Revolutionizing Automotive Testing with Vector’s holistic Ecosystem

Vector holistic Testing Ecosystem features 2 main parts: Software and Hardware Ecosystems. Vector software suite including CANoe.DiVa, VTestStudio, is designed to provide robust testing, simulation, and diagnostic solutions for automotive ECUs. These tools offer comprehensive functionality for analyzing, simulating, and testing ECUs, ensuring high efficiency and accuracy. In the meantime, the hardware platform, with VTSystem as the core, integrates all necessary circuit components to connect I/O channels, simplifying test setups and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. It complements the software tools by providing the physical interface required for thorough ECU testing. The two halves of the Vector Testing Ecosystem form a cohesive ecosystem that ensures comprehensive and accurate testing of automotive ECUs.  

CANoe: Comprehensive ECU Analysis and Simulation 

CANoe is a versatile tool designed to support the entire spectrum of automotive networks and transport protocols. It excels in several key areas: 

1.1 Analyzing Information Exchange and Communication Flow

CANoe provides an in-depth analysis of the interactions between ECUs and software functions. By evaluating the data exchange and communication processes, ensures that all components function harmoniously, which is crucial for maintaining system integrity and performance. 

1.2. Simulation of Functions and Communication Processes

CANoe allows for the simulation of real components under controlled laboratory conditions. This capability is vital for testing systems in defined, reproducible scenarios, enabling engineers to identify and rectify issues in a risk-free environment.

1.3. Diagnostics:

The tool supports diagnostic testing and simulation of ECUs across all essential communication layers. This ensures that each ECU operates correctly and can communicate effectively with other system components. 

1.4. System-Wide Testing:

CANoe facilitates the implementation of test sequences from individual components to entire systems. This flexibility ensures that every part of the vehicle, from single ECUs to the entire network, is thoroughly tested. Detailed test reports are generated, allowing for comprehensive analysis and evaluation. 

CANoe targets vehicles, Systems, Sub-systems and components. It allows for comprehensive analysis of information exchange and communication flow between all ECUs, utilizing diagnostic tools to read ECU information. Additionally, CANoe provides a graphical analysis of signals related to ECUs or vehicles, facilitating the identification of issues through visual representations. For e-powertrain, chassis, and integration testing, CANoe verifies vehicle behavior under various preconditions by simulating functions, messages, and signals of all ECUs. These capabilities ensure robust performance and reliability, making CANoe an invaluable tool in the automotive industry. 

CANoe.DiVa: Automated Diagnostic Software Testing 

CANoe.DiVa is an advanced extension of CANoe designed for the automated testing of diagnostic software implementations in ECUs. It generates reproducible test cases based on ECU diagnostic descriptions in CANdela or ODX format. These test cases are automatically executed by CANoe, which then generates a conclusive test report. CANoe.DiVa supports the evaluation and further processing of test results, offering significant time and effort savings. It ensures high efficiency and enhances the quality of diagnostic software in ECUs, making it an essential tool for automotive testing. 

CANoe.DiVa is used to ensure that with each new software update of the vehicle’s ECU, the responses of the ECU’s supported services and the related vehicle responses are as expected under different input preconditions. The flow to perform automated diagnostic testing through CANoe.DiVa involves several steps: 

• Document Conversion: Using CANdelaStudio to convert diagnostic descriptions into .CDD files. 
• Test Case Generation: Importing .CDD files into CANoe.DiVa to generate test configurations. 
• Automation Execution: Importing configurations into CANoe, which runs the automation. 
• Analysis and Reporting: Detailed test reports are generated for analysis, ensuring that all ECU functions are thoroughly tested and validated. 

VTestStudio: Seamless test case management 

VTestStudio is an integrated environment for creating, managing, and executing test cases, offering several advanced features: 

• Test Case Creation and Management: VTestStudio simplifies the development and organization of test scenarios, making it easier to create comprehensive and effective test plans. This environment supports both manual and automated test case creation, allowing engineers to design tests that accurately reflect real-world conditions. 

• Integration with Testing Environments: VTestStudio seamlessly integrates with various testing setups and development tools, facilitating a smooth workflow. This integration enhances overall efficiency by allowing test cases to be easily incorporated into existing processes and tools, including continuous integration systems. 

• Test Case Execution and Verification: VTestStudio supports the execution and verification of test cases, ensuring that all scenarios are thoroughly tested and validated. The tool provides detailed logging and reporting features, enabling engineers to track test progress and outcomes accurately. 

