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The low cost of microcontrollers makes them increasingly popular for electronic control of a wide range of embedded systems throughout the vehicle. An embedded mixed-signal or mechatronic system is one that uses a microcontroller to control some aspect of the physical system such as motion, speed, temperature etc… The added dimension of software presents a significant challenge to the design, integration and verification of this class of systems. This paper will discuss how the VHDL-AMS language can be used to describe the behavior of the physical hardware along with the controlling software algorithm together in a unified system model. This unifying technology can provide invaluable insight to the embedded system designer during the system design, integration, verification and debugging phases.

VHDL-AMS, approved by the IEEE in 1999, is the first industry standard hardware description language (HDL) for modeling the many mixed-technology components that exist in modern automotive systems and subsystems. Technologies include electrical (analog and digital), mechanical (rotational and translational), fluidic, magnetic, thermal, etc. VHDL-AMS is a valuable tool for understanding the complex interaction between these technologies, which is essential for the today's engineers in achieving their design goals. In this study, the VHDL-AMS language is used to mathematically model the individual components that form the drivetrain system of an automobile. The components modeled are the engine, clutch, transmission, final drive (differential), drive shaft, brake, wheel, chassis, air drag, and driver. A graphical design environment is used to interconnect the components into system and subsystem models for simulation and analysis.

An increasingly important, yet often underestimated task of modern vehicle design is the system interconnect, commonly known as the wire harness. The continual increase in on–board vehicle electronics is causing an exponential expansion in wire harness complexity. To meet these challenges, software tools have been developed to assist the harness designer in the various tasks from system partitioning to signal integrity analysis. This paper will discuss the key problem areas of the wire harness design, along with the design and analysis capabilities of the SaberHarness™ tool suite.

The design and analysis of vehicle wire harnesses presents a daunting challenge to the modern day transportation industry. The continual increase in on-board vehicle electronics, driven by both consumer and legislative demands, is causing an exponential increase in wire harness complexity. To meet these challenges, software tools have been developed to assist harness designer the various tasks from system partitioning to signal integrity analysis. This paper will explore how the SaberHarness™ tool suite can be used as a virtual prototype environment for a complete system design and analysis including wire harness interconnectivity.