Automated software testing for both hardware and software components is one of the ways industry is gaining efficiency in testing. A standard based approach can help in reducing the dependency on one particular tool chain, reduce re-training of engineers, reducing development time and increase collaboration between supplier and OEM's.
Tula's Dynamic Skip Fire (DSF) technology achieves fuel efficiency by activating only the required cylinders required to achieve desired torque. Validation of the DSF algorithms requires reading of the crank, cam, spark, fuel injector, and intake and exhaust actuator positions on an individual cylinder firing opportunity. Decisions made on a cylinder by cylinder basis can be validated.
The testing architecture at its core is based on the ASAM Hardware in the loop (HIL) API standard. Following the HIL-API standard gives the flexibility of choosing the best in class measurement hardware and test case management tools.
Since the test environment is used by multiple engineers from multiple locations, the entire testing environment can be controlled remotely from a powerful web client - referred to as WebCarLab. The web client allows the user to remotely queue different automated tests and also to queue software builds. This allows for up to 100% test bench utilization.
This paper discusses the main advantages of following an industry standard while designing the test architecture, which allows the different components of the test architecture environment to be integrated.