Buses and Networks

Buses and networks are a mandatory part of the development process for mechatronic systems. Without Ethernet, for example, fully self-driving vehicles would not be possible. That is why dSPACE provides a comprehensive and complete tool chain for simulating, analyzing, and validating networks.

In addition to real-time simulation tools and hardware for in-vehicle and in laboratory use, the dSPACE portfolio includes completely software-based simulation for buses. Requirements for aerospace and industrial applications, for instance, are also covered by the dSPACE product portfolio. If you required solutions for any other applications or project, please contact dSPACE.

Bus & Network Simulation

For bus and network simulation tasks, dSPACE offers standardized solutions for all common automotive bus systems: CAN, CAN FD, LIN, Ethernet, and FlexRay. The comprehensive hardware and software portfolio covers a wide range of application areas, for example, rapid control prototyping and hardware-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop simulations.

Simulation platforms for testing your bus and network systems are available tailored to your specific project needs, ranging from large bandwidth requirements to in-vehicle size restrictions. To connect your network to the simulation platform, dSPACE offers both standardized solutions and customer-specific solutions with several additional bus systems for aerospace and industrial applications. Supported standards include, among others, ARINC 429, ARINC 664, MIL-STD-1553, Profibus, and EtherCAT.

In terms of software, the dSPACE Bus Manager is the main tool for configuring your bus simulation. The Bus Manager supports purely software-based network simulation as well as and hardware-based real-time simulation. Key functions such as end-to-end protection, secure onboard communication, and global time synchronization are integrated into the tool, making the configuration process smooth and comfortable. The Bus Manager is an add-on for dSPACE ConfigurationDesk. Thanks to this integration, it is possible to configure real-time hardware components such as I/O channels within the same software environment as the bus configuration.

Bus & Network Logging and Replay

No matter your specific requirements, dSPACE offers the ideal system.

• For applications requiring a high data bandwidth, AUTERA is the right choice. With an in-vehicle data logging and prototyping system, you can read, process, and record raw network data from lidar, radar, and camera sensors as well as other automotive buses and networks with best-in-class bandwidth.
• If you are running SCALEXIO, you can directly access the CAN, LIN, or Ethernet system interfaces without additional hardware. This makes it easy to analyze your signals without a complex and costly test setup.
• In software-based simulation runs, for example, with dSPACE VEOS, you can also access the network interfaces directly.
• A direct connection between your PC and an ECU is provided by the specialized converters for various bus protocols, such as CAN, LIN, and K-Line. These converters (DCI-KLine1, DCI-CAN/LIN1, DCI-CAN2) allow you to analyze your signals even without a real-time system.
• For in-vehicle applications, you can use the MicroAutoBox III as a bus and network gateway and for monitoring purposes. The MicroAutoBox III is a powerful real-time system for performing fast, in-vehicle function prototyping. It can be added to or replace an electronic control unit (ECU) and lets you experience and test control features in a real environment.

All systems are part of a complete and consistent tool chain. For example, the bus simulation container allows you to reuse your bus configuration together with the environment model on many dSPACE platforms without having to adapt your bus interfaces.

Bus & Network Analyses

For special tasks such as analyzing communication description files, dSPACE offers a dedicated solution: the Communication Matrix Manager.

The Communication Matrix Manager is a stand-alone software for handling communication matrices intuitively, quickly, and affordably. It supports the communication standards Ethernet, FlexRay, CAN, and LIN.  The software provides graphical representations of the content in conventional communication matrix formats (AUTOSAR, FIBEX, DBC, LDF). The representation is independent of the communication matrices and includes a hierarchical view of the different elements, the properties of the elements, filters, and dedicated views. You can easily compare the properties from many different communication matrix elements, for example, clusters, channels, ECUs, PDUs, originating from several communication matrices, thus finding deviations quickly and intuitively. The software makes detecting changes and performing consistency checks easy and user-friendly.