Advancements in Hardware-in-the-Loop Technology in Support of Complex Integration Testing of Embedded System Software (2011-01-0443)

Automotive technology is rapidly changing with electrification of vehicles, driver assistance systems, advanced safety systems etc. This advancement in technology is making the task of validation and verification of embedded software complex and challenging. In addition to the component testing, integration testing imposes even tougher requirements for software testing. To meet these challenges dSPACE is continuously evolving the Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) technology to provide a systematic way to manage this task.
The paper presents developments in the HIL hardware technology with latest quad-core processors, FPGA based I/O technology and communication bus systems such as Flexray. Also presented are developments of the software components such as advanced user interfaces, GPS information integration, real-time testing and simulation models.
This paper provides a real-world example of implication of integration testing on HIL environment for Chassis Controls. This application involves the integration of several ECUs such as powertrain, chassis and body electronics. It highlights the integration of plant models required for closed loop, running at different rates. The impact of serial communication on integration testing will also be discussed.
The paper concludes with how the HIL technology development is a continuous task that evolves in lock-step mode with the technical advancements of the automotive industry.