History
openMDM originated as an idea for a reusable systems building block in multi-year planning and implementation projects for measurement data management systems in the Technical Development Department of AUDI AG:
A measurement data management system (“ZEUS”) is created at Audi to apply to the area of “operational stability”. The term “measurement data management” is abbreviated simply to “MDM” from then on.
ZEUS starts to be used. ZEUS has a static application model, communicates via the SUN InfoBus and can be expanded using components based on the SUN InfoBus definition. ZEUS uses a proprietary framework from HighQSoft.
ZEUS is now up and running and continues to be improved and expanded until 2004. This includes installing links to the measurement or evaluation programs TecWare, RPC Pro and ICEflow.
After experiencing success with ZEUS, the software is adapted to a new application (measurement data management for a damper test bench). The static application model is not flexible enough, however. It becomes clear that conversion will be laborious and costly. The need arises for a flexible data model.
Audi recognises the potential of the measurement data management and strengthens the personnel in the department. Shortly thereafter, the analysis phase of the next major project “MeDaMAk” begins. This involves reorganising the “Acoustics” area.
MeDaMAk is now developed based on the new MDM v2. MDM v2 contains a highly generic and extremely flexible data model. But the first tests show that the generic nature slows down the system considerably and MDM v2 is unable to fulfil the performance requirements. Plans for MDM v3 begin.
MDM v3 is completed during these two years. The generic nature of the data model is reduced and supplemented by the so-called “technical administration”. The technical administration is a powerful tool with which the MDM application model is configured and adapted. The data model is adapted automatically. The performance is back once more!
MDM v3 is used widely in Audi. All new projects are based on MDM V3. The technical areas where it is used include “driving performance and fuel consumption”, vehicle acoustics and the management of measurement data from component test benches.
MDM v3 is used widely in Audi. All new projects are based on MDM V3. The technical areas where it is used include “driving performance and fuel consumption”, vehicle acoustics and the management of measurement data from component test benches.
It is intended to release MDM as open source software: MDM is to act as a central hub for the collaboration between development partners and standardisation in the heterogeneous world of measurement and evaluation systems.
Since MDM can be adapted flexibly, and is cost-effective and generally available as an open source system, the most important prerequisites are already in place.
The new open source orientation requires modifications to MDM: the framework from HighQSoft used up to now, which required a licence, is now replaced by free software. OSGI and the MDM-API now appear instead. At the same time, the SUN InfoBus is replaced by CORBA since SUN has undertaken further development on InfoBus.
Since MDM can be adapted flexibly, and is cost-effective and generally available as an open source system, the most important prerequisites are already in place.
The new open source orientation requires modifications to MDM: the framework from HighQSoft used up to now, which required a licence, is now replaced by free software. OSGI and the MDM-API now appear instead. At the same time, the SUN InfoBus is replaced by CORBA since SUN has undertaken further development on InfoBus.
MDM v4 is published as open source software. Large companies such as Bosch, Daimler and FEV join the MDM community as active users and start their own MDM projects.
MDM is consistently maintained and stabilised. Further internal projects are planned and implemented. Recognised software producers (e.g. Head Acoustics, LMS, Müller BBM) link their tools to MDM. Major further design developments take place in the areas of user management, work flow and security.
In order to promote the spread of MDM as an OpenSource-Software, “MDM” is rebranded as “openMDM".
In order to promote the spread of MDM as an OpenSource-Software, “MDM” is rebranded as “openMDM".
