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The Design and Development of a Pi Innovo Custom ECU for an Autonomous Vehicle

The Design and Development of a Pi Innovo Custom ECU for an Autonomous Vehicle

Challenge:

Pi Innovo engaged with a large vehicle OEM to develop a custom ECU to be used on an autonomous vehicle demonstration fleet. All the OEM’s traditional suppliers refused to support the project due to the very aggressive timeframes.  The ECU played a critical role in the overall vehicle positioning system and had to meet the following requirements:

  • ISO 26262 ASIL-D
    • Full redundant ASIL-D
    • Fail-operational robustness to single-point failures (internal redundancy)
  • Data transmission using 100BASE-T1... View More

Rapid OEM Engine ECU Replacement with Pi Innovo’s M670 OpenECU

Introduction

Traditionally, replacing an OEM engine ECU or Engine Control Module (ECM) has almost always been out of the question. OEMs exercise proprietary rights to the hardware and software design used for engine control. This can often cause an undesirable delay, or even lead to a complete halt on advanced engine research programs or testing of new components on a base engine. Often, automotive organizations looking to modify ECU behavior face a big setback due to lack of... View More

How to Evaluate an ECU for Suitability to My System: Diagnostic Needs

The difficulty with diagnostics is in the definition.

  • Do the diagnostics report simple wire harness shorts and opens checks?
  • Do the diagnostics report ECU pin function checks and possible intermediate stuck at voltage checks?
  • Do the diagnostics perform initial checks at power-on, or real-time and run-time checks of the internal ECU health and function?
  • Are the diagnostics the complex rationality and long-term diagnostics of system (not just ECU)... View More

Misfire detection with OpenECU

Misfire detection with OpenECU
An engine misfire can be defined as a combustion event where the air fuel mixture within a cylinder fails to ignite properly. The most common causes of misfire are:
  • Incorrect air/fuel ratio, generally caused by a lean mixture
  • Weak/missing spark due to wear of ignition system components
  • Mechanical damage to the engine such as leaking gaskets, piston rings, etc, causing a loss in compression
Misfire has a number of undesirable effects, including
  • Loss of power
  • Increased fuel consumption
  • Increased hydrocarbon emissions from the unburnt fuel
  • Catalytic converter damage

Misfire... View More