FlexRay Product Overview

FlexRay is a fast, deterministic and fault tolerant bus system for the deployment in vehicles, based on the experience of DaimlerChrysler made during the development of prototype applications and of the byteflight communication system of BMW. byteflight was developed by BMW for the implementation in passive safety systems (Airbag). To fulfill also the requirements of active safety systems, byteflight was extended by the FlexRay consortium with regard to fault tolerance and deterministic behavior.

FlexRay Test Tools

Multibus-Analyser for FlexRay

Based on the experience made when analyzing automotive CAN bus systems, IXXAT developed the Multibus-Analyser for FlexRay and CAN. This analyzing tool is used in combination with the FRC-EP150 PC interface and provides functions for receiving, transmitting, recording and signal interpretation of FlexRay and CAN messages.

Residual Bus Simulation of FlexRay and CAN Networks

The residual bus simulation provides a simulated environment for individual or several control units, allowing to test these devices independent of the other nodes on the bus. This includes the generation of message traffic necessary for the device under test, as well as the reaction on received messages. Furthermore, the FlexRay residual bus simulation includes up to two FlexRay cold-starter devices to enable the start-up of the network. By using the dual-chip extension of the FRC-EP150, the device can act as two cold-starter nodes, allowing to start-up a network with FlexRay integration nodes.

PC Interface Platforms

FