From Idea to Volume Production in Less Time
When it comes to the rapid implementation and testing of test vehicles with new components, developers always rely on rapid control prototyping – a development method that allows ideas to be implemented in tangible solutions quickly and efficiently. “Instead of manually writing the new software in hardware-related programming language, rapid control prototyping makes it possible for a small team of developers to develop new closed loop and open loop control fundtions in a graphical environment by computer – simply by clicking with the mouse”, explains Rolf Laufs, President of Schaeffler Engineering. “The result is a physically comprehensible software model, from which codes can subsequently be generated at the touch of a button and loaded onto the development control unit in the test vehicle for testing purposes.” The development service provider at Schaeffler has already used this method to implement numerous projects for the company and its customers, especially in the field of hybrid and electric vehicles.
Development control units that are beyond comparison with those found in volume-production vehicles are the central component of a rapid control prototyping-based development environment. “The processing power and storage capacity of a volume-production control unit is tailored to suit its specific application, which makes it unsuitable for rapid adjustment to the type of changing requirements that occur on a daily basis in development work”, explains Martin Eckmann, Product Manager at Schaeffler Engineering. A development control unit, on the other hand, is characterized by its high processing power and storage capacity, as well as flexibility in terms of possible applications. “Developers can use software configuration to tailor the universal, modular prototyping control unit to the specific application”, Martin Eckmann continues. The company also pursues this approach with its development control units, including the PROtroniC TopLINE, which will be on display at the IAA in Schaeffler’s 48-volt exhibit and is used in various test vehicles.
“Safety plays a particularly decisive role for test vehicles that are intended for approval for road use by the TÜV”, emphasizes Rolf Laufs with regard to one of the further challenges faced when developing software-based vehicle systems. “There are mandatory development processes that are specified for the development of safety-relevant applications, such as the ISO 26262 standard Road Vehicles – Functional Safety.” These provide specifications for the processes and documentation of the individual development phases, but also for the development environment. “This is where Schaeffler Engineering’s development control unit fully comes into its own”, continues Rolf Laufs. “It allows us to use an autocode generator that is approved for the development of safety-critical applications.”
Schaeffler Engineering has been a part of Schaeffler since 1986 and became a 100 % subsidiary of the automotive supplier in 2004. The company was founded in 1979 as AFT Atlas Fahrzeugtechnik GmbH, and has since made the transition from being a prototype developer to a supplier of prototyping and volume production development. Its 170 employees assist customers from the automotive industry in all phases of development – from the requirements analysis, software design, and electronic prototype manufacture through to system integration and validation. In addition to pure development services such as the development of volume-production software modules, transmission development, and analysis on its own rolling acoustics test stand, the Werdohl-based company is also responsible for the low-volume production of electronic control units for gas engines and transmissions.
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