent and reusable, so that it can be used in a variety of automotive systems.
The Analog (Sensor or Actuator) Handler component is typically responsible for tasks such as:
- Initializing and configuring the hardware interface
- Reading data from analog sensors and converting it to a digital format
- Providing data to other software components in the system through standardized service interfaces
- Controlling analog actuators by writing data to the hardware interface
- Performing error detection and handling, such as checking for hardware faults or out-of-range sensor values
- Providing diagnostic information to other software components or to external diagnostic tools.
Digital (GPIO) Handler SWC In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), a Digital (GPIO) Handler is a software component that is responsible for handling the communication with digital input/output (I/O) devices, such as general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins. These devices are often used in automotive systems to read digital signals from sensors or to control actuators such as indicators or relays.
The Digital (GPIO) Handler Software Components in AUTOSAR is typically implemented as a driver that communicates with the hardware through a hardware-specific interface, such as a microcontroller’s GPIO pins or a serial peripheral interface (SPI). It provides a standardized interface for other software components in the system to access the data from the digital I/O devices or to control them.
The Digital (GPIO) Handler component is part of the Basic Software (BSW) layer in the AUTOSAR architecture. It is designed to be platform-independent and reusable, so that it can be used in a variety of automotive systems.
The Digital (GPIO) Handler component is typically responsible for tasks such as:
- Initializing and configuring the hardware interface
- Reading data from digital I/O devices and providing it to other software components in the system through standardized service interfaces
- Controlling digital I/O devices by writing data to the hardware interface
- Performing error detection and handling, such as checking for hardware faults or invalid input data
- Providing diagnostic information to other software components or to external diagnostic tools.
Parameter Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), a Parameter software component is a software module that stores and manages configuration parameters for other software components in the system. These configuration parameters are used to customize the behavior of the system or to adapt it to different hardware or software platforms.
The Parameter software component is typically implemented as a library that provides a set of functions and data structures for accessing and modifying the configuration parameters. The configuration parameters are typically stored in a non-volatile memory, such as flash memory or EEPROM, and are loaded into the system at runtime.
The Parameter software component is part of the Basic Software (BSW) layer in the AUTOSAR architecture. It is designed to be platform-independent and reusable, so that it can be used in a variety of automotive systems.
The Parameter software component is typically responsible for tasks such as:
- Storing and managing the configuration parameters for other software components in the system
- Providing a standardized interface for accessing and modifying the configuration parameters
- Performing error detection and handling, such as checking for invalid parameter values or corrupt data
- Providing diagnostic information to other software components or to external diagnostic tools.
Composition Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), a Composition Software Components in AUTOSAR is a software module that combines other software components into a logical unit, typically to implement a specific function or service that is required by the system. The Composition SWCs are typically developed by the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or the system integrator and are used to coordinate the behavior of the system.
The Composition SWCs are part of the Application layer in the AUTOSAR architecture, which is located above the Basic Software (BSW) layer. The Composition SWCs use the services and functions provided by the BSW layer to communicate with other software components and with external devices.
The Composition SWCs are typically developed using the AUTOSAR software development kit (SDK), which provides tools and libraries for creating, testing, and deploying AUTOSAR-compliant software. The Composition SWCs are designed to be reusable and platform-independent, so that they can be used in a variety of automotive systems.
The Composition SWCs are responsible for tasks such as:
- Coordinating the behavior of other software components in the system, such as by sending commands or data to other components or by reacting to events or signals
- Providing a higher-level function or service to other software components in the system through a standardized interface
- Communicating with other software components and with external devices through the BSW layer
- Performing error detection and handling, such as by reacting to failures or errors in other components
- Providing diagnostic information to other software components or to external diagnostic tools.
Service Software Component In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), a Service Software Components in AUTOSAR is a software component that provides a service to other components in the system. A service is a well-defined functionality that can be accessed by other components through a standardized interface.
A service software component is typically designed to perform a specific task or set of tasks, such as reading data from a sensor, performing calculations, or controlling a device. It may be used by one or more other components in the system to perform a specific function.
