How to Do Hardware-in-the-Loop

Not only is the number of electronic control units (ECUs) in modern vehicles constantly increasing, the software of the ECUs is also becoming more complex. Both make testing a central task within the development of automotive electronics.
Testing ECUs in real vehicles is time-consuming and costly, and comes very late in the automotive development process. It is therefore increasingly being replaced by laboratory tests using hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation. While new software functions are still being developed or optimized, other functions are already undergoing certain tests, mostly on module level but also on system and integration level. To achieve the highest quality, testing must be done as early as possible within the development process.
This paper describes the various test phases during the development of automotive electronics (from single function testing to network testing of all the ECUs of a vehicle). The requirements for the test system and corresponding concepts are described. The paper also focuses on test methods and technology, and on the options for anchoring HIL simulation into the development process.