Simulation

Rapid prototyping of ECUs during calibration and test is typically accomplished using Hardware-in-the-Loop, or HiL, systems. This dedicated box can be developed to simulate conditions or parts that are not available, such as the environment (road characteristics, other system components) or vehicle conditions or outputs from other components (speed or fluid temperature). The benefit of a HiL is that testing can progress via extensive simulation without final ECU code or hardware.

On the ECU level, algorithm development can be accomplished with the help of HiL systems or can be complemented with ATI's No-Hooks Technology. No-Hooks can provide specific ECU algorithm prototyping reducing the requirements of the HiL system and in many cases, enables flexibility and simplicity not available from a traditional prototype system. Adjusting non-calibratable variables means that no physical and expensive changes must be made to the hardware or connections to force conditions or values.

Speed/load conditions

In a modern ECU, there often exists calibratable tables that take engine RPM and torque as inputs. Often it is difficult in a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission to achieve a condition where the engine RPM is very low while the engine torque is high because the transmission will downshift to a lower gear. Use No-Hooks to overwrite the commanded gearstate of the transmission and force the transmission to any desired state regardless of engine RPM and torque load.

Altitude

In order to calibrate or test an algorithm that adjusts the amount of fuel going to the cylinders of the engine based on altitude it is often necessary to drive the vehicle across a range of altitudes from sea level to high mountain territory. With No-Hooks you can overwrite the RAM variable associated with the vehicle altitude calculation and set it to any value to simulate the desired operating altitude.

Torque converter clutch

Sometimes it is necessary to quickly degrade/wear clutches inside a transmission or torque converter to simulate parts with high mileage. One way of degrading clutches is to allow slippage for an extended period of time between the friction material of these clutches. With No-Hooks you can easily force a clutch into a slippage condition by overwriting and controlling the RAM variable associated with the desired clutch state (unlock, partial lock, full lock).

Catalytic Converter

Often an automotive ECU contains algorithms that are activated when the catalytic converter temperature exceeds a safe value to attempt to cool it down before damage to the converter occurs. For test situations, No-Hooks can be used to enable activation of these algorithms by overwriting the catalytic converter temperature calculation variable and setting the variable to a high value.