PRD Platform: Embedded development and SDK validation for a major car manufacturer

Background & Challenges

The rise of connected vehicles, telematics platforms and in-vehicle digital services has profoundly transformed the needs of car manufacturers. To support this transition, a major global player in the sector has entrusted Dunasys with the responsibility of managing the development and validation of its entire in-vehicle software environment.

To this end, Dunasys established an internal centre of excellence, the PRD, entirely dedicated to the development of in-vehicle applications, SDK validation, platform integration and test automation. This team operates at the heart of the manufacturer’s telematics architecture and works on several generations of modules, covering both legacy platforms and new connected systems.

The PRD must guarantee the reliability, security and compliance of embedded software whilst ensuring a delivery cadence compatible with the manufacturer’s production cycles. This is a strategic role, as every validated SDK, every delivered application and every automated test directly contributes to the stability of millions of vehicles deployed worldwide.

Project challenges

From the very outset, the project proved to be highly complex. Embedded platforms utilise a variety of environments, some of which are legacy systems from previous generations, whilst others are based on new technology stacks. The diversity of interfaces, the critical nature of communication protocols (CAN, CAN FD, LS-HS, MQTT) and the requirement for comprehensive validation demanded a rigorous methodology and advanced expertise.

The challenge was not limited to developing or validating code; it involved creating a complete, industrialised, reliable and reproducible pipeline, covering:

• understanding the manufacturer’s specifications,
• integration on test benches and real platforms,
• validation via automated campaigns,
• defect management and version tracking,
• delivery of embedded software ready for vehicle integration.

The pace of work was intense. A full SDK validation had to be delivered on three-week cycles, followed by periods dedicated to non-regression testing and defect rectification. Embedded application development, meanwhile, had to be completed within two weeks of development and two weeks of validation, following a strict Agile methodology.

To meet these challenges, Dunasys structured the PRD as a true centre of excellence, bringing together embedded development, validation, integration and in-house tools.

Our role

The PRD acts as one of the central pillars of the manufacturer’s embedded development. Its responsibilities cover the entire software development lifecycle, from specification analysis through to the delivery of validated code.

• The team is responsible for validating the SDKs, which are the fundamental building blocks providing the APIs and frameworks used by the manufacturer’s embedded systems. This work involves analysing the technical documentation provided, integrating new versions of the SDK, executing validation scenarios, measuring compliance and documenting all results. Each campaign is followed by a non-regression phase to ensure the stability of previous versions.
• In parallel, the PRD develops the embedded applications intended for the manufacturer’s telematics module. These applications, written mainly in C++ and based on the Machina.io or Legato frameworks depending on the generation, provide essential functions such as data collection, authentication, network communication and event analysis. Each application follows a comprehensive process ranging from requirements analysis to final validation on the platform.
• Finally, the PRD manages the integration and qualification chain through structured processes, rigorous documentation, comprehensive JIRA tracking and ongoing communication with the manufacturer’s technical teams.

In-house tools developed by Dunasys

To ensure consistent quality and speed up development cycles, Dunasys has developed several in-house tools that play a key role in the project’s success.

• The first, DunaFD, is a CAN FD simulator capable of generating, manipulating and replaying complex frames. Where off-the-shelf tools are expensive or inflexible, DunaFD enables the simulation of complete scenarios, the replay of real-world traces and the automatic response to CAN segments. It is one of the cornerstones of automated communication testing, now capable of covering CAN FD, CAN LS-HS and various interfaces via Kvaser.
• The second tool, DataWakeup, enables the telematics unit to be woken via MQTT and network events to be simulated. It plays a vital role in testing sequences related to the module’s lifecycle, sleep and wake-up modes, and the interactions of the connected vehicle.
• Finally, DunaATP constitutes the PRD’s automation environment. This tool brings together various scripts, orchestrates the execution of automated scenarios and enables the launch of comprehensive validation campaigns. Thanks to it, a large proportion of the manufacturer’s tests are executed without human intervention, ensuring reproducibility and a significant acceleration of cycles.

Together, these in-house tools enable a considerable reduction in validation time whilst increasing test coverage.

Results & Added Value

The deployment of the PRD has transformed the way the manufacturer validates and maintains its embedded systems. Development and validation cycles have been standardised into a predictable format that meets industry requirements. Automation has reduced testing times and increased the reliability of deliverables, whilst minimising the risk of human error.

The in-house tools designed by Dunasys have delivered significant value. DunaFD has enabled the simulation of complex scenarios that were previously impossible to reproduce. DataWakeup has streamlined telematics lifecycle management. DunaATP has made it possible to perform comprehensive, continuous validations. Together, they have improved the project’s overall efficiency and ensured consistent quality across several generations of in-vehicle platforms.

The manufacturer now benefits from a PRD centre capable of rapidly processing new SDK versions, delivering robust in-vehicle applications and ensuring stable integration into its connected architecture.

Conclusion

The PRD division embodies Dunasys’s ability to support a major car manufacturer in managing its in-vehicle systems. Thanks to its solid expertise, an industrial approach to software development and high-performance in-house tools, Dunasys helps to ensure the reliability of the software core in millions of vehicles.

Beyond validation and development, the PRD represents a genuine technical partnership, in which innovation, rigour and automation enable the continuous improvement of the manufacturer’s in-vehicle system performance.

The result is a more stable software environment that is quicker to deploy and better managed, serving a new generation of connected vehicles.