Architect aids real-time control of engine valves: News from LiveDevices

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Compact Dynamics has used LiveDevices' Realogy Real-Time Architect (RTA) and Embedinet solutions to realise a preproduction version of its new TCP/IP-enabled electronic valve control (EVC) system. LiveDevices was the only vendor offering an integrated and highly efficient OSEK-certified RTOS, advanced timing analysis tools and TCP/IP stack that will enable 100Mbit/s Ethernet connectivity between the EVC system and diagnostic testing equipment. Compact Dynamic's electronic valve control system controls independent actuators that determine the opening and closing time and lift amount of each intake and exhaust valve.

Replacing mechanically driven camshaft valves with independently controlled electronically driven actuator valves increases power, fuel economy and environmentally friendliness through emissions reduction.

It was critical to Compact Dynamics to ensure that the timing of the new electronically controlled valves was accurate.

RTA allows the developer to model an application's architecture and timing behaviour, starting with the requirements and progressing to a detailed implementation level via a graphical user interface.

Once the model is complete, the developer can analyse the application using four analysis types: schedulability analysis, sensitivity analysis, priority level minimisation and frequency minimisation.

The model can also be used for building the RTOS - generating configuration data and code to link into the application and use resources effectively.

Schedulability analysis is used to check whether the system meet its deadlines or not.

Sensitivity analysis identifies the degree to which the execution time of tasks or interrupts can change while the system continues to meet its deadlines.

This allows developers to identify the areas of risk in a design, explore potential for system modifications, target corrective action, investigate idle time and scope for reduced clock speeds.

Priority allocation is used to arrange the execution of tasks so they can continue to meet deadlines while sharing stack usage, thus minimising memory requirements.

Finally, power usage minimisation determines the lowest frequency, and hence the lowest power at which the system can meet its deadlines.

The LiveDevices Embedinet tool enables a `stack' task to be created that will be run by the SSX5 pre-emptive kernel.

A full implementation of IP, TCP, UDP (user datagram protocol) and ICMP (Internet control message protocol) with SLIP (serial line internet protocol) or PPP (point-to-point protocol) data transport layers is included in the stack.

In addition, because true TCP/IP connectivity is enabled on the embedded device, no additional gateway solution is required.

Compact Dynamics will be deploying RTA and Embedinet using the Motorola's MPC 5XX microcontroller family.

"The demands of such a system require the underlying RTOS and TCP/IP stack to be very efficient in terms of memory and processor time, we must be sure, that real-time control is available in every user task", commented Werner Bals, Vice President at Compact Dynamics.

"We found LiveDevices' RTA and Embedinet to be more efficient than competing solutions on the market by a factor of four, enabling us to optimise the operation of our new EVC".

"LiveDevices is delighted to be partnering with such a innovative automotive company as Compact Dynamics", said Adrian Knowles, Commercial Director at LiveDevices.

"Its electronic valve system is the first in a new wave of Internet-enabled automotive components that we anticipate will be coming onto the market in the next five years".

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Architect aids real-time control of engine valves

Compact Dynamics has used LiveDevices' Realogy Real-Time Architect and Embedinet solutions to realise a preproduction version of its new TCP/IP-enabled electronic valve control system.