Category Archives: Automotive

UDS and CAN Stack Integration with Linux Based Telematics Control Unit

About the Customer:

Our customer is a Europe-based Tier 1 supplier developing state-of-the-art connectivity, diagnostics and vehicle telematics solutions. Their powerful, yet flexible, solutions also enable infinite opportunities for custom application development for the automotive industry.

Business Challenge:

Our customer wanted to integrate a UDS software stack on top of CAN stack with their Telematics Control Unit (TCU) to enable vehicle diagnostics functionality. Additionally, the stack could be used for other ECU’s firmware upgrades using secured service and authentication.

The customer purchased our ready-to-deploy UDS and CAN software stacks. However, they needed assistance in integrating these stacks with the Linux OS running on their telematics system.

Our IoT engineering team partnered with the customer to integrate the software stacks on their telematics system and validate the functionalities through elaborate testing.
 

Embitel Solution:

Our UDS and CAN software stacks are hardware-agnostic. However, some customizations are needed when integrating them with various platforms based on the CAN DBC and UDS ODX configurations.

The customer shared the hardware of their telematics system with our engineering team, the required wire harness & debugging equipment. The customer has also shared a skeleton of their integration environment while safeguarding their IP rights.

• In Linux environment, using Yocto, Embitel created a custom layer (meta layer) to incorporate all the proprietary code base and stacks. The meta layer contains libraries, applications, different GUI related applications, etc.
• Recipe libraries were created, which contained details about our source code, its path, how to compile it and how to install it in the customer’s image.
• Embitel cloned the meta layer and integrated it with the existing Yocto source code from the customer.
• Embitel used proprietary tools to generate code from CAN DBC files and UDS ODX files which will reduce manual effort whenever there are changes to configuration files as per the end customer requirements.
• Apart from software stack integration, Embitel also performed system testing and validation of all functionalities of the UDS and CAN stacks.

Ready-to-deploy UDS Stack

Embitel’s UDS stack enables diagnostics communication between the vehicle ECU and an external diagnostics device.

The stack provides a set of APIs to streamline communication between the low-level software and the application software. The communication can be over Ethernet, CAN, K-Line, etc.

The stack solution consists of the following layers:

The UDS stack is also compliant with ISO 14229 and ISO 15765 standards.

As part of this project, we implemented UDS server functionality, including security authentication of users.

Ready-to-deploy CAN Stack

In automotive solutions that are under development, implementation of our CAN stack enables ECU communication capabilities with reduced turn-around time. The stack is based on ISO 11898 standard and has a modular architecture.

Embitel’s CAN stack is ideal for supporting in-vehicle networking functionalities in passenger vehicles.

Testing:

• PCAN tool and Busmaster tool are used to test all the CAN communications successfully.
• The UDS stack provides multiple services. The customer had requested for 15 UDS services that they wanted to implement. Embitel has successfully integrated UDS stack for all the UDS services, added required glue code to verify specific services End-To-End, and validated the functionalities.

Embitel Impact:

Through the implementation of our UDS and CAN stacks, the customer was able to incorporate various features related to ECU communication and fault diagnostics.

The integration of our stack saved around 4 months of development time for the customer.
 

Tools and Technologies:

• Linux environment
• Yocto Build tool version Zeus (3.0)
• CANoe for ECU testing and security access validation
• Busmaster for CAN validation
• Project Management tools

Android 9 Porting for In-Vehicle Infotainment System of Electric SUVs

About the Customer:

Our client is a US-based electric vehicle manufacturing company creating a production line of SUVs.
 

Business Challenge:

• The customer desired to deploy a cutting-edge Android 9 based In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system for their electric SUV project.
• Our 13+ years expertise in the design and development of firmware for automotive embedded systems encouraged them to partner with us for this project.

Embitel Solution:

• Our solution included the design and development of the software for an IVI system that includes navigation, display of car functionalities, Bluetooth connectivity, HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning), driver and passenger seat temperature, etc.
• We undertook the responsibility of initially designing the software for a reference platform while the production hardware was being developed by the customer. In the subsequent phase of the project, we deployed the software on the production-ready hardware and performed elaborate testing.
• The IVI system communicates through Ethernet with a Windows based system that handles the entertainment functionalities accessed by passengers.
• The scope of the project also included the functionality to cast screens from the Windows based system to the IVI and transfer data from this system to the vehicle speakers. However, the cast data should only include information relevant to the driver.
• Elaborate testing of each of the software modules was performed throughout the project life cycle. This ensured that the product was very robust.

