Software development effort estimation for distributed embedded-systems

Mastering the increased complexity of today's programmable electronic systems (PES) is topic of many research and development projects. The risen complexity in real time embedded-systems has been identified as a barrier for a fast time-to-market product development in many projects. At the same time, more and more flexibility, scalability and distributed intelligence are required for new PES. But what does it mean in detail that a PES is more or less complex and how can complexity and its influence on the effort for developing a distributed PES be examined already in the design phase of a development project? This paper discusses a method to estimate complexity and development effort for distributed PES. In addition, the method can be used to compare different possible solutions to achieve an optimised design decision. Therefor, the effort estimation method COCOMO (Constructive Cost Model) was expanded for distributed PES (COCOMOdist). It was validated exemplarily within a practical development project (Distributed Burner Control), resulting in several interesting conclusions.