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ACT Standard Bundle

ACT complete including Residual Bus Simulation (RBS)

The Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) is a powerful and easy to use PC software package for the FRC-EP Embedded Platforms with versatile functions.

This software bundle includes the following components:

  • Gateway - Gateway & Bridging
  • Logger - Datalogger & Trigger
  • Matlab & EtherCAT - Matlab/Simulink & EtherCAT
  • Residual Bus Simulatie (RBS) - Berichtstimulatie
  • Basis - IxAdmin, Editor, Visualisatie en Ontwikkelgereedschap
Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT)

Functions & Modules

Detail overview of the functions and modules in this bundle:

Gateway

The gateway not only takes care of the data transfer from one CAN bus to another, but also makes it possible to connect "logical" bus systems - such as user code, data logger, Matlab / Simulink (option), etc. - with the overall data exchange . With this strategy it is possible to route each frame, PDU or signal from source to destination individually. This can be done directly or, for example, also via user code to manipulate the data on the fly.

This is possible by using the Gateway view of the ACT tool and using drag & drop to define the relationship between source and destination. Just drag the desired data from the source bus and drop it on the destination - irrelevant whether this is a real bus system or the user code, logger or something else. At the end, the created configuration can be loaded on an Ixxat embedded platform and run stand-alone.

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Gateway
Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Gateway

FlexRay, CAN & CAN FD

A bus description file can be provided for physical FlexRay, CAN and CAN FD bus systems. With the signal-based gateway, it is thereby possible to combine signals from different source messages into one target message.

  • Free selection of send triggers and possible default values
  • Optional automatic signal transformation – if the signal description of the source and target signal deviate from each other
  • Cycle time adaptation of the sent messages to relieve the recipient connected to the target bus.

Analog & digital I/O

The FRC-EP and CANnector devices also provide analog or digital I/O ports. With ACT you can use these signals like any other signal in your configuration.
After configuring the data direction, range of values, conversion rules and units, the I / Os can be mapped easily via drag & amp; drop. This makes it possible to map trigger inputs/outputs of the logger or to fill in vehicle signals based on analog inputs.

  • Different IOs supported depending on the used embedded platform
  • Easily added to the gateway as a virtual bus

Bridging

Ixxat’s Generic Ethernet protocol enables long-distance connections. Generic Ethernet is a virtual CAN (FD), FlexRay or LIN bus system on Ethernet. The desired data from / to the Generic Ethernet bus system can be mapped using ACT.

The data is then distributed over Ethernet and can be translated to the physical protocols using the CAN connector or FRC-EP series device. This is the classic range extender.
For the connection of the data stream directly to a PC, the VCI driver can be used to use the device as an external PC interface. The Generic Ethernet protocol is very easy to implement on any target operating system via a communication script.

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Bridging

Up to 16 such virtual buses can be configured. This allows the desired data to be distributed not to one but to a maximum of 16 different IP addresses or ports. This makes it possible to create your own Ethernet-based communication network and simply use CAN (FD), FlexRay or LIN protocols on the last mile.

The Generic Ethernet protocol also allows the combination of Ixxat CAN @ net devices with CAN connector or FRC-EP series devices. This opens the possibility to expand up to a maximum of 136 CAN/72 CAN FD interfaces.

Datalogger

Voeg met behulp van ACT data logging-functionaliteit toe aan de configuratie. De loggerbus is een 'logische' bus binnen ACT die alleen gegevens kan ontvangen.

Any signal within the configuration - CAN (FD), LIN, FlexRay signal / frames, UserCode, etc. - can be assigned to the logger bus via drag and drop and then recorded to mass storage device, or the cloud, for later analysis . The logger supports:

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Data logger
  • Register data in CSV, ASC, BLF or MDF format
  • Using multiple recording groups to group the data that belongs together
  • Using trigger signals to decide what to record and when
  • Using a ring buffer system to also include data "before" a particular trigger occurs
  • Decide whether to record a triggered event, cyclically or upon a signal change
  • Use of analog and/or digital I/Os for manual triggering
  • Use of the logger functionality alone or in combination with any other functionality running in parallel on the CANnector or FRC-EP series device
  • Access the logger via web sockets in a browser

Trigger

The trigger is a further logical bus which can be added to the ACT configuration. When added, every signal within the configuration can be mapped to the trigger bus by means of the drag & drop concept and being used as input signal. The trigger engine can be designed in a graphical manner. Several functional blocks can be used:

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Trigger
  • Timer
  • Counter
  • Thresholds
  • Flip-flops
  • Logical combinations


By connecting these blocks, you are enabled to define a trigger logic which is then resulting in trigger signals as output of the trigger engine. These outputs are normal signals like any other signal in the configuration. They can be used to:

  • Trigger the data logger
  • Drive the digital outputs of the CANnector or FRC-EP series device
  • Trigger the transmission of a certain message
  • Steer a binary signal on any physical bus system
  • Steer a certain functionality in your UserCode

Signal visualization

  • Easily added to the gateway configuration as a virtual bus
  • Simple display and stimulation for all mapped signals using integrated web server
  • Any device (PC, smartphone, tablet) can be used as display device
  • Connection of the visualization device via USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi
  • Requires only HTML5-capable web browser
  • Generic HTML page provided for easy adaptation by the user
Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Signaalvisualisatie

Development tool (UserCode)

ACT allows for many different configurations, but of course does not offer all possible functionality. In that case, a configuration can be extended with its own C user code.
An Eclipse-based development environment is available for the development of your own applications. Using this development environment, user code can be created for the extension of an ACT solution or for completely separate applications. ACT generates a C user code template that contains all the API to connect functions to the rest of the system. This is supported by the integration into the ACT project, the handy editor, cross compiler, as well as a high-level language debugger. The developed applications can be run stand-alone or on the Ixxat embedded systems.

