Research

Our motto ‘Preparing you for the future’ is a compelling reason for us to tackle the issue of requirements engineering in research. In our ongoing initiative, we are researching, among other things, what influence artificial intelligence (AI) is having on future requirements engineering and how this relationship will change in the future.

progressivKI

The ‘progressive AI’ project supporting the development of efficient and safe electronic systems for future motor vehicle uses with automated drive functions using a modular AI platform.

Link to progressivKI

The AI research project in which we at HOOD have been active since April 2021 is called progressivKI. We are one of eighteen partners in a consortium led by Robert Bosch Multimedia Car GmbH and edacentrum.
Our common goal is to develop a generic design process with extensive AI support for electronic systems in vehicles. This is becoming more and more important in the development of autonomous and electrically powered vehicles due to the increasing complexity of the systems. The tools used to date are not keeping up with the ever increasing complexity. AI should enable functionally safe electronic systems to be developed faster, more reliably and more cost effectively in the long run. “This will improve both the performance and durability of these electronic systems. In progressivKI, a modular AI platform is being developed. This AI platform can be used flexibly via secure, encrypted and intelligent connectors to the individual (distributed) AI modules”, explains Dr Werner John from edacentrum Hannover, which is responsible for project management.

As a leader in methods for agile systems engineering, we support our customers in implementing complex development plans with appropriate practices. In doing so, we note that no proven specification and verification practices are yet available for safety-critical machine-learning-based cyber-physical systems. Thus, there is still need for research in this area. Within the framework of progressivKI, we will evaluate and detail our hypotheses and conceptual ideas for RE4KI, i.e. the further development of RE for AI systems.
We are also interested in how we can simplify the work of requirements engineers through algorithms and powerful AI systems. For us, the focus is still on people and we are therefore asking ourselves what impact AI will have on the people involved and their cooperation.

The final report on progressivKI can be downloaded via the following link.

SAFE4I

The project about safe automatic software design for industrial plants

Link to SAFE4I

As one of thirteen partners, we are involved in the BMBF sponsored Safe4I project for functionally safe software in the ‘Industry 4.0’ initiative.

If functional requirements and safety requirements are clearly separated, it becomes possible to develop libraries of security patterns. The aim of Safe4i is to describe these patterns using models and to be able to incorporate them in (semi-)automated functional code. In industrial practice, the focus on functional requirements is intended to significantly accelerate implementation, while at the same time complying with safety standards such as IEC 61511 and IEC EN 61508.

As a partner and work-package leader, HOOD ensures that the requirements for safety software specifications are compiled, processes are modelled and meta-models built. We are also involved in ongoing reviews of the activities.