Using CAD Tools for Embedded System Design:
obstacles encountered in an automotive case study

Philip Koopman
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Published in Integrated Computer Aided Engineering, 5(1) 85-94, 1998.

Abstract

Historically, digital system CAD research has emphasized increasing the size and complexity of the largest feasible design. However, the success of embedded system design efforts may depend more on design flexibility and lifecycle cost optimization than on an ability to synthesize hardware containing millions of transistors. This paper reports the results of a case study using a commercial CAD tool to redesign an automotive electronics product. Although the tool was in fact able to perform the required design synthesis, the case study uncovered obstacles to the adoption of CAD tools by some classes of embedded system designers.

CMU Engineering Design Research Center Technical Report EDRC 05-103-96 is the long version of this paper, and is available on-line.

pdf file (115 KB)

koopman@cmu.edu