Speeding up the whole ECU development process
Streamlining the Process
Developing and optimizing new control functions with dSPACE prototyping systems speeds up the whole ECU development process by giving you early feedback if a control function is ready for or worth taking into production. To streamline the process from prototyping to production, dSPACE prototyping systems allow you to think ahead and take production aspects into account while still at an early stage of development.
Guidance During Modeling
Not all blocks provided by Simulink® and not all modeling styles are suited for efficient and reliable production code generation. Established modeling guidelines are ideal for an early focus on the production code. Another option is the dedicated license-free TargetLink Blockset Stand-Alone, which offers RCP users a subset of Simulink blocks that are highly suitable for production code generation without implementation data having to be entered at the prototyping phase. If you follow guidelines and use the TargetLink Blockset, you can use the same models for rapid control prototyping and the generation of highly efficient production code.
Validation of Production Code on dSPACE Prototyping Systems
In some cases it is useful to verify the production code on the prototyping system. For that purpose, TargetLink’s Stand-Alone Model Manager can be used to generate a stand-alone S-function for Simulink that runs the TargetLink generated production code in a non-TargetLink environment. From there it is possible to generate a real-time application using Real-Time Interface (RTI) from dSPACE even without having TargetLink installed.
Rapid Control Prototyping and ECU Calibration
More and more often, control engineers are considering production issues when they work on rapid control prototyping projects. A well-established approach for this is to include modelling style guides during control design and to define distinct labels for measurement and calibration variables in terms of Simulink objects in the MATLAB® workspace. This way you can use the same controller models and the same labels throughout the development phases.
With ControlDesk for prototyping and ECU calibration you can easily exchange and compare calibration and measurement data from the different development stages. Data sets in ControlDesk can also be fed back into the MATLAB/Simulink environment. In addition, the same instrument panels (layouts) can be used without modification for prototyping and ECU calibration.
