Hardware-in-the-loop Radar Testing with Continuous Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for updating radar software and firmware in vehicle radar systems are time-consuming and prone to delays, as they require intensive testing before distribution, which can lead to performance issues and bugs going undetected until they are implemented in the field.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing with continuous integration (CI) allows for thorough simulation and testing of radar software and firmware updates using the same physical hardware in various conditions, enabling over-the-air updates that ensure desired performance levels before implementation, thereby reducing the time and resources needed for testing and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If intensive testing is performed before distribution of radar software updates, then reliability of the software is improved, but the time required for testing and deployment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous integration (CI) and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing that automatically executes test suites against radar software updates before they are distributed. This preliminary automated testing validates software functionality in advance, ensuring reliability while reducing manual testing time and enabling faster deployment cycles.
2Productivity
If radar software updates are distributed frequently, then productivity of the radar system is improved, but the risk of introducing bugs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where radar software updates undergo automated CI/HIL testing that provides validation results before distribution. This feedback loop ensures that only software updates that pass comprehensive automated tests are deployed, maintaining reliability while enabling frequent updates through over-the-air provisioning.
3Manufacturing precision
If comprehensive test suites are executed against radar software updates, then manufacturing precision of the software is improved, but the use of computational resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hardware-in-the-loop testing where a physical radar hardware unit is connected to a computing device that executes comprehensive test suites. This approach validates software quality against actual hardware behavior while distributing the computational burden between the testing system and the target hardware, achieving high software quality without excessive resource consumption at any single point.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient detection and elimination of bugs in radar software and firmware updates, ensuring consistent performance and reducing the time and resources required for testing and deployment, allowing for regular updates without significant delays.
Implementation Method 1
Radio detection and ranging systems ('radar systems') are used to estimate distances to environmental features by emitting radio signals and detecting returning reflected signals
Implementation Method 2
detecting returning reflected signals
Implementation Method 3
obtaining, at the computing device, a first output from a field programmable gate array (FPGA) associated with a radar unit. The FPGA generates the first output based on the radar operation parameters
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments relate to techniques for hardware-in-the-loop testing with continuous integration for radar testing and development. A computing device may receive a target output for radar operation parameters undergoing development tests and determine whether a first output produced by a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based on the radar operation parameters differs from the target output less than a first threshold difference. When the output from the FPGA passes the comparison, the computing device may then cause a radar unit to transmit radar signals toward a target according to the radar operation parameters, which produces a second output that can also be compared to the target output. The FPGA may process signals for the radar unit. In some cases when the second output differs from the target output less than a second threshold difference, the computing device may provide the radar operation parameters as a radar software update to vehicles.