Embed's role in the project has been to develop generic networked embedded control systems to act as the main platform to carry out the research upon. This was achieved with model based development where the all the networked ecus have been designed in Simulink.
These generic ecu models were targeted to a variety of microcontrollers all communicating with one another on a CAN network as in a real vehicle. Alongside this vehicle CAN network the generic ecus also support another CAN control network so that the controllers can be driven into different states to simulate system anomalies or errors so that the researchers can program the system to take evasive actions.
A short description of this exciting and forward thinking project is given below.
The Self Healing Vehicle project is highly adventurous with ambitious goals that will enable a step change in the behaviour and capabilities of a vehicle through increased use of onboard intelligence.
Most of the increased functionality being introduced into automotive vehicles by manufacturers is coming from increasingly complex embedded electrical control systems. In premium vehicles these systems can account for 40% of the vehicle’s total value.
The consequence of these changes has been a dramatic rise in the level of system interactions and dependencies. As it is impossible to fully validate such complex, distributed electronic systems in the product development or manufacturing processes, it is therefore inevitable that some faults will reach the customer. It is no surprise then that manufacturers are facing rising warranty costs.
The aim of this project is to carry out the research required to develop and demonstrate the concept of the ‘self healing vehicle’:a vehicle with the ability to autonomously detect and diagnose failure conditions in its networked embedded control systems; confirm any given diagnosis and perform appropriate corrective interventions including the use of telematics to interact with external service providers and infrastructures.
This is an excerpt from the WMG website, for more details follow...