Key Modules of the IVI System:

• Media – The media player included in the IVI system has Bluetooth connectivity, WiFi, USB, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto Projection, etc.
• Phone – The driver can access phone contacts and call history by establishing Bluetooth connectivity with a phone. He/she can also make/receive calls.
• Event Manager/Priority Manager – We developed a custom module for managing priority of events, the Custom Event Manager.
• Home Screen – A customised home screen was developed for the IVI system to cater to the client’s unique requirements.
  • Home screen is split into different module areas
  • There is a framework to handle interaction between modules
  • Animation was incorporated for the appearance of a full screen when a tile is clicked
• Dash Camera – A USB camera is attached to the IVI system that monitors the driver’s facial expression to assess his attentiveness on the road. This feature was incorporated to aid insurance claims.
• Bluetooth Audio – When a phone is connected to the IVI system and a media file is played on the phone, the car speakers are engaged immediately.
• CAN Stack Integration – The IVI system integrates with the CAN Stack to get the operating conditions of the vehicle.
• Reverse View Camera – The Infotainment system displays the rear view of the vehicle when the reverse gear is engaged.
• OTA Update Feature – Over-the-Air (OTA) update feature has been implemented for IVI firmware through a cloud platform.
• Power Management – A critical feature of the IVI system is power management. This module manages power, display and associated background tasks.
• Radio – AM/FM HD radio was included in the IVI system.
• Car Audio – The vehicle includes 6-8 speakers distributed across 3 rows of seats. The Android Infotainment system connects with these speakers and delivers superior audio quality.
• Boot Time Optimisation – Optimising the boot time of the IVI system was a critical phase of this project.
• Telematics Support – The telematics system enables vehicle tracking, idling time, engine diagnostics, driving conditions, fuel consumption and much more.
• GDPR Guidelines – Country-based GDPR conditions were followed while incorporating features such as phonebook and dash camera.

Embitel Impact:

• Our team of experienced embedded engineers worked on the development of various features of the Android IVI system in a phased manner.
• The software was first deployed on a reference platform and tested thoroughly while the production hardware was being built. Subsequently, it was integrated with the production hardware and rigorous testing was performed. This strategy enabled the accelerated progress of the development activities and reduced time to market.

Tools and Technologies:

• BUSMASTER and PCAN-View to simulate, analyse and evaluate CAN system data.
• The latest Android development architecture proposed by Google was used for the design of the IVI system.

IVI Smartphone Integration- Cross Platform

Description

Embitel Mobility’s IVI Head Unit and Smartphone Integration demonstrates cross-platform vehicle function-remote control using a Smartphone.

Client

Embitel Mobility [Internal Project]

Features

• AC On/Off and temperature control
• Engine On/Off control
• Headlights On/Off control
• Car Lock/Unlock control

Tools and Technology

• Android
• iOS
• Xamarin
• Java
• Objective-C

Vue My Car – Cross Platform

Description

A cross-device, cross-platform vehicle diagnostics app

Features

• Door Status Indicator
• Real-time tyre pressure monitor
• Low tyre pressure warning system
• SQLite database to store and retrieve tyre pressure values in real time
• Real-time battery status monitor
• Maintenance date management [last and next maintenance date]
• Can be extended by updating SQLite database through Bluetooth or CAN interface

Tools and Technology

• Xamarin
• C#
• iOS, Android, Windows

Vue Fleet – Cross Platform

Description

A cross-device, cross-platform Fleet management app

Features

• Truck current-location display
• Google Play and Maps integration
• Truck and truck owner details
• Speed, RPM of truck display using Parse database which are identified over GPS
• Alert messages to truck owner

Tools and Technology

• Xamarin
• C#
• iOS, Android, Windows

In-vehicle infotainment solution on MeeGo OS

Description

An In-Vehicle Infotainment solution on MeeGo OS. The MeeGo IVI system is based on Intel Atom Crossville application processor platform. It comprises of a secondary vehicle dashboard with CAN information and entertainment features.

Client

Embitel Sales(Internal Customer)

Features

• Touchscreen-enabled Home Screen panel to launch IVI Applications
• Vehicle Instrumentation Cluster displaying: RPM, Speed, Engine Temperature, Indicator signals, Fuel indicator, Battery indicator, Parking indicator, Engine Check
• GPS-Navigation System
• Music and video player
• Image gallery
• Internet – USB, Wi-Fi Tethering option
• Internet browser support
• File manager
• Bluetooth Profiles [A2DP, PBAP, MAP, HFP]
• CAN communication

Tools and Technology

• Intel Atom Crossville
• MeeGo
• Qt, QML, JavaScript
• CAN

Vehicle Remote Diagnostics- Cloud Based

Description

The aim of this application is to demonstrate exchange of data between a Cloud server and mobile devices, for the purpose of retrieving engine and battery diagnostics, vehicle location, etc.
Displaying the information in a mobile application. Any updates to the data on the Cloud server will immediately be updated on the mobile device as well.

Client

Embitel POC

Tools and Technology

Web Application:

• Backend Language: Python
• Framework: Django
• Servers: Nginx and Gunicorn
• Services: Push Notifications

Android Application:

• Java
• GCM Push Notifications

Features

• Truck Data [Engine, Battery, Location, Diagnostics] stored in the Cloud server [remote database] will be retrieved through WebServices
• Commands can be sent from the mobile application to the cloud server as well
• Cloud Server sends Push Notifications to the mobile device if diagnostics information/data gets updated
• Auto-refresh engine information every 20 seconds