University Students Coached By Dspace Model Automotive Concepts Using Hardware In The Loop

The development of prototype vehicles using conventional automotive test procedures on an actual vehicle is both expensive and time-consuming. Engineers are increasingly using modeling and simulation tools to aid in the overall Road-to-Lab-to-Math (RLM) development process which strives to bring engineering design and assessment out of the physical world and into the virtual environment. One such tool widely used by automotive powertrain engineers is hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing. HIL uses some of the vehicle’s actual computer control units and inserts them in a control loop with a computer-based simulation platform which simulates response of actual vehicle components, such as the engine, transmission, and battery. dSPACE is the premier developer of automotive development tools, including HIL technologies, and is a sponsor of EcoCAR. Their engineers are coaching the Mississippi State University team so that the students can take full advantage of these advanced capabilities, including HIL hardware and software donated by dSPACE. The showcase laboratory is an invaluable tool to student engineers involved in the vehicle development process for EcoCAR, and is an asset to the automotive instructional program at Mississippi State University. The breadth and depth of students’ understanding of this development tool has already been greatly enhanced.