IPG Automotive Enhances Virtual Test-Driving Solutions
28 Oct, 2007Company changes technology architecture for simulating chassis and powertrain controls systems and develops new real-time system to permit increased computing power from hardware-in-the-loop test benches under real-time conditions.
IPG Automotive reports that it has accelerated the hardware platform for its CarMaker/HIL (hardware-in-the-loop) simulators for testing chassis and powertrain controls systems. A new real-time system reportedly permits increased computing power from the HIL test benches under real-time conditions.
The new system reportedly consists of standard industrial components, but the previous VMEbus system is replaced by a compactPCI (cPCI) system that allows for special mobile solutions (prototyping in the vehicle). CPCI also supports the newest Intel technology.
The previous PowerPC-based approach has been substituted for x86 processors. To simulate complex vehicle models or highly accurate physical motor models, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 2.16 GHz clock speed and 2048 MB RAM now is available to users.
The cPCI bus supports all existing I/O modules at IPG, as well as the standard bus systems CAN, Ethernet, FlexRay, and LIN. Newly developed I/O modules using FPGAs also are available.
The new Xeno operating system of CarMaker/HIL is based on Linux and is designed for strong real-time requirements. No license fees are required for adopting the operating system.
IPG reports that it will continue to support the previous VMEbus/PowerPC system as well as the dSPACE platforms DS1005 (PowerPC) and DS1006 (x86). Existing customers can upgrade to the new hardware if desired, the company reports.
