The continuous development of driver assistance and autonomous driving functions for mobility ECUs that rely on the satellite-based detection of position and time requires verification and validation in a safe environment. The requirements for accuracy increase with higher levels of SAE levels of automation. Above SAE level 3 with conditional automated driving ability in the homologation process in particular, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and the signal processing in the ECU and telematic control unit (TCU) of the vehicle are highly safety-relevant.
To meet this important requirement, a GNSS simulator is a useful extension alongside sensors such as cameras, radar devices, etc., which can be seamlessly integrated into a HIL setup. While GNSS simulators were mainly used for navigation in the past, the focus of SAE Level 3 and above is on ADAS/AD and also infotainment functions. The possibility of mapping real global satellite networks as well as the possibility of mapping the respective satellite reception strength is beneficial to the building and testing of different scenarios such as urban districts with dense and tall buildings or a tunnel passage.
GNSS Application Development for a Wide Range of Use Cases
Because the various components of dSPACE hardware and software can be combined extremely flexibly, dSPACE development environments can be used for a wide range of applications. These include:
- Automotive
- Aerospace & defense
- Agriculture
- On-road & off-road commercial vehicles
- Marine
Scenario Definition
The development environment, set up with a combination of hardware and software from dSPACE and tools from our partners Safran and/or Spirent, can be used for a variety of test scenarios, including:
- Setting satellite constellations
- Propagation effects
- Multipath effects
- Jamming and spoofing
- Effects in tunnels and in urban environments
In a typical setup, the GNSS signal generator is connected via Ethernet to the dSPACE real-time system, which runs ASM with an imported real-world road. The GNSS Simulation Interface establishes the communication between the systems via ConfigurationDesk. The real-time system transmits the GNSS simulation data including date, time, and ego-vehicle position to the GNSS signal generator and receives status information. The restbus simulation is also handled from the real-time PC. The device under test, typically the TCU, receives the restbus simulation from the real-time PC and the GNSS signal from the GNSS signal generator.
When using the dSPACE development environment, you can benefit from several advantages:
- Comfortable prototyping and homologation
- Competent engineering services
- Real-time capability
- Synchronization
- Precision in time and position
- Reliability
Safran
Safran offers a wide portfolio of solutions for positioning, navigation, and timing, including tools for generation of real RF signals that mimic satellite signals.
Spirent
Spirent provides solutions that drive innovation and development in positioning, navigation, and timing technologies.
