Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation began to build a system that can inspect the performance and errors of the electronic control units (ECU) in automobiles in an integrated manner. It is expected to greatly improve the reliability of all electric and electronic devices as integrated driving inspection of not only individual parts, but also ECUs is possible. Hyundai and Kia are thought to intend to raise the quality of their automobiles with an increasing number of electric and electronic devices to the global level.
According to industry insiders on January 14, Hyundai and Kia are planning to build the next-generation hardware In the Loop simulation (HILs) system capable of virtual vehicle tests and apply the system in 1~2 years. The HILs is a system that inspects the performance and errors of automotive ECUs. If it is further enhanced, it will be able to conduct virtual vehicle tests, i.e. inspect all ECUs in the automobile at once.
Currently the HILs, owned by Hyundai and Kia and parts suppliers, can detect the errors of electric and electronic devices, such as individual parts and modules, but has been limited in integrated driving inspection. The errors occurring when all ECUs are used at once require an inspection equivalent to making a whole virtual car, not individual parts and modules.
For instance, the engine ECU and the steering ECU may not have any problem separately, but if the two ECUs are used at the same time, errors may occur. To detect these errors, several ECUs must be driven at the same time and the inspection must be conducted in real time. To conduct an inspection like this, an advanced HILs system is required.
If Hyundai and Kia start applying the next-generation HILs and virtual vehicle tests in earnest, it is expected that it will be possible to inspect electric and electronic devices at a level similar to the actual driving environment. In the actual driving environment, several ECUs are working organically at the same time. This is why the level of inspection must be greatly enhanced.
To this end, it is known that Hyundai and Kia organized a task force team (TFT) in 2012, and have been collecting cases of advanced countries like Germany. Famous auto makers, such as Audi, Volkswagen, Daimler, Honda and Suzuki, adopted the HILs a few years ago, and have been conducting virtual vehicle tests since then. Hyundai and Kia are believed to be planning to introduce an equivalent HILs system and raise their electric and electronic device inspection competency to the global level.
In Korea, 5~6 companies, including dSpace, Etas and National Instruments (NI), are marketing HILs. HMC is said to cooperate with many of these companies to carry out this project.
“As the necessity of introducing this system has been raised, we are reviewing this system while comprehensively considering operational efficiency,” said a Hyundai and Kia insider. “As of now, we cannot disclose any specific investment plan.”
[Glossary] Hardware In the Loop simulation (HILs)
HILs is short for ‘Hardware In the Loop simulation.’ It inspects the performance and errors of electronic control units (ECU). Here, hardware refers to the ECU of the automobile. In the sense that it inspects the ECU, it is also called EILs (ECU In the Loop simulation). There are a wide variety of HILs systems ranging from one that can inspect only a single part and module to one that can conduct virtual vehicle tests, i.e. inspect all ECUs in the automobile in an integrated manner.