Embedded Platform for automotive bus systems with extensive software support

The IXXAT Embedded Platform solutions, which include the FRC-EP190, have been proven in all applications where several bus systems must be merged within one device which has its own computing power. At this, the PC is only required to setup the device or for data stimulation and visualization. The intelligence, for example to handle the transport protocols, is available on the Embedded Platform. The Embedded Platform has a very powerful micro processor and uses a real-time operating system. This allows to set-up stand alone applications, e.g. to connect several vehicle bus systems via a gateway without requiring a control PC. The required functionality can be activated on the device using appropriate runtime licenses.

As successor of the FRC-EP150, IXXAT offers the FRC-EP190 providing a higher performance, a wider range of interfaces and a removable mass storage. In addition, the FRC-EP190 is, in terms of interfaces and applications, easily extendable and customizable.

The powerful processor, in conjunction with the much larger memory and the optimized operating system increased the performance by a factor of seven, compared to the FRC-EP150. This results, not at least, in a much shorter start-up time  (less than 4 seconds from power-on, less than 400 ms from standby)

By default, in addition to FlexRay, CAN, LIN and K-Line also analog/digital IOs and RS232 are available. The Ethernet configuration interface is supplemented by a USB interface. Additional interfaces can be upgraded through internal expansion slots. Thus, besides additional FlexRay and CAN interfaces also EtherCAT, WLAN, Bluetooth and GSM/GPS interfaces can be implemented. The included SD card slot allows the configuration update even without an attached PC as well as the use as multi-bus data logger for large amounts of data.

All software solutions available for the FRC-EP150, e.g. residual bus simulation and gateway, are now also available in an extended version for the new FRC-EP190. Existing projects can be easily ported to the new device using the software tools.

Application fields

Test bench
Within test benches, individual parts of a vehicle - e.g. electronic servo steering - can be tested isolated from the remaining vehicle. Especially FlexRay requires to locate the Embedded Platform nearby the device under test, to keep the interference with the bus topology as low as possible. For operation, most of the control units require - from their point of view - a simulation of the remaining vehicle bus system. Using the appropriate IXXAT tools, the Embedded Platform can be configured without own coding effort and provides the desired signals on the best possible interface for the test bench computer.

Functional simulation
The connected control units sometimes require a real time response on specific events. The response from a connected PC is often too slow or transmission times are not accurate definable. In these cases, functional simulations can be used on the devices, which allow realistic and very timely reactions.

Analysis
The analysis of the communication buses is another application of the Embedded Platform. This can be either the pure interface function with the corresponding analysis software on the PC or the preprocessing of the data received to only send selected physical signals to the PC for evaluation. For the connection to the PC Ethernet is recommended, since the data can be transmitted galvanically isolated, fail-safe and over long distances.

Development platform
For most applications, IXXAT offers the appropriate configuration and analysis tools for the Embedded Platform. Nevertheless, there are very specific applications where it is necessary to provide an accurate customized solution. The open architecture of the IXXAT Embedded Platform allows providing adaptations or extensions very quickly. If necessary this can also be performed by the user based on the software development kit.