Making Decisions in Integration of Automotive Software and Electronics: A Method Based on ATAM and AHP

In this paper we present a new method for making decisions on integration strategy for in-vehicle automotive systems. We describe the problem of choosing integration strategy and we describe the method, which is a combination of the Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method, ATAM, and the Analytical Hierarchy Process, AHP. We exemplify the use of the proposed method by evaluating the integration decisions concerning the physical connection of a realistic example system; a computer controlled automatic gearbox. We present analysis on the use of the method and conclude that the method has several benefits compared to ATAM or AHP used individually. The method firstly supports a structured way of listing system goals, and secondly, it also supports the making of design decisions.