Challenges to a Modern ECU Calibration System

Modern vehicles are increasingly characterized by electronic control systems. With new legislation on exhaust gas emission, the demand for reduced fuel consumption, and rising customer expectations regarding comfort, safety and vehicle variants, the algorithms developed for electronic control units (ECUs) are growing in complexity, and the volume of software and data is increasing rapidly. Engine ECUs with up to ten thousand calibration parameters are already a reality.

Automobile and ECU manufacturers are currently employing several hundred calibration engineers and a correspondingly high number of calibration systems to cope with this task. Thus ECU calibration involves high costs for acquisition, maintenance, training and support. At the same time, the automotive industry is experiencing stiff competition and increasing pressure on costs, so the focus is firmly on economy and investment protection.