association for standardisation and measuring systems (ASAM)

Due to increasing competition between automotive manufacturers, the demand for improved production, shorter model lead times and better quality has increased. Manufacturers are therefore being prompted to introduce optimal product delivery processes that include more complex test methods and test systems.

Currently, only computer-based test systems are used in automotive engineering. However, the test methods and test systems are often proprietary and incompatible with those of other manufacturers. As a result, the data sets are not interchangeable and the components of the different test solutions cannot be interconnected.

For these reasons, several German automotive manufacturers and software companies joined forces in the Association for Standardization and Measuring Systems (ASAM) at the beginning of the 1990s with the aim of standardizing data models, interfaces and test methods for a wide range of automotive applications. One of these standards is Open Data Service( ODS). Corresponding standards have been and are being developed under the three-part structure Measurement, Calibration and Diagnostics (MCD).

ASAM MCD-1 summarizes standards for the definition of data interfacesASAM MCD-2: This is the name of the standards for a comprehensive ECU database. ASAMMCD-1 specifies an object-oriented programming interface( API).

In total, more than 70 companies from vehicle manufacturers, system suppliers and tool manufacturers now belong to ASAM.