ETAS Partners with Opal-RT to Extend Capabilities of Hardware-in-the-Loop Automotive Testing Systems

ETAS Partners with Opal-RT to Extend Capabilities of Hardware-in-the-Loop Automotive Testing Systems. Close cooperation will add enhanced embedded control software testing capabilities to ETAS’ LABCAR tool suite.

ETAS, a manufacturer of tools for development, test, and calibration of embedded software in automotive control systems, has signed a partnership agreement with Opal-RT, a maker of hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulators. The objective of this cooperation initiative is to expand the applicability of ETAS’ LABCAR HIL test system to electric drive applications, such as those found in hybrid-electric powertrains, electric vehicles, and electric power steering systems.

Opal-RT Technologies is a leading developer of Real-Time HIL Simulators used in the design and study of electrical, mechanical and fast-switching power electronic systems.

HIL testing of electric motor controllers used in electrified powertrains requires simulation of electric signals and mathematical models at substantially higher rates than those used for traditional powertrains with internal combustion engines only. Opal-RT is a leading provider of these kinds of specialized mathematical models and simulation hardware, which are capable of achieving sub-microsecond simulation time steps. In a joint effort, ETAS and Opal-RT have integrated these components of Opal-RT’s eDRIVEsim simulation platform with the LABCAR product line. The resulting benefit is an openarchitecture, PC-based LABCAR HIL system, featuring Simulink®-based models with advanced power electronic capabilities, that can be used for testing a complete hybrid-electric powertrain, including an engine controller, multiple electric motor controllers, a transmission controller, and a battery controller.

This collaboration will result in the launch of a new product, xEV-LABCAR, which will be commercialized by ETAS as an extension to the company’s popular PT-LABCAR platform, specifically designed for powertrain applications. “Continuing pressure from government authorities to promote electric vehicles as an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional internal combustion engines is driving investment in the pursuit of economically-viable, battery-powered automobiles and utility vehicles,” said Carl Squire, President, ETAS Inc. “Opal-RT has an excellent reputation as a leading developer of real-time simulators for fast-switching power electronic automotive applications. By partnering with Opal-RT, ETAS can now provide our users with an integrated solution combining powerful HIL tools, and management of ECU calibration with superior, high-fidelity power electronics simulation.”

“ETAS is a trusted brand of HIL test systems for automotive ECU development, used by thousands of automotive engineers around the globe,” said Jean Belanger, President of Opal-RT Technologies. “As a result of this partnership, these engineers will now have access to the industry’s best platform for electric powertrain ECU development, calibration and simulation, ensuring that the growing demand for highquality electric vehicles will be met on time and within budget.”

Joint development of the xEV-LABCAR platform by both the ETAS and Opal-RT R&D teams is now underway. General availability of xEV-LABCAR is expected third quarter 2010.

About ETAS
ETAS (www.etas.com) provides comprehensive and integrated tools and tool solutions for the development and service of automotive electronic control units (ECUs). ETAS solutions can be easily included into customer processes as well as 3rd party products. With almost 700 employees, ETAS, a subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany and operates regional operations in the United States, Brazil, Japan, Korea, China, India, France, Italy, Great Britain, Sweden, and the Russian Federation.

About LABCAR
LABCAR is ETAS' Hardware in the Loop (HiL) system for automated testing of Electronic Control Units (ECUs). By stimulating the ECU via sensor inputs and network ports, LABCAR lets you run reproducible and comprehensive tests of virtually any driving situation – entirely without hazard to driver and vehicle. LABCAR's open, modular system architecture supports all applicable automotive standards and enables time-synchronous ECU access as well as easy integration of simulation models and hardware, also from third party vendors.

About Opal-RT
Founded in 1997, Opal-RT Technologies (www.opal-rt.com) is the leading supplier of Real-Time Simulators and Hardware-in-the-Loop testing equipment for electrical, mechanical and fast-switching power electronic systems. All Opal-RT products are fully integrated with MATLAB/Simulink and are built using easily upgradeable Commercial-off-the-Shelf PC and FPGA technologies. Opal-RT customers perform rapid-prototyping, Real-Time Simulation and Hardware-in-the-Loop testing of a variety of automotive systems found in today’s electric powertrain vehicles including electric drives, power electronics and power distribution and power grid networks. Opal-RT simulators are used by leading automakers and Tier-1 suppliers worldwide including AISIN, BMW, Chrysler, Delphi, DENSO, Ford, GM, Renault, Peugeot, Tata Motors and Toyota.

About eDRIVEsim Real-Time Simulator
The eDRIVEsim Real-Time Simulator combines Opal-RT's RT-LAB Real-Time Simulation software platform with affordable, high performance multi-core X86 processors and FPGA-based electrical motor models and fast I/O products, making it the ideal Real-Time platform for designing advanced control systems and performing HIL testing of controllers used in high-speed electric motors, power converters, and hybrid drives. eDRIVEsim also includes support for RTLAB.JMAG™, which combines Opal-RT's RT-LAB real-time simulation technology with JMAG-RT®, part of JRI Solutions' Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tool suite. This means that all tests can be performed in Real-Time, using high precision finite element electrical models.