Apparatus for testing an object under test, method for operating the apparatus for testing an object under test, and use for testing the apparatus.
The apparatus and method enhance control device testing by using an external interpreter to prioritize and display critical test data and messages, addressing inefficiencies in existing systems and improving response times.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- DSPACE SE & CO KG
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-29
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-29
AI Technical Summary
Existing testing methods for control devices, such as ControlDesk, are inefficient in providing real-time, high-priority alerts and monitoring, leading to potential delays in addressing critical issues during development and testing.
An apparatus and method that utilize an external interpreter to prioritize and display critical test data and messages on a user interface, separate from primary data, ensuring timely notification of urgent issues without affecting platform performance.
Enables real-time monitoring and alerting of critical issues during testing, reducing response time to problems and optimizing the testing process.
Smart Images
Figure 2026525223000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to an apparatus for testing a test object and a method for operating the apparatus for testing the test object. The application further relates to the use of the apparatus for testing.
[0002] Background Art The applicant has made known experimental software ControlDesk (trademark) for the consistent development of control devices. By using the above experimental software, a large number of tasks that occur particularly in development and testing can be executed in the same working environment from the start to the end of the experiment. For details of the above experimental software, see, for example https: / / www.dspace.com / de / gmb / home / products / sw / experimentandvisualization / controldesk.cfm for reference.
[0003] Based on the background of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for testing that develops the prior art, a method for operating the apparatus for testing, and the use of the apparatus for testing. Preferably, according to the present invention, problems of the prior art are reduced or solved.
[0004] Summary The test object is arranged in a test environment. The apparatus for testing the test object has a platform configured to operate a test of the test object and exchange first data with a display for a user, and an external interpreter configured to query second data from the platform by executing script instructions via an interface and form a message that can be displayed on the display and has a higher priority than the first data with respect to urgency and / or importance. and has The display can show messages and primary data, depending on their respective priorities.
[0005] Furthermore, a method is proposed for operating equipment that tests objects placed within a test environment. In this case, this method is The exchange of first data between the platform running the test of the object under test and the user's display, A script running on an external interpreter queries the platform for second data via an interface, A script running on an external interpreter forms a message based on a first check of second data, wherein the message is displayable on a screen and has a higher priority in terms of urgency and / or importance than the first data. Includes.
[0006] As an optional means, the message can be displayed on the display. In addition to being displayed on the display, the formed message can also be processed, for example, for a supply position for a further processing step, or for another safety device.
[0007] The test equipment and methods enable variable monitoring of the test object without affecting platform performance, such as the performance of ControlDesk®.
[0008] The apparatus and method allow for monitoring of a second data set from a platform by examining the second data set. Since an external interpreter is used, the platform's performance is hardly affected, or only imperceptibly affected. Nevertheless, the apparatus and method present here create a mechanism that displays messages regarding urgency and / or importance on a user-facing display based on the examination of the second data. This allows for the user to be informed about a problem as quickly as possible and to directly investigate and resolve the problem. This leads to the optimal use of the apparatus and method.
[0009] The device may consist of software modules running on one or more processors or on multiple cores of a multi-core processor. However, the device can also be configured as a combination of software and hardware.
[0010] Testing of a test object is understood to be an inspection of the functionality of the test object, where the inspection is preferably carried out according to a predetermined test specification or inspection specification. Such a test object may be a control device including control device software or corresponding software or other similarly configured objects. The test object here is inspected for its functionality with respect to the configured input data that applies the test device to the test object. The test environment here allows access to the test object in a defined and structured manner by providing a corresponding interface.
[0011] This allows the test environment to provide an environment that enables, for example, hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing or software-in-the-loop (SIL) testing for test objects configured as hardware, software, or hardware containing software. This is an energy-saving and resource-friendly method for testing the functionality of, for example, control devices. Alternatively, in the case of vehicle control devices, a test drive of several kilometers could be performed to test the functionality of such devices in a real-world scenario. However, this is time-consuming, expensive, and requires significant resources.
[0012] For example, in many cases, a "true" control unit is not yet available in the early development phases of control unit development, which may lead to the requirement that testing should first be performed only using a simulated software-based test environment.
