Extended V-Cycle in Automotive Applications: From Requirements Management to MIL Testing

In recent decades, the increasing complexity of vehicle systems and the evolution of environmental regulations have pushed the automotive industry towards the adoption of increasingly structured development methodologies, such as V-Cycle and Model-Based Design, to ensure traceability and continuous validation from requirements to the final product. In this context, my thesis is part of the initial stages of the development of an innovative product, rigorously applying the Extended V-Cycle, an advanced V-Cycle methodology designed for the automotive sector. Starting with a design review of the functional requirements and technical specifications, they then moved on to their translation into virtual models and the validation of the control logic intended for the VMU of a second-generation Fiat Panda, subject to electric conversion through a dedicated kit. Through the use of Simulink and Stateflow, the vehicle's operating states and their transitions between them were formalized, allowing for systematic verification of specifications through simulations and HMI interface. The Extended V-Cycle methodology made it possible to iteratively manage the addition of new features, testing the flexibility and robustness of the model also in collaboration with other students. The path ends with the passage of the developed logic to a subsequent phase of industrialization, confirming the effectiveness of the model-based approach and the extended development cycle for complex and constantly evolving automotive projects.