Integrated Debugger for Universal Controller Simplifies the First Steps in the Development of ECUs

 

Schwabhausen, Stuttgart, 14.04.2016 – Vector and iSYSTEM today introduce their co-operatively designed VCA0301 – an integrated debugger for the universal ECU VC121-12 from Vector. The debugger has been developed by iSYSTEM and will be available as an accessory from May. Developers of ECUs now have, with the combination of the universal controller and entry-level debugger, perfectly tuned solution for various applications available from a single source.

The handling of the VCA0301 debugger is simple. It is fitted directly to the debug interface of the VC121-12 universal controller and provides a JTAG connection to the microcontroller. The compact construction makes it possible to use the debugger whilst the ECU is encapsulated in its housing with a direct connection to the PC via the USB socket on the casing. This complete solution offers a cost-effective development setup, from evaluation and development of the ECU through to use in a test vehicle in order to detect even intermittent software failures. It is available directly from Vector.

The VCA0301 enables the user to debug the ECU software via iSYSTEM’s debug and test software winIDEA, which is also provided. When comparing to communication via XCP, the need to instrument the ECU software is not required which results in reduced data bus and processor loading.

In order to go even deeper into the analysis and testing of the ECU software there is the option of using a BlueBox On-Chip Analyser from iSYSTEM, for example the iC5500. This offers further analysis options in order to further improve the quality and safety of the application. Features include trace, function profiling, performance measurement and code coverage analysis. This upgrade is available directly from iSYSTEM.

The VCA0301 compliments the available accessory range and simplifies the deployment of the Vector universal controller VC121-12 in a diverse range of use cases such as classic ECU development and evaluation purposes, as well as practical training in the laboratory in further education institutes. Through the integration of the debugger inside the ECU, the cabling complexity is reduced resulting in a less cluttered working space for the user.

Background information

VC universal controllers from Vector

The Vector universal controllers are all-purpose ECUs for gateways and I/O control with the VC121-12 the largest and most flexible of the range. They are predestined for fast development of functional prototypes and use in small production runs. The universal controllers cover a wide spectrum of usage cases. Through PCB depopulation, population variants and individualisation, the spectrum of use cases can be broadened further.

Universal controllers offer the user, through their immediate availability, a huge time saving. In order to further amplify this effect, Vector offers suitable accessories for the universal controller with their breakout boxes, JTAG adaptors and evaluation boards to support the developer.

More information is available at: http://vector.com/vc121

BlueBox On-Chip-Analyser from iSYSTEM

The iSYSTEM BlueBox hardware is a debug and analysis tool for a diverse range of embedded single and multi-core processors and microcontrollers. The basis for further analysis functionality is the availability of a trace interface on the target processor or microcontroller. On the VC121-12 there is a NEXUS* trace interface implemented (www.nexus5001.org) upon which the matching trace adaptor of the iSYSTEM BlueBox can be fitted. The iSYSTEM development environment “winIDEA” can then be used to invoke the analysis functions.

Trace offers the recording of the program execution during run-time in order to measure and check the real-time behaviour of the application. In addition it forms the basis for profiling and code coverage. With function profiling and respectively performance measurement, it is possible to follow the timing at function level as well as localising timing bottlenecks. The code coverage analysis ascertains the quality of those tests and the depth of the current testing during that process.

* The VCA0301 is also fitted to this interface and uses the JTAG signals for standard debugging. Trace is not available using this debugger.

More information is available at: http://isystem.com/products/hardware/ic5500

Pictures, press release (English and German) and presentation can all be downloaded from: http://bit.ly/pk-vca0301

 

Press contact:

Heike Schmidt

Tel. +49-711/80670-5356

Fax +49-711/80670-585356

E-Mail: heike.schmidt@vector.com
Vector Informatik GmbH

Ingersheimer Str. 24

70499 Stuttgart

www.vector.com
Stuart Cording

Tel. +49 (0) 8138 6971-59

Fax +49 (0) 8138 6971-46

E-Mail: stuart.cording@isystem.com
iSYSTEM AG

Carl-Zeiss-Str. 1

85247 Schwabhausen

www.isystem.com