[0013] Therefore, the test environment inspects the object under test, such as a control device or control device software, while the platform exchanges data with the test environment. Monitoring and visualization are achieved through the platform, particularly via a display. This allows the user to view the current or past results of the test of the object under test. For example, if a battery control device is being inspected in a situation where the test environment simulates a battery environment (e.g., a storage battery) using, for example, power electronics circuits, the test environment supplies data to the battery control device in order to perform a comprehensive inspection of the battery control device.
[0014] The platform can be configured as a software module or as a combination of software and hardware, and is further configured to run tests on the object under test. Here, first data is transmitted from the platform to a user display. The first data can also be transmitted from the display to the platform when the user performs input via an input device, for example. Thus, the first data is exchanged between the display and the platform. For this purpose, both the display and the platform have corresponding interfaces. Finally, in one embodiment of the present invention, the platform also functions to visualize the first data only when the test environment autonomously performs tests on the object under test.
[0015] Furthermore, the external interpreter is provided and configured to query second data from the platform via the interface by executing script instructions, and, depending on the first examination of the second data, to form a message that is displayable on the display and has a higher priority in terms of urgency and / or importance than the first data. The message and the first data can be displayed on the display, depending on their respective priorities.
[0016] Therefore, by assigning priorities, the display can be used to show the platform's primary data, as well as to show messages. Users will have access to both types of information on the display.
[0017] An interpreter is understood as a computer program that directly executes a sequence of instructions, in which case the format of the instructions is set. For this purpose, the interpreter reads one or more source data, analyzes this source data, and then executes this source data instruction by instruction by directly executing program code provided for this purpose, sometimes via intermediate steps. The interpreter translates the instructions into a more advanced programming language and executes it without requiring explicit compilation. Interpreters are suitable for performing error analysis. An interpreter is externally formed, meaning it is logically separated from a platform that may itself have an internal interpreter.
[0018] The platform interface is a software interface, especially when both the external interpreter and the platform are software modules running on the same processor or with the same processor configuration. It is also possible to run the external interpreter and platform on different processor platforms, in which case a hardware interface is provided in addition to the software interface.
[0019] In a special embodiment of the present invention, the processor is a multicore processor comprising a first processor core and at least one second processor core, wherein the external interpreter operates on the first processor core and the platform operates on the second processor core. The latter embodiment has the advantage of improved isolation from the external interpreter and improved isolation from the platform. This reduces the load on the second processor core, especially when computation is concentrated on the platform, and favorably reduces the probability of computation time overruns, for example, when so-called hard real-time applications are processed on the platform. The external interpreter performs a first check of the second data, for example, by comparing thresholds. If the external interpreter identifies a problem in multiple or single threshold comparisons, a message is formed that is displayable on the display and has a higher priority in terms of urgency and / or importance than the first data, i.e., the message is displayed to the user, for example, by a pop-up window or other highlighting. The message may be part of the first data or may be transmitted to the display separately from the first data.
[0020] The display may be a computer screen or another mobile device, such as a tablet PC or smartphone. Since higher priorities are identified by the display, the display also has a data processing unit that can identify such higher priorities and evaluate the first data in that regard. Depending on the priority configuration, that is, depending on how many values the priority can take, messages are displayed accordingly. For example, if the priority is at the maximum value, the message may mask other information that is displayed depending on the first data. The lower the priority of the first message, the less likely it is that the message will hide or push aside other information on the display.
[0021] A script is a computer program written in a scripting language and executed by an external interpreter. These scripting languages are suitable for creating scripts quickly, for example, by omitting variable specification; therefore, these variables are implicitly defined. Many checks in a script are performed for the first time in the script's operation, and these checks are already performed during the compilation process, for example, in the compiled program.
[0022] The platform is configured to start an external interpreter, start a script, and / or terminate the external interpreter. This means the platform performs control functions over the external interpreter. This can be done via a software interface, as described above. Optionally, the platform can be configured to communicate to the external interpreter, upon startup, information about which script should be started.
