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Models for Hardware-in-the-Loop TestingTo test control devices such as electronic control units in virtual environments, dSPACE Simulator has to be equipped with software that simulates the controlled system. This is variously called the simulation model, the plant model, or the real-time model of the controlled system. Together, the simulator and the model installed on it are the virtual plant that represents the real system the ECU will be used for. The simulator provides all the electrical interfaces required for connecting the ECU, and the plant model simulates the system behavior. For example, automotive ECUs are connected with all the communication buses (CAN, LIN, FlexRay, etc) and the wiring for sensor and actor signals, which are of course simulated.
Application Areas
dSPACE Simulator can be used for all kinds of applications by adapting it to the hardware and using different software models. dSPACE Simulators have been used to execute models for hard disk controllers (IT), gas tur-bine propulsion models (aerospace), whole virtual vehicles (automotive), and many others.
Real-Time Performance
Hardware-in-the-loop testing requires the model and the simulator to per-form in real time. Depending on the application, simulation models can vary from being very precise, for example, for controller design, to just good enough for failure diagnosis of ECUs, where simple models are sufficient. More precise models typically need higher processing power.
Automotive Simulation Models
The Automotive Simulation Models (ASM) are open Simulink models for the real-time simulation of standard automotive applications like diesel engine, gasoline engines and vehicle dynamics. The models will typically be used on a dSPACE Simulator for hardware-in-the-loop testing of electronic control units (ECUs) or during the design phase of controller algorithms for early validation by offline simulation. They are complete and independent models that support all the relevant phases of the model-based development process.
Third-Party Models for dSPACE Simulator
dSPACE Simulator can execute simulation models from various makers and also custom models. Thanks to years of cooperation between The MathWorks and dSPACE, the tools from these two companies are perfectly tailored to each other, and dSPACE Simulator is optimally equipped for integrating simulation models designed with MATLAB/Simulink/Stateflow. We also offer services to integrate models from other sources.
Numerous other vendors offer Simulink-based simulation models for our HIL systems (e.g. TESIS DYNAWare Munich, Germany). Modeling tools from other vendors can also be integrated into the dSPACE tool chain: Models based on SimulationX, MapleSim, SimScape, DYMOLA, Simpack, AMESim, etc., run on our systems.
You can therefore use your own real-time models, third-party models, or the ASMs from dSPACE.