In the current automotive design and development of the Electrical Distribution System (EDS), at an earlier stage, before the physical prototyping is largely absent. Traditional methods for verification and validation of EDS are performed with HIL, SIL, MIL, prototype testing or physical vehicle trials reveal design errors at later stages in the development cycle, which may lead to redesign, prolonged timelines and increased failure rates at vehicle integration. Hence, there is a critical need for an early-stage simulation methodology that ensures robustness and reliability of E/E architecture with first-time-right readiness at the design stage itself.
In this paper, a digital EDS architecture simulation introduces a mode-based structural behavioural approach where specific vehicle functions, failure conditions and malfunction scenarios are set up in a simulation environment with their corresponding electrical circuits for simulation. A function-specific truth table-based analysis model enabling the controller to control the electrical paths for different electrical loads dynamically. This methodology ensures digital verification of electrical loads behaviour at different operating conditions, power distribution and switching logics are accurately validated during the design stage, reducing production time issues and ensuring seamless transition to series production.