[0023] Furthermore, the external interpreter is configured to query the platform's operational status via an interface and, depending on a second check of the operational status, terminate and / or pause and / or resume script execution (for example, after pausing). The second check allows monitoring whether the test of the object under test is still being performed by the platform. For example, if it is identified that the test of the object under test has finished, the external interpreter can terminate and / or pause the script. After pausing, the external interpreter can resume script execution again after the second check, for example, if a new simulation is started. The external interpreter can also pause script execution after the second check if it is identified that the test of the object under test has been interrupted. If the second check identifies that the test of the object under test is continuing, script execution can be resumed. When a script is paused, execution is interrupted, and information such as which script instruction will arrive next is stored. Upon resumption after pausing, script execution continues from where it paused, i.e., where the next instruction would have arrived. In contrast, when a script finishes execution, it can be configured to terminate without obtaining any information about which instruction will come next. Re-execution of the script can be done as a new start initiated by the script's first instruction. In this case, the new start of the script can be initiated, for example, by the platform and / or an external interpreter.
[0024] In this embodiment, the script can also be started by an external interpreter.
[0025] Furthermore, the platform and / or the external interpreter should be configurable so as to be configured to restart the terminated script. For example, if the reason for terminating the script is omitted, the script is restarted. For example, when the test of the test object is accepted again, the script can be restarted accordingly.
[0026] The external interpreter can be configured to execute a second inspection before the first inspection. That is, first, the operating state of such a platform is evaluated, that is, for example, it is determined whether the platform is executing a test on a test object. If the operating state here indicates the continuation of the operation, for example, the first inspection can be executed to find out whether the test object and / or the test environment is functioning properly. [[ID=⑥]]
[0027] In this case especially, the external interpreter can be configured to execute the first inspection and the second inspection periodically, that is, at a predetermined interval, or to repeat at a predetermined frequency.
[0028] Furthermore, the second data is configured to be related to at least one system state of a test object that is related to safety and / or has a high priority. Thus, this can mean, for example, a short circuit or other critical error of the test object that can be identified by the inspection of the second data.
[0029] In an embodiment, information regarding which second data should be queried is stored in the external interpreter and / or passed to the external interpreter together at the start by the platform. Thereby, the external interpreter can perform centralized processing on specific variables regarded as particularly critical as the second data.
[0030] In the embodiment, the system is configured to terminate the test of the object under test based on the first check of the second data. This means that if the second data indicates a critical error in the object under test, the test of that object is also terminated. In this case, the error should first be resolved, and then the test of the object under test should be resumed. Resolving the error may include, for example, eliminating a short circuit.
[0031] In one embodiment, the message is configured to be displayed on the screen as a pop-up message. A pop-up message is a type of message commonly found in graphic user interfaces in computer systems today. Pop-up messages are typically used to display additional content or to prompt for a specific interaction. Typically, pop-up messages mask other parts of the user interface or other parts of the displayed data. This can be achieved by using a separate window, dialogue box, or other element.
[0032] Furthermore, the message can be configured to include at least one instruction for at least one safety measure. This allows the message to already provide a solution to an existing problem. The message can also provide suggestions for finding a solution to an existing problem. In this case, the instruction for the safety measure is predetermined and displayed when the problem arises. Alternatively, instead of rigidly pre-defining the safety measures to be selected, an embodiment is proposed in which at least one instruction for at least one safety measure is computed by a machine learning method. Here, the so-called "deep learning method" is applied as the preferred machine learning method, in which case the artificial neural network used by the deep learning method is prepared and utilized by training so that artificially generated neurons, based, for example, on a prior manual safety measure selection process evaluated, are used to select a safety measure learned by the artificial neural network from a number of theoretically available safety measures.
[0033] Furthermore, an external interpreter can be configured as a Python interpreter. Python is a scripting language, a more advanced programming language that has advantages based on flexibility and user-friendliness. This enables rapid development and prototyping because code changes can be quickly interpreted and executed without requiring lengthy compilation steps. For example, blocks can be structured using indentation. Alternatively, the external interpreter can use, for example, JavaScript and / or Ruby as its scripting language.
[0034] The same applies to method claims.
