Independence from Specific Simulation Hardware
In July 2009, ASAM (Association for Standardisation of Automation and Measuring Systems) released the new HIL API standard, defining an interface to connect test automation tools with any HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) system.

The HIL API standardizes the following aspects:

• Access to HIL simulators
• Access to ECUs for measurement and calibration tasks
• Access to diagnostics
• Access to electric failure simulation

Advantages for Users
AutomationDesk^® already supports parts of Version 1.0 of the HIL API standard. For users of the dSPACE test automation software, it is now easier to use tests with any HIL simulator. This increases test reuse, helping to protect investments and reduce development costs and time. Moreover, users only have to buy one program and learn how to operate it – even if they want to access different simulators.

Independent Test Exchange Format

AutomationDesk supports the import and export of projects, folders, tests, and custom libraries as XML files. Using XML to import and export test descriptions means that tests can be exchanged between different test tools. For example, to be imported from a third-party tool or from a proprietary test description, a test simply needs to be converted into AutomationDesk's XML format.

Use Case
XML files open up numerous new application options, such as:

• Reading and reviewing tests without AutomationDesk
• Converting tests into different file formats
• Migrating test that were created with proprietary home-made tools into AutomationDesk
• Generating tests from third-party tools, like Microsoft^® Excel^®, and integrating them into AutomationDesk

HIL API Standard
The HIL API standard has been released by ASAM. It is a standardized interface to connect test automation tools like AutomationDesk to any kind of HIL system. As a HIL API-based test can be executed on another HIL system without any problems, the standard enables truly platform-independent test development.