AUTOSAR and Embedded System: MCAL Integration

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This blog is about understanding of MCAL definition, different modules, Configuration and Integration process

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Table of contents

What is MCAL?
How to integrate MCAL in the vector product as 3rd Party software?
Configuration and Code Generation for AUTOSAR MCAL Drivers
AUTOSAR MCAL Driver Development

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What is MCAL?

MicroController Abstraction Layer (MCAL) is a software module that enables direct access to on-chip MCU peripheral modules and makes the upper software layer independent of the MCU.

MCAL is located in the lowest layer in the AUTOSAR architecture. which makes the higher level software independent of a microcontroller.

Figure 1 : AUTOSAR architecture

Figure 2: MCAL Module detail

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How to integrate MCAL in the vector product as 3rd Party software?

This is most important step for starting the Autosar project. whoever working on the BSW configuration and Integration should know the MCAL integration because every new SIP (software -Integrated-Package) from vector needs the MCAL Integration.

First Step: after the SIP installation, we should go to

<installed drive C:\>Vector\<SIP-name>\Doc\TechnicalReferences

search 'TechnicalReference_3rdParty-MCAL-Integration.pdf" document.

Second Step: in the Technical reference document each and every steps mentioned.

follow the steps before proceed further please install all the required microcontroller vendor packages in the local PC. such as MCAL/base packages', EB tool.

Third step: Go to C:\Vector\<SIP Name>\ThirdParty\Mcal_<MCU_Name>\VectorIntegration

Run the Script_MCAL_Prepare. bat file

Enter the command "--prepare" and Press "Enter"

Fourth step: select the "MCAL\Base package" and select the path to be installed. click "Start"

Fifth Step: select MCU derivatives click "Copy files" and click "Ok"

in very simple steps we can complete the integration in the vector SIP.

Workflow: Vector MCAL Integration Package

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Configuration and Code Generation for AUTOSAR MCAL Drivers using EB tresos

Prerequisites:

Download MCAL modules SRS and SWS from autosar.org and go through it.
SWS spec contains the requirements of driver. we can see SWS spec for each MCAL module such ADC, DIO, PWM ..etc.
Configuration of MCAL means we need to configure set of parameters in the driver module for example MCU module configurations are McuClockSettingConfig, McuClockSrcFailureNotification, or clock reference.
Tools used for MCAL configuration and code generation is EB tresos.

Step 1: Install EB tresos

Step 2: Install EB MCAL plugins

Step 3: Create a new EB tresos project for MCU, File->New->Configuration Project

Step4: Provide the Project name and location and click next

Step 5: Provide ECU Id and Target

Step 6: Select the modules and finish

Step 7: Double click on the required module and start configure the parameters

Step 8: Export the module. it will generate configured .arxml files. these files can be used for MCAL code generation.

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AUTOSAR MCAL Driver Development

MCAL Driver Development activity contains develop static code of the driver by using Autosar MCAL specification and microcontroller user manual or any specifications related to microcontroller.

for this activity microcontroller vendors can support for Hardware spec or pin diagram or peripheral details.

Below picture shows the TC2xx MCAL driver development.