Service software components are a key part of the AUTOSAR architecture, as they allow different components in the system to communicate with each other and access shared functionality in a standardized way. This makes it easier to develop, test, and maintain complex systems with multiple ECUs (Electronic Control Units).
Some examples of service software components in AUTOSAR might include a component that provides access to a database, a component that performs data validation, or a component that controls a device such as a motor or actuator.
Service Proxy Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), a Service Proxy is a Software Components in AUTOSAR that provides access to a service provided by another software component in the same or a different ECU (Electronic Control Unit). The service proxy acts as an intermediary between the requesting component and the providing component, allowing the components to communicate with each other without needing to know the specifics of the other component’s implementation.
A service proxy can be used to provide several benefits:
- It allows components to communicate with each other using a standardized interface, rather than having to rely on a specific implementation. This makes it easier to change or replace the providing component without affecting the requesting component.
- It decouples the requesting and providing components, making it easier to develop, test, and maintain each component independently.
- It allows the providing component to be located on a different ECU, allowing for greater flexibility in the architecture of the system.
- It can provide additional functionality, such as error handling and logging, which can be useful for debugging and diagnostics.
Service proxies are a key part of the AUTOSAR architecture, as they allow components to communicate with each other in a standardized and flexible way, enabling the development of complex systems with multiple ECUs.
ECU Abstraction Software Components (SWC) In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) Abstraction Software Component is a software component that provides a standardized interface for accessing hardware and software resources on an ECU. It acts as an intermediary between the hardware and software resources and the other components in the system, allowing them to communicate with the ECU without needing to know the specifics of the ECU’s implementation.
ECU Abstraction Software Components are used to abstract the hardware and software resources of an ECU, making it easier to develop, test, and maintain the other components in the system. They provide a layer of separation between the hardware and software resources and the other components, allowing the components to be developed and tested independently.
ECU Abstraction Software Components are a key part of the AUTOSAR architecture, as they allow components to communicate with the ECU in a standardized and flexible way, enabling the development of complex systems with multiple ECUs. Some examples of ECU Abstraction Software Components in AUTOSAR might include a component that provides access to a memory location, a component that controls a device such as a motor or actuator, or a component that provides access to a communication bus
Nvblock Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), an NvBlock (Non-Volatile Memory Block) Software Components in AUTOSAR is a software component that provides access to a specific region of non-volatile memory (such as EEPROM or flash memory). It is used to store data that needs to be preserved across power cycles, such as configuration parameters or calibration values.
An NvBlock Software Component provides a standardized interface for accessing the non-volatile memory, allowing other components in the system to read and write data to the memory without needing to know the specifics of the memory’s implementation. It may also provide additional functionality, such as error handling and logging, to aid in debugging and diagnostics.
NvBlock Software Components are a key part of the AUTOSAR architecture, as they allow components to access and store data in a standardized and flexible way. They are commonly used to store data that needs to be preserved across power cycles, such as configuration parameters or calibration values, and can be used to improve the reliability and robustness of the system.
CDD Software Component (SWC) In AUTOSAR
In AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture), a CDD (Component Description Document) Software Component is a software component that defines the interface and behavior of a specific software component in the system. It is used to provide information about the component to other components in the system, allowing them to communicate with and use the component in a standardized way.
A CDD Software Component typically includes information such as the component’s name, its purpose and functionality, the interfaces it provides and requires, and any dependencies it has on other components or resources. It may also include information about the component’s behavior, such as its input and output data, its execution timing, and any error conditions it may encounter.
CDD Software Components are a key part of the AUTOSAR architecture, as they allow components to communicate with each other in a standardized and well-defined way. They help to ensure that components can be developed, tested, and integrated into the system in a consistent and reliable manner.
The software components use ports to send or receive the data. These datas are called signal. The interface of those is called signal interface. These ports provides a communication between the software components as well as with the AUTOSAR BSW. This is called Runnable Entity.
Here we have discussed about the software componets. These Software components might be in Application Layer or BSW layer of AUTOSAR software architecture. We can have a separate technical article on Application related software components and BSW layer software components later.