[0035] The device described above can be used to test and / or simulate an object under test using a test environment. In the test environment, the object under test can exist as hardware and / or software. Similarly, the object under test can also exist in a simulated state in software within the test environment. The object under test can be configured, for example, as an electrical energy storage device. In an electrical energy storage device, it is particularly important to notify the user of hazardous conditions with high priority, for example, in order to reduce or avoid a high fire risk as early as possible. This can be achieved with the device described above.
[0036] Examples of the present invention are illustrated and described in more detail in the following description. Each figure shows the following: [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0037] [Figure 1] This is a block circuit diagram of the device. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart of the method.
[0038] In Figure 1, the device is shown in a block diagram, with the platform CD and external interpreter INT operating on processor P. As mentioned above, processor P may be a single processor or a processor system, i.e., a system consisting of multiple processors. Each processor may contain one or more processor cores. The external interpreter INT may also operate on its own processor or on a processor system. The processor may be a multi-core processor, a multi-processor, a microcontroller, or a combination of different types of processors. Alternatively, the processor may be implemented as a so-called IP core on a programmable logic gate device, for example, on an FPGA element.
[0039] Here, the platform CD is connected to the display AN for data exchange with the first data D1. The platform CD allows engineers and developers to control, monitor, and configure the testing of the test object in the test environment TU. To this end, the platform CD exchanges data with the test environment.
[0040] Display AN, for example, has a graphical user interface and can display data D1, which can be evaluated in advance. Therefore, Display AN has its own signal processing means, or such signal processing means is assigned to Display AN. Display AN displays to the user the current progress of the test of the object under test via the first data.
[0041] Through the display AN, users can access functions for defining test sequences, adjusting parameters, detecting data, visualizing signals, and analyzing results.
[0042] The external interpreter INT includes a software program that directly executes code written as a more advanced programming language by translating it line by line into machine code or intermediate code without prior compilation. The external interpreter INT exchanges second data D2 with platform CD. Based on the second data D2, the external interpreter INT, via the running script, checks in the first check 206 whether the second data D2 is within the corresponding set limits. This limit, for example, could be the detection by the first check 206 that the measured or calculated value of the second data D2 has exceeded the acceptable maximum limit. In the latter example, if the limit is exceeded, the external interpreter INT supplies a corresponding message to display AN.
[0043] A message is formed depending on the first check 206 of the second data D2, for example, depending on whether the second data D2 exceeds or falls below an acceptable limit. The message is assigned a priority relative to the first data D1. The message can be displayed on display AN next to the first data D1, depending on its priority. In this case, the external interpreter INT may be directly connected to display AN, or it may pass messages to display AN via platform CD.
[0044] The platform CD acquires data from the test environment TU, which the external interpreter INT then checks as at least partially second data D2. The first data D1 transmitted by the platform CD to the display AN may be at least partially the same data as the second data D2. The second data D2, which is not included in the first data D1, can also be passed to the external interpreter INT. That is, the test environment TU can also pass other data to the platform CD in addition to the first data D1, independently of the first data D1, and the external interpreter INT can then check this data. In this case, for example, it can be checked whether the voltage value of a battery or control device is operating within a set limit. If the voltage value falls outside the set limit, a message can be displayed on the display AN. This allows the user to track down the problem. The message can also include solution options for the user. This suggests pre-configured solutions to the user, allowing them to respond more quickly.
[0045] The test environment (TU) itself can be configured with hardware and / or software, which allows for both so-called hardware-in-the-loop simulation (abbreviated as HIL) and so-called software-in-the-loop simulation (abbreviated as SIL) when using the test environment (TU) for simulation purposes.
[0046] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of the method, where in step 200 of method M1, the platform CD is started. Here, within the framework of the second check 202, it is checked whether the platform CD is active with respect to the test of the object under test. If it is not active, the external interpreter terminates its script in step 210 of method M4. Alternatively, the external interpreter may simply pause the script and continue the test execution at a later point, for example, if the second check 202 indicates that the test of the object under test is still acceptable. If the second check 202 confirms that the platform CD is active with respect to the test of the object under test, then in step 204 of method M2, a query can be made from the platform CD to the external interpreter INT to transmit the second data D2.
