Automotive Computer Programming Course

Lesson 1 • Embedded Systems Fundamentals

Introduces microcontroller architecture, memory types, and real-time operating constraints. Connects hardware limitations to software design decisions in automotive contexts.

Lesson 2 • Vehicle Electronic Architecture Overview

Maps the hierarchy of electronic control units and their roles in vehicle operation. Provides the structural context needed for all subsequent programming work.

Lesson 3 • Automotive Communication Protocols

Covers CAN, LIN, FlexRay, and Ethernet bus standards used for inter-module communication. Students trace data frames and understand arbitration and error handling.

Lesson 4 • Tools and Lab Environment Setup

Configures hardware interfaces, software platforms, and bench test equipment for hands-on work. Ensures students can safely connect to live and simulated vehicle networks.

Lesson 1 • Cross-Compilation and Flashing Workflow

Covers toolchain setup, build system configuration, and firmware flashing to target hardware. Students execute a complete build-flash-verify cycle on a bench ECU.

Lesson 2 • Automotive Coding Standards and Style

Introduces MISRA C guidelines and static analysis practices required in production automotive software. Students refactor code to meet industry compliance expectations.

Lesson 3 • Register-Level Hardware Interaction

Teaches direct manipulation of peripheral registers to control I/O, timers, and communication peripherals. Bridges high-level C code to physical hardware behavior.

Lesson 4 • C Language Essentials for Embedded Work

Reviews data types, operators, control flow, and functions with emphasis on memory efficiency. Connects standard C constructs to constraints found in automotive embedded targets.

Lesson 1 • Engine Calibration Fundamentals

Covers fueling, ignition timing, and airflow calibration maps and their effect on performance and emissions. Students make controlled map edits and observe measured responses.

Lesson 2 • Calibration Data Structures and Formats

Explains scalar values, 1D curves, and 2D maps as the primary calibration data structures. Students locate and interpret these structures within ECU memory and calibration files.

Lesson 3 • Calibration Validation and Documentation

Establishes structured test procedures and documentation practices to verify calibration changes meet targets. Students produce calibration reports and change logs.

Lesson 4 • Calibration Software and Toolchains

Introduces industry-standard calibration environments and their connection to ECU measurement and calibration protocols. Students navigate workspaces, import definitions, and log data.

Lesson 1 • AUTOSAR Classic Platform Overview

Covers the AUTOSAR Classic architecture, software component model, and configuration workflow. Students navigate an AUTOSAR toolchain to inspect a preconfigured project.

Lesson 2 • OS and Task Scheduling in AUTOSAR

Covers AUTOSAR OS task types, scheduling tables, and resource management for deterministic execution. Students configure a task set and analyze CPU load distribution.

Lesson 3 • Layered Software Architecture Concepts

Introduces the separation of application, runtime environment, and hardware abstraction layers in automotive software. Students map software components to architectural layers.

Lesson 4 • AUTOSAR Adaptive Platform Introduction

Introduces the service-oriented architecture of AUTOSAR Adaptive for high-compute ECUs. Students contrast Adaptive and Classic deployment scenarios and component models.

Lesson 1 • UDS-Based Reprogramming Sessions

Implements the UDS reprogramming service sequence including session control, erase, download, and validation. Students script and execute a complete reprogramming flow.

Lesson 2 • Bootloader Design and Operation

Covers bootloader startup sequences, jump conditions, and communication stack initialization for reprogramming. Students trace bootloader execution flow on a bench ECU.

Lesson 3 • Flash Error Handling and Recovery

Teaches diagnosis and recovery from interrupted or failed flash sessions using negative response codes and fallback modes. Students restore bricked ECUs using bench tools.

Lesson 4 • Software Version and Compatibility Management

Addresses software part number structures, compatibility matrices, and variant coding after reprogramming. Students resolve version mismatch scenarios on multi-ECU systems.

Lesson 1 • Functional Safety Standards and Concepts

Introduces the automotive functional safety standard framework, safety goals, and integrity level classification. Students distinguish safety-relevant from non-safety software functions.

Lesson 2 • Software Safety Requirements Derivation

Translates system-level safety goals into software safety requirements and architectural constraints. Students write verifiable software safety requirements for a sample function.

Lesson 3 • Software Verification for Safety

Applies unit testing, code coverage measurement, and formal review to safety-relevant software modules. Students achieve required coverage targets on a sample safety function.

Lesson 4 • Safety Mechanisms in Embedded Code

Covers watchdog supervision, memory protection, and plausibility checks as software safety mechanisms. Students integrate these mechanisms into existing embedded C modules.

Lesson 1 • Statistical and Trend Analysis of ECU Data

Applies statistical methods to logged ECU data to detect degradation trends and intermittent faults. Students use data analysis tools to visualize and quantify signal behavior.

Lesson 2 • Custom Diagnostic Routine Development

Teaches scripting of UDS diagnostic sequences to automate fault detection and system checks. Students build reusable diagnostic scripts targeting specific ECU services.

Lesson 3 • Live Data Capture and Signal Decoding

Covers high-speed CAN logging, DBC file-based decoding, and signal extraction from raw bus captures. Students decode a multi-channel bus log to isolate a fault signature.

Lesson 4 • Root Cause Analysis Techniques

Applies structured root cause analysis methods to complex, multi-system automotive faults. Students produce a documented root cause report with corrective action recommendations.

Lesson 1 • OTA Update Architecture and Components

Maps the end-to-end OTA update system from backend server to ECU flash execution. Students identify each component's role and failure point in the update chain.

Lesson 2 • Secure Boot and Code Signing

Implements secure boot chains that verify software authenticity before execution on the ECU. Students configure a code signing workflow and validate boot integrity on a bench target.

Lesson 3 • Automotive Cybersecurity Threat Analysis

Applies threat analysis and risk assessment methodology to identify attack surfaces in vehicle software. Students produce a threat model for an OTA-enabled ECU system.

Lesson 4 • Cryptographic Foundations for Automotive Security

Covers symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing, and digital signatures as applied to ECU software protection. Students verify a signed firmware image using provided tools.