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Ontwikkelgereedschap

Functional models

For some users, the development of C code is too complex or there are already finished models from other projects. The integration of these models is possible via an API based on the user code bus. Similar to the user code, a Matlab/Simulink model can then access the mapped signals/messages.

  • Easy implementation of own functions, e.g. for control of digital outputs or implementation of complex trigger modules for the logger
  • User code bus added as a virtual bus to the the gateway configuration
  • IO signals for own code mapped via drag & drop from and to all other bus systems
  • User code application written in standard C and may represent also specific algorithms
  • Eclipse-based SDK incl. remote debugger for developing and testing the application

Matlab/Simulink & EtherCAT

MATLAB / Simulink

This option for ACT allows the integration of MATLAB/Simulink models into the overall configuration. If desired, ACT automatically generates a base model containing all the signals that will be exchanged. This basic model contains the API for the rest of the system and the signal transformation from raw to physical signal value depending on the definitions in the underlying bus description files.

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Matlab / Simulink

All that is required is design the desired functions with MATLAB / Simulink or copy the existing model and paste it into the base model. At the end, the executable module is automatically generated from this model and integrated into the overall configuration running standalone on the CANnector or FRC-EP series device.

  • Integration of your own MATLAB/Simulink models
  • Send/receive data via the gateway
  • Required: Matlab/Simulink license for Embedded Systems

EtherCAT

This is available for CANnector or from a FRC-EP series device with an EtherCAT extension. Within ACT, simple drag & drop can then be used to generate mappings from / to the EtherCAT slave. ACT also automatically generates a corresponding ESI file that can be used together with any suitable EtherCAT master to conveniently configure your EtherCAT network.
Once connected to EtherCAT, all data - coming from the CAN (FD), Flexray or LIN bus system or from another EtherCAT based sensor or IO device - is synchronized and distributed on the same communication system to an SPS or PC to facilitate test execution. arrange for.

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - EtherCAT
 
  • EtherCAT extension allowing to combine automotive and industrial networks
  • Easy signal selection for analysis and stimulation via EtherCAT by using ACT
  • EtherCAT configuration can be read directly from the device

FDX

The Fast Data Exchange protocol is an Ethernet-based communication interface and represents a favorable alternative to XCPonEthernet for accessing physical signals.
With ACT, all necessary signals are mapped from / to the FDX bus system via the drag & drop concept. ACT automatically generates the corresponding XML description file for the FDX bus. This XML file can be imported into the target software solution and is therefore immediately ready to read or send data.

  • No elaborate communication stack required
  • Quick implementation on any target platform
  • Interpretation of the data stream via XML description file generated with ACT

Residual Bus Simulation (RBS)

DACT's RBS display provides a simulation environment for Electronic Control Units (ECUs) to test them independently from other network devices.
Our RBS is automatically generated using a vehicle description database defined with the integrated vehicle editor . Select the desired ECUs) and ACT builds the configuration:

  • Generation of the necessary communication traffic
  • Automatic calculation of signal-based CRCs and alive counters
  • With configuration wizard – no programming effort
  • Easy graphically configuration of the simulation
  • Autonomously execution of the generated function modules on the embedded platform
Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Residual Bus Simulation (RBS)

Ixxat Embedded Platform & ACT - Residual bus simulation (RBS)

XCPonEthernet

  • Control of the residual bus simulation and evaluation of communication data via standardized protocol
  • Signals of CANdb and/or FIBEX file merged in an A2L file for import in suitable software solutions
  • Presentation of all signals on the bus and influence on all signals sent by the RBS

HIL signaal manipulation

Based on the FlexRay/CAN RBS and the XCPonEthernet extension, the signals sent by the RBS can be defined and manipulated. This includes, for example:

  • On/off switching of signals for a defined time or number of cycles
  • Transmission of defined substitute values with switched-off signals
  • Defined corrupting of CRCs and alive counters

The control of the signal manipulation can take place via user code, the gateway or XCPonEthernet.

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - IxAdmin
IxAdmin

Administration tool for the embedded platform which is connected to the device via USB, Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

  • Up-/download of configurations
  • Execution of updates
  • Runtime license management
  • General settings

Ixxat Automotive Configuration Tool (ACT) - Vehicle Editor
Vehicle Editor

Basis for most solutions are bus descriptions in CANdB, FIBEX or AUTOSAR-XML format. The descriptions contain a great deal of information, but often not all required information. Using the Vehicle Editor, everything that belongs to a certain vehicle, an integration level or a test configuration can be easily combined.

Contents of delivery
- Programm for Windows™
- USB license key (One USB 2.0 connection required)
- User Manual

Part number(s)

1.12.0248.00001
Advanced Configuration Tool (ACT) - Standard
Base, Logger, Gateway, EtherCAT and Residual Bus Simulation (RBS)
 

Note

For Gateway and RBS are run-time licenses on the Embedded Platform required

Getting interested?

Are you interested in the ACT Standard Bundle? Please request, without any obligation, for a quote. Would you like more information? Please send an email to or visit our contact page.
You can call us if you like, we can be reached at +31-40-2301.922. We are pleased to help you and do offer you practical advice and support.