[0047] During the first check 206, it is checked whether the second data D2 falls outside the set limit. If it does not, the process jumps back to the second check 202. However, if it does fall outside the limit, in step 208 of method M3, a message is formed which may include that the variable checked here, for example via the second data D2, has fallen outside the set limit, meaning that a corresponding problem has occurred. In this case, the message can be transmitted to display AN directly from the external interpreter INT or via platform CD. The message is assigned a corresponding priority to the first data D1 in terms of its urgency and / or importance.
[0048] The use of the apparatus disclosed herein, having a test environment TU, for testing and / or simulation of objects under test, particularly for testing and / or simulation of electrical energy storage devices, is especially advantageous. In this case, for example in test cases, an improved functional range of the apparatus described above can be obtained in avoiding the load limits of the energy storage device, for example, damage thereto. [Explanation of Symbols]
[0049] TU Test Environment CD platform D1 First Data D2 Second Data INT External interpreter AN Display P Processor 200-210 Method Steps (Details are listed below:) 200 M1 Method Steps 202 Second examination 204 M2 Method Steps 206 First examination 208 M3 Method Steps 210 M4 Method Steps
Claims
1. A device for testing objects placed within a test environment (TU), A platform (CD) configured to run the test of the object under test and exchange first data (D1) with a user display (AN), An external interpreter (INT) is configured to query the platform (CD) for second data (D2) by executing script instructions via an interface, and to form a message that is displayable on the display (AN) and has a higher priority in terms of urgency and / or importance than the first data (D1), depending on a first check (206) of the second data (D2). It has, The message and the first data (D1) can be displayed on the display (AN) according to their respective priorities. Device.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the platform (CD) is configured to start the external interpreter (INT), start the script, and / or terminate the external interpreter (INT).
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the external interpreter (INT) is configured to query the operating state of the platform (CD) via the interface and, depending on a second check (202) of the operating state, terminate and / or pause and / or resume the execution of the script.
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the platform (CD) and / or the external interpreter (INT) are configured to restart a completed script.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the external interpreter (INT) is configured to perform the second check (202) before the first check (206).
6. The apparatus according to claim 3, 4, or 5, wherein the external interpreter (INT) is configured to periodically perform the first test (206) and the second test (202).
7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the second data (D2) relates to at least one system state of the object under test that is related to safety and / or given a higher priority.
8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein information regarding which second data (D2) should be queried is stored in the external interpreter (INT) and / or is passed together with the external interpreter (INT) when the platform (CD) starts.
9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the test of the object to be tested can be completed depending on the first inspection (206) of the second data (D2).
10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the message can be displayed as a pop-up message on the display (AN).
11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the message includes at least one instruction for at least one safety measure.
12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the external interpreter (INT) is configured as a Python interpreter.
13. A method for operating equipment that tests an object under test located within a test environment (TU), The exchange of first data (D1) between the platform (CD) that runs the test of the object under test and the user display (AN), A script running on an external interpreter (INT) queries the platform (CD) for second data (D2) via an interface, A script running on the external interpreter (INT) forms a message depending on a first check (206) of the second data (D2), wherein the message is displayable on the display (AN) and has a higher priority in terms of urgency and / or importance than the first data (D1). Methods that include...
14. The above method further, The message and the first data (D1) are displayed on the display (AN) according to their respective priorities. The method according to claim 13, including the method described in claim 13.
15. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the external interpreter (INT) and / or the script are started by the platform (CD), and / or the external interpreter (INT) is terminated by the platform (CD).
16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the external interpreter (INT) queries the operating state of the platform (CD) via the interface and terminates the execution of the script depending on a second check (202) of the operating state.
17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the external interpreter (INT) performs the second check (202) before the first check (206).
18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the external interpreter (INT) periodically performs the first check (206) and the second check (202).
19. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the message is displayed on the display (AN) as a pop-up message.
20. The method according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the test of the object to be tested is completed depending on the first inspection (206) of the second data (D2).
21. A use of the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12, having a test environment, for testing and / or simulating an object under test, in particular, the object under test being an electrical energy storage device.