Methodical Approach for Efficient and Well-Structured Development of Automated Vehicle Functions

Modern automotive systems are increasingly defined by a network of interacting hardware and software components, shifting from isolated systems to open, connected, and serviceoriented architectures. This imposes significant demands on the system development process due to integration in existing systems, regulatory requirements, and the necessity for validation and testing. While Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and the RFLP (Requirements, Functional, Logical, Physical) approach offer promising frameworks for structured system development, their adoption in industry remains challenging. This paper proposes that embedding existing system engineering approaches, such as MBSE or RFLP, within existing organizational structures and aligning them with current processes can significantly enhance acceptance and effectiveness. Additionally, applying a top-down development strategy, starting from early system-level RFLP models, promotes consistent architecture decomposition, improves traceability, and supports flexible and early testing methods. This integrated approach enhances verification and validation processes, reduces integration risks, and supports the delivery of safer and more reliable automotive systems.