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Volume 53 (Feb 22, 2006)

The V850 Integrated Development Environment in Conjunction with MATLAB®: Improving the Development Efficiency of Control Systems for Automobiles and More

Taking the computerization of automobile control and model-based development to new heights

As most people are probably aware, significant advancements have been made in the computerization of automotive engine, brake, power steering, and other control systems, and microcontrollers are now being used to perform complex control functions. In addition, in recent years, automobile manufacturers have found it necessary to add value to their products by developing environmentally friendly hybrid and fuel-cell cars that comply with increasingly stringent emission regulations, air bag systems and collision detection sensors that take safety into consideration, and ETC devices and navigation systems aimed at increasing driver convenience. Moreover, computerized control has played a vital role in the realization of intelligent iransportation systems (ITS), that employ computers, communications equipment, sensors and other cutting-edge systems to solve road transportation problems resulting from accidents, traffic congestion and inclement weather. Thus, the computerization of automotive control is not just limited to basic operations, but has actually expanded into other areas (Figure 1).

In addition to the very complex control mechanisms required to make these functions a reality, there is also a need for electronic control units to be operated via and in conjunction with in-vehicle networks. Microcontroller software, which is at the heart of control functions, is therefore experiencing increases in both scale and complexity, and microcontroller software developers are having to find ways to develop such software with greater efficiency. To address this challenge, computer models of systems with hardware or software (for example, virtual engines) are used to carry out model-based development(*), which has been drawing considerable attention, for system and software design. Standardization activities for modeling techniques and model-based development processes are also underway across the globe, and use of model-based development is rapidly on the rise.

[*: Please refer to the following article for further information on model-based development.]

• Web Magazine -Innovation Channel- Volume 37: Supporting the development of automotive and other control systems: The V850 Integrated Development Environment in conjunction with MATLAB®

Making model-based development a reality: The development of NEC Electronics' automotive system development environment in conjunction with MATLAB®

MATLAB® and Simulink® are both simulation tools used for model-based development. Thanks to its graphical block diagram environment, the Simulink® tool is capable of simplifying system-level design and modeling as well as enabling simulation. To meet a growing demand from customers to reduce the burden involved in software development, NEC Electronics offers a development environment created in conjunction with MATLAB® and Simulink® using NEC Electronics' 32-bit V850 Series microcontrollers, which excel at real-time control.

One example of such an environment is the auto-code environment created using the Real-Time Workshop® Embedded Coder (hereafter referred to as RTW-EC). This environment was developed in collaboration with CYBERNET SYSTEMS CO., LTD. using auto-code (C source code automatically generated from a model) automatically generated by the RTW-EC as a base. The entire process is then automated—from the build phase to the creation of virtual targets and through operation verification via evaluation boards. In more specific terms, C code for microcontroller programs is first automatically generated by the RTW-EC from a model designed using the MATLAB® and Simulink® tools, and then batch processing is used to execute an automatic build (a custom build via integration of all development tools using a project manager [PM+] is also possible). When the build phase has been completed, the V850 System Simulator (SM+) or V850 Integrated Debugger (ID) is automatically started and simulation/emulation in conjunction with the MATLAB® and Simulink® tools commences. This environment makes it possible to easily carry out operations such as algorithm verification using V850 code and microcontroller compatibility verification (Figure 2).

NEC Electronics is also supporting its customers' efforts to improve the efficiency of model-based development by offering a high-precision verification environment (simulator-based processor in the loop simulation system) that enables simulation of control software through the use of a model created using MATLAB® and Simulink® (Figure 3).

Solutions for automotive distributed real-time systems made possible with the next-generation FlexRay® in-vehicle network

As previously mentioned, it is necessary for electronic control units (ECU) to be operated via and in conjunction with in-vehicle networks to meet the growing need for environmental consideration, comfort and convenience in the automotive field. Moreover, it is of utmost importance that each ECU be capable of carrying out real-time control. That's why NEC Electronics offers distributed real-time system development solutions employing FlexRay®, a next-generation in-vehicle network that is currently attracting a great deal of attention. These solutions not only make it possible to apply program designs and simulation content created using the MATLAB®/Simulink® tools, but also to support every phase of system design from network design to ECU packaging. In the future, we plan to collaborate with tool vendors to offer embedded software components and development tools that are compatible with our microcontroller products.

The photo on the right shows demonstrations conducted with our distributed real-time system development solution employing FlexRay® evaluation boards equipped with V850 microcontrollers in place of each ECU. Operations were performed using the FlexRay® network (Photo).

NEC Electronics will continue to meet the needs of its individual customers by offering solutions that are fully compatible with FlexRay® and development environments such as the one developed in conjunction with MATLAB® for automotive devices.

• MATLAB®, Simulink® and Real-Time Workshop® Embedded Coder are registered trademarks of The MathWorks.

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