Abstract
In this paper we discuss the need of a novel control architecture for managing the growing complexity in modern vehicles and outline a multi-layered approach for self-management in adaptive automotive systems. With this multi-layered control architecture it is possible to react in an adequate and quick way to changes in the supervised technical system. Especially for complex distributed real-time systems with various different requirements and system objectives, like vehicles, this approach provides the necessary degree of flexibility and dependability. In a first evaluation of this control architecture in a realistic automotive scenario we show the advantages of the multi-layered approach compared to a traditional central control architecture.