ECU Virtual Machine Evaluation With Synchronized Device Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle development assistance systems struggle to properly evaluate virtual machines before they are installed in electronic control units (ECUs) of vehicles, as they do not consider how these virtual machines would operate when actually installed.
Innovation Solution
An evaluation assistance device that includes a peripheral device emulator and a synchronous input/output unit to emulate the behavior of vehicle devices and synchronize message transmission with actual device behavior, allowing virtual machines to be evaluated accurately before installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a real-time simulator is used to evaluate ECUs, then the ECU operation can be evaluated, but the virtual machine cannot be properly evaluated before installation in hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the ECU hardware environment through a virtual machine that replicates the exact execution environment of the target ECU. This virtual copy allows the virtual machine to be evaluated independently before physical installation, solving the contradiction by enabling pre-installation evaluation while maintaining measurement accuracy through environmental fidelity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a message synchronization mechanism as an intermediary between the virtual machine and the real-time simulator. This intermediary translates and synchronizes communication protocols, allowing the virtual machine to interact with the simulation environment in a way that accurately reflects its behavior when installed in the actual ECU, thereby enabling proper evaluation before hardware installation
2Ease of operation
If the virtual machine is evaluated outside the vehicle and ECU, then evaluation flexibility is improved, but the operational realism deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary configuration of the virtual machine to exactly match the target ECU's hardware architecture, operating system, and software environment before evaluation begins. This preliminary setup ensures that when the virtual machine is later installed in the actual ECU, its behavior will be identical, thus maintaining reliability while enabling convenient pre-installation evaluation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts simulation parameters and message timing to accurately reflect the temporal and operational characteristics of the actual vehicle environment. By carefully controlling parameters such as message transmission timing, processing delays, and event sequences, the system maintains operational realism even when the virtual machine runs outside the physical vehicle
3Productivity
If messages are transmitted without synchronization, then processing speed is improved, but the behavioral accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a periodic message synchronization mechanism that aligns message transmission with the actual operational cycles of the ECU and vehicle systems. Messages are transmitted at precisely timed intervals that match the periodic behavior of real vehicle components, maintaining behavioral accuracy while enabling efficient batch processing that preserves productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic message timing adjustment that adapts the synchronization interval based on the current operational state of the virtual machine and simulation environment. During critical evaluation phases, synchronization is tightened to maximize accuracy; during stable states, intervals are relaxed to maintain processing speed, thus balancing productivity and precision dynamically
Data Source
AI summary
An evaluation assistance device that assists in evaluation of a guest virtual machine installed in an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicle includes: a peripheral device emulator that emulates behavior of each of a plurality of devices installed in the vehicle; and a synchronous input/output unit that receives a plurality of first messages from the peripheral device emulator, and outputs the plurality of first messages to the guest virtual machine to be evaluated, the guest virtual machine being outside of the vehicle and outside of the ECU. The synchronous input/output unit outputs each of the plurality of first messages to the guest virtual machine in synchronization with behavior of a corresponding one of the plurality of devices.