PROTOS miniHIL Hardware-in-the-Loop

Everyone knows that software should be tested earlier and more often. Unfortunately, the reality is often different. Hardware that is controlled by embedded software frequently needs a HIL (Hardware-in-the-Loop) to test the product extensively. But a HIL is expensive, is typically used by several developers, and may even be shared across departments.

In order that every developer can profit daily from the advantages of a HIL system, PROTOS has developed the miniHIL. Around the size of a sheet of A4 paper, the miniHIL can be used daily, even hourly, to check the functionality of code changes. Thanks to the use of a model of the end application, bug fixes, code changes, and new concepts can be tried out without putting expensive hardware, e.g. motor drivers or inverters, at risk.

The miniHIL is also suitable for safety-critical applications. Using the test case language CaGe, extensive tests can be created that check applications as wide ranging as blood glucose meters or window lifters for possible errors.

Click here to learn more about miniHIL

Setting up your test system only requires a few simple steps:

• Plug in your evaluation board as a system-under-test. This ensures your embedded application is tested on your target microcontroller.
• Connect the hardware interfaces of the system-under-test to the test system.
• Are you missing an interface or function? Just add the FPGA Board to the platform.
• Develop environment simulations and test cases that run on the powerful, integrated embedded processor (STM32H7).

The tests and environment simulations for the miniHIL are developed in a model-driven manner. The basis for modeling is the open source tool eTrice that enables structure and behavior modeling and code generation. CaGe test models can be seamlessly integrated into eTrice models. This combination allows simple development of models that include both environment simulation and testing. Requirements for the development environment: Windows PC with 8 GB RAM and USB 2.0 ports.

A miniHIL model consists of the following parts:

• Adapter library for controlling the hardware interfaces (eTrice models)
• Simulation and monitoring elements based on the hardware interfaces (eTrice models)
• Your test cases can directly access the hardware interfaces as well as the simulation and monitoring elements, e.g. for fault injection (CaGe models).

The miniHIL is suitable for testing a wide range of products in which complex controls or safety-critical functions are implemented:

• Industrial power tools such as drills and their batteries.
• Medical devices such as blood glucose meters or insulin pumps.
• Applications in the field of automotive where safety must be ensured, such as a window lifter.

Examples of target microcontrollers (system under test):

• ST-Microelectronics: STM32, STM8
• Infineon: TLE, AURIX, XMC
• NXP: S12
• Microchip: dsPIC33
• ARM Cortex-M
• And, if your chosen processor isn’t listed, just let us know.

Many adapters for conventional MCU development boards are already available, while new ones for other processors can be developed on request.

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