The Basics of Testing ECU Software

What is an ECU? 

The car has a device called an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that controls every other subsystem that involves electrical and electronic components.

ECU regulates passenger safety features like airbags and mechanical disaster braking and access features like keyless entry and door locks. ECUs need to be connected to a local network and should be supplied with power to operate the firmware installed on the chips. 

 

How Does An ECU Works?

An ECU gathers data from different subsystems of an automotive. When the driver/user presses the lock/unlock button on a wireless key fob; the door lock ECU receives command and generates signals to perform the task. Crash sensors, senses if someone is sitting on the seat during a crash and sends a signal to the airbag control unit. An automatic emergency braking ECU would get information from radars in front of the car that can tell when the vehicle is moving too fast toward an obstacle.

 

Testing ECU Software 

Validating a real ECU means testing it in a controlled environment. To reduce the chances of adjacent components getting affected when an ECU malfunctions. OEMs carry out simulations of these tests in a virtual environment. 

In addition to static signals, model-based signals that change can be used to make the simulation more realistic.

It is essential to use real-time systems with computing power. You can use other simulation models, such as Functional Mock-up Units (FMUs), so you can always choose the best model for your test scenario.

The goal of FMU is to support the real product, which will be built from a variety of components interacting in intricate ways and each subject to a complicated system of physical rules. The ability to generate a virtual product from a collection of models, each of which represents a set of parts, should then be available. Each model complies with physical rules and a digitally produced model of the control systems (using electronics, hydraulics, and software).

This makes the test environment for your ECUs even real. Once you put your efforts into setting up your communication, you can easily use it for other projects. This makes it easier to set up the test scenario.

ECU-TEST automatically controls the whole test environment and works with many test tools. It can be used on different testing levels, like Software In Loop, Hardware In Loop, Model In Loop, and natural systems, because it has different abstraction layers for measured quantities (vehicle and driver in the loop). Using ECU tests to make test cases is easy and doesn't require any programming skills. Test-case descriptions have a generic format, which, along with many parameterization and configuration options, makes it easy to use existing tests in multiple development phases.

 

Areas of Application

 

ECUs are used in automated and automated tests for networked embedded systems in the automotive industry. Similarly, it is used in SiL and HiL are simulated vehicle environments that are used to test ECUs. 

Advantages

• User-Friendliness

The easy-to-use user interface makes it possible to test ECU software and hardware quickly and effectively without learning a lot. In this regard, choosing the best ECU tuning software is vital. There are controls for making test cases and plug-ins for tool control and variable mapping. Hence, these are also used on several test bed systems in a networked test environment.

• Reusability

Test cases can have parameters and be set up in a certain way. Because of the generic test description (the cross-mapping concept), the generated test cases are almost independent of the specific hardware. Moreover, the software in the test environment can be used repeatedly. At the same time, the electronic control unit price is not that much, so you can even buy a new one if you are not reusing it. 

• Documentation

All of the test results are written down and easy to look at. Overviews are made so people can get a quick feel for the tests, but more detailed views of each test are also shown. It's easy to save or print the reports for your records.

 

Job Opportunities for ECU Software

ECU managers will primarily assist in the development of embedded electronic control unit hardware for use in automobiles. Analog and digital circuit design support, simulation support, electromagnetic compatibility design and PCB layout support are all part of the job description. Developing an EMC test strategy, resolving EMC anomalies, negotiating product requirements, doing hardware-in-the-loop testing, assisting with prototype testing, writing EOL tester standards, and seeing the project through from concept to production are all part of the job. In addition, this role will assist with investigating the causes of customer-returned modules throughout the production phase.

 

Conclusion

Automakers can successfully integrate software into all of their high-tech vehicle components, systems, and functions thanks to two key processes: testing and validation. By gathering information from car sensors and evaluating the performance of the sensors in a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) system, developers can test certain ECUs. Automakers and Tier 1s can examine the performance, safety, and energy requirements of individual components or complete cars using specialised test systems, employing particular criteria to discover flaws in comparison to predefined standards.

If you wish to know more about the ECU test tool, or get into an online course in the architecture for automobiles, try the Introduction to ECU and AUTOSAR is available with Skill-Lync. 

Visit Skill-Lync to see how it has become easier to test ECU tools software, by getting enrolled in one of our courses. Skill- Lync offers a variety of courses to explore the horizon on learning ECU Softwares that are helpful for beginners as well as the experts in the field.