VTestStudio’s advanced capabilities ensure that test cases are managed efficiently, executed reliably, and verified thoroughly, making it an essential tool for automotive testing. 

VTSystem: Advanced Hardware Testing integration 

To thoroughly test ECUs, it is essential not only to connect the communication networks to the test system but also to connect the I/O interfaces. This task is efficiently handled by the Vector VTSystem, which simplifies the setup of test benches and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test systems by integrating all necessary circuit components into a single module. 

• Comprehensive Test Component Integration: 

• • Measurement Hardware with Signal Conditioning: Ensures accurate measurement and signal processing. 

• • Relays for Switching Short-Circuits: Allows for controlled introduction of faults. 

• • Electronic Load for Actuator Simulation: Simulates real-world actuator behavior under various conditions. 

• • Resistance Decade for Sensor Simulation: Accurately simulates sensor characteristics and behaviors. 

• Minimal Wiring Effort: VTSystem reduces the complexity of test setups by incorporating all necessary components into a single device, minimizing the wiring effort required. This not only enhances reliability but also significantly reduces setup time. 

• Voltage Range Adapted to Automotive Applications: The system is designed to handle the voltage ranges typically found in automotive applications, ensuring compatibility and reliability. 

• Seamless Integration into CANoe: VTSystem integrates seamlessly with CANoe, enabling efficient simulation and testing of sensors and actuators. This integration ensures that all aspects of the system are thoroughly tested in a cohesive manner. 

By integrating these advanced features and capabilities, the VTSystem significantly enhances the efficiency and reliability of automotive testing processes. It provides a comprehensive solution for thorough hardware validation, supporting the seamless interaction between software and hardware components. This integration ensures that all aspects of the system are tested and validated, contributing to the development of high-quality, reliable automotive systems. 

VIETSOL’s Case studies with FUSA/Fault injection application of VTestStudio & VTSystem 

The integration of VTestStudio and VTSystem for FUSA and fault injection testing provides a comprehensive solution for validating the robustness and reliability of automotive ECUs and their networks. By simulating a wide range of fault conditions, these tools help engineers identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure that the systems can handle and recover from faults effectively.  

5.1/ Hardware Fault Injection 

Voltage Faults: 

• Short to GND, BATT: Testing the ECU’s response to short circuits to ground or battery connections. 

• Over & Under Voltage: Ensuring the ECU can handle voltage fluctuations beyond the normal operating range. 

Current Faults: 

• Below & Above Threshold: Checking the ECU’s reaction to current levels outside specified thresholds. 

• Need External Resistance: Simulating the need for external resistance in certain conditions. 

CAN Bus Faults: 

• CAN_H short, CAN_L short, Open, Bus Off: Injecting faults in the CAN bus to test the robustness of the communication network under failure conditions. 

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) Faults: 

• Crash ECU: Simulating scenarios where the ECU might crash due to PWM signal issues. 

5.2/ CAN/LIN Faults 

Signal Faults: 

• E2E Faults (Rolling Counter, Checksum error): Testing end-to-end communication integrity by introducing rolling counter mismatches and checksum errors. 

Timeout/Missing Message: 

• Evaluating the system’s ability to detect and respond to missing messages or timeout conditions in the communication network. 

Application in Vehicle and Bench Testing 

Both VTestStudio and VTSystem are utilized in vehicle and bench testing environments to inject these faults and automatically check the results according to diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) and signals, following the requirements specified in standards such as ODX. 

Automated Fault Injection and Verification: 

• Voltage, Current, and Resistance Faults: VTestStudio and VTSystem automatically inject faults related to voltage (open, short circuit, circuit intermittent), current, and resistance. This automation ensures consistent and repeatable fault conditions. 

• Functional Safety Testing (FUSA): They verify Functional Test Time Interval (FTTI) and Functional Reaction Time Interval (FRTI) during static test cases. This verification is crucial for ensuring the ECU’s functional safety and reliability under fault conditions. 

Vietsol’s expertise in advanced automotive testing 

At Vietsol, we leverage these advanced Vector tools to provide top-tier automotive testing services. We offer full coverage of component, sub-system, system, and vehicle levels across all domains Infotainment, body, Chassis, e-Powertrain and charging, ADAS, Network & Diagnostic, Functional safety, and Cybersecurity. By covering these extensive scopes, Vietsol ensures that all aspects of automotive systems and components are thoroughly tested and validated. This comprehensive approach helps in delivering high-quality, reliable automotive solutions that meet industry standards and customer expectations.  

Partner with Vietsol today to experience our meticulous testing services tailored to your project’s needs!