ODX (Open Diagnostic data eX-change) and OTX (Open Test sequence eXchange) standards are very well established description formats for diagnostics in the automotive and related vehicle industries. Especially OTX, which was invented and developed on behalf of OEMs, is now increasingly used in diagnostic systems and applications.
The driver for the standardization of diagnostic description formats is most definitely the exponentially growing complexity of modern and technologically advanced vehicles. Modern automobiles, trucks and especially agricultural and civil engineering machines can have up to 100 or even more electronic control units (ECU) on board.
These have to be covered by the functionality of a diagnostic system used by the technician in the service workshop or in the field. The diagnostic systems also play an important role during the vehicle development and validation process as well as in the production and post-production life cycle stages.