Test Model Scheduling for Electronic Control System Simulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for testing electronic control systems face challenges in maintaining strict synchronization and real-time capability due to communication dead times and functional dependencies between test models and environment models, leading to potential misinterpretation and runtime overhead.
Innovation Solution
A method where the test model is functionally independent of the environment model, allowing synchronous execution and direct access to memory locations, eliminating the need for software interfaces and reducing runtime burdens, with a scheduling mechanism activated by an external signal to ensure real-time execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a test model is executed on a separate experimental device to influence the environment model, then the test functionality can be specified independently, but communication dead times and asynchronicities occur between the test model and environment model
Solution Approach 1:
The test model is merged with the environment model by executing both on the same real-time simulation computer. This eliminates the communication interface between separate devices, removing dead times and asynchronicities while maintaining independent test functionality specification through the functional independence architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
A shared memory space acts as an intermediary between the test model and environment model, allowing direct access without communication protocols. The test model can directly read and write model variables of the environment model through this shared memory, eliminating communication dead times while maintaining functional independence.
2Productivity
If the test model directly accesses environment model memory locations, then runtime overhead is reduced, but functional independence between test model and environment model is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into functionally independent test model and environment model components that execute separately on the same real-time simulation computer. This functional segmentation maintains independence while the shared memory space enables efficient direct access, resolving the contradiction between runtime efficiency and functional independence.
Solution Approach 2:
Functional independence is maintained in the software architecture dimension while memory access efficiency is achieved in the hardware dimension. The test model and environment model operate as independent software modules with separate execution contexts, yet share direct memory access through the shared memory space, resolving the contradiction across different system dimensions.
3Reliability
If multiple test models are executed simultaneously on the same real-time simulation computer, then synchronization is improved, but resource contention and scheduling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each test model includes its own scheduler that autonomously manages its execution and resource requirements. This self-service scheduling approach allows multiple test models to run simultaneously with guaranteed synchronization, as each model's scheduler independently handles its own timing and resource allocation without complex external coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
Resource allocation and scheduling parameters are predetermined and configured before test model execution. The real-time simulation computer is pre-configured with resource allocation tables and scheduling parameters for each test model, allowing simultaneous execution with guaranteed synchronization without complex runtime scheduling decisions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The method involves executing a test model for influencing an environment model and/or for calculating the environment model and/or an electronic control system (1) by a test device (3). The test model is executed functionally independent of the environment model and on a testing operation that is in synchronization with the environment model. A configuration device (6) is connected with the test device by a data channel (7), and the electronic control system is connected with the test device by another data channel (2). Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a scheduling method for executing a test model by a test device (2) a test device for testing an electronic control system.