ControlDesk
Universal modular experiment and instrumentation software for electronic control unit (ECU) development
ControlDesk is the dSPACE experiment software for seamless ECU development. It performs all the necessary tasks and gives you a single working environment, from the start of experimentation right to the end.
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ControlDesk 2023-A - New Features
Support of variable mapping according to ASAM XIL; Bus Navigator enhancements
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New ways for cost-effective mild hybrids
Continental’s new belt-driven starter generator uses not only the 48 V vehicle electrical system but also an asynchronous machine as the electric motor and generator – a novelty. dSPACE’s flexible HIL test systems spur the development of the mild hybrid ECU. -
Electric wedge clutch for smoother shifts
Previous attempts at wedge clutches in automatic transmissions often failed because of unpleasant shift jerking. Researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University are working on solving this problem through a precisely controlled electric motor. The validation is based on hardware and software tools by dSPACE.
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Efficient tests for commercial vehicle ECU variants
For commercial vehicles, diversity is a standard. Scania has a nearly endless selection of vehicle types and modular vehicle configurations. And the generic electronic control unit (ECU) system has just as many variants. In a new test lab, Scania shows how this system can be validated with reliability.
- Integrated ECU calibration, measurement and diagnostics access
(CCP, XCP, ODX) - Synchronized data capture across ECUs, RCP and HIL platforms, and bus systems
- Powerful layouting, instrumentation, measurement and post-processing (ASAM MDF)
- Support for the entire dSPACE virtual validation tool chain
Definition of various error sets with the XIL API EESPort GUI in ControlDesk.
Controlling and monitoring electric drives with ControlDesk.
Application Areas
ControlDesk can be used for tasks like these:
- Rapid control prototyping (RCP; fullpass, bypass)
- Hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HIL)
- ECU measurement, calibration, and diagnostics
- Access to vehicle bus systems (CAN, CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet)
- Virtual validation with VEOS and SCALEXIO
Key Benefits
ControlDesk unites functionalities that often require several specialized tools. It provides access to simulation platforms as well as to connected bus systems and can perform measurement, calibration and diagnostics on ECUs, e.g., via standardized ASAM interfaces.
Its flexible modular structure provides high scalability to meet the requirements of specific application cases. This gives you clear advantages in terms of handling, the amount of training needed, the required computing power, and costs.
| Versions | Description |
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| ControlDesk |
The main version of ControlDesk for creating and running experiments, and for accessing dSPACE real‑time hardware and VEOS. The functionality can be extended by optional software modules.
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| ControlDesk – Operator Version1) |
A version of ControlDesk that provides only a subset of functionality for running existing experiments. The functionality can be extended by optional software modules.
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| Additional Modules | Description |
|---|---|
| ECU Interface Module |
An optional software module for ControlDesk for calibration and measurement access to electronic control units (ECUs). The module is also required for calibration and measurement access to virtual ECUs (V‑ECUs) used in SIL testing scenarios.
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| ECU Diagnostics Modul |
An optional software module for ControlDesk that facilitates the calibration and validation of ECU diagnostic functions.
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| Signal Editor Module3) |
An optional software module for ControlDesk for the graphical definition and execution of signal generators for stimulating model variables of real-time/offline simulation applications.
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| Bus Navigator Module4) |
An optional software module for ControlDesk for handling bus messages, such as CAN, LIN, and FlexRay messages, frames, and PDUs and Ethernet packets.
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1) MCD-3 automation functionality not supported.
2) Also for access to simulated virtual ECUs.
3) Signal generation not supported for the DS1104.
4) New with ControlDesk 22.2: the CONTROLDESK_BNV license can be used alone as Bus Navigator (stand-alone).
5) FlexRay not supported in Bus Navigator (stand-alone).
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