Vehicle Simulation System for Software-in-the-Loop Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle simulation systems, such as HIL testing, require expensive physical or real-time simulated loads and are limited in flexibility, especially when testing vehicle control modules written in C code, and do not allow for early development cycle evaluations without special hardware.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle simulation system comprising a compiler, parser, wrapper, modeling, and simulation module that generates compatible object code, definitions, and model-based source code for a virtual model, enabling software-in-the-loop testing without physical hardware, allowing for early development cycle evaluations and flexibility in simulating vehicle control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If HIL testing with physical loads or real-time simulated loads is used, then testing effectiveness is improved, but development cost increases and testing can only be performed late in the development cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the vehicle control module through software-in-the-loop simulation. Instead of using physical hardware or real-time simulated loads, the system generates a virtual model that replicates the control module's behavior, allowing early testing in the development cycle without requiring actual hardware components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical testing system with a software-based simulation system. The virtual model substitutes for physical loads and hardware devices, enabling testing to occur in a software environment rather than requiring physical infrastructure, thereby allowing earlier development cycle evaluation.
2Measurement precision
If HIL testing with physical loads is used, then testing accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual representation of the control module that captures its essential behaviors and characteristics. This virtual model serves as a simplified copy that maintains testing accuracy for software validation while eliminating the need for complex physical hardware setups, signal simulators, and specialized testing equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential functional behavior of the control module from its physical hardware implementation. By separating the control logic from the hardware dependencies, the system creates a standalone virtual model that can be tested independently without requiring the full physical system, thereby reducing device complexity while preserving testing accuracy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If cross-compiler is used to generate object code, then operating system compatibility is improved, but code conversion complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cross-compiler as an intermediary tool that bridges different operating system environments. The cross-compiler translates source code written for one operating system into object code compatible with another operating system, enabling the virtual model to run on different platforms without manually rewriting code, thus managing conversion complexity through automated translation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal code generation approach where the cross-compiler can produce object code for multiple different operating systems from a single source code base. This multi-functionality allows the same virtual model to be adapted to various operating system environments (Windows, Linux, QNX, etc.) without requiring separate development efforts for each platform.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle simulation system includes a compiler module, a parser module, a wrapper module, a modeling module, and a simulation module. The compiler module generates object code that is compatible with a first type of operating system based on source code that is executable by a vehicle control module and that is compatible with a second type of operating system. The parser module generates a definitions file and an extensible markup language (XML) file based on the source code and the object code. The wrapper module generates a library file based on the object code and the definitions file. The modeling module generates model-based source code for a virtual model based on the XML file and a user configuration of the virtual model. The simulation module simulates operation of a plant of a vehicle with the virtual model.