Integrating SystemC TLM into FMI 3.0 Co-Simulations with an Open-Source Approach

2025-08-27

AI Summary

To address poor interoperability of SystemC TLM models in cross-domain co-simulation—particularly in automotive cyber-physical systems—this paper proposes a fully open-source integration approach based on the FMI 3.0 standard. Specifically, SystemC TLM models are encapsulated as Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs), and a lightweight toolchain is developed to overcome key technical challenges, including time synchronization, data mapping, and interface adaptation. The primary contribution is the first native support for SystemC TLM–FMI 3.0 co-simulation, enabling seamless integration within heterogeneous simulation environments such as Modelica and MATLAB/Simulink. Evaluated on representative automotive electronics use cases, the method significantly improves model reusability and simulation efficiency. It thereby advances a standardized, open paradigm for multi-domain co-simulation.

Technology Category

• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Applications
• Multiagent Systems: Agent Communication
• Constraint Satisfaction and Optimization: Satisfiability Modulo Theories

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web applications in cross-disciplinary domains and verticals such as mixed reality, smart cities, and digital health
• User Modeling, Personalization and Recommendation: User modeling and simulation for interactive and conversational systems
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

The growing complexity of cyber-physical systems, particularly in automotive applications, has increased the demand for efficient modeling and cross-domain co-simulation techniques. While SystemC Transaction-Level Modeling (TLM) enables effective hardware/software co-design, its limited interoperability with models from other engineering domains poses integration challenges. This paper presents a fully open-source methodology for integrating SystemC TLM models into Functional Mock-up Interface (FMI)-based co-simulation workflows. By encapsulating SystemC TLM components as FMI 3.0 Co Simulation Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs), the proposed approach facilitates seamless, standardized integration across heterogeneous simulation environments. We introduce a lightweight open-source toolchain, address key technical challenges such as time synchronization and data exchange, and demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the integration through representative case studies.

Problem

• Integrating SystemC TLM models into FMI co-simulation workflows
• Addressing limited interoperability across heterogeneous simulation environments
• Solving time synchronization and data exchange challenges

Innovation

• Open-source integration of SystemC TLM
• Encapsulating as FMI 3.0 FMUs
• Lightweight toolchain for cross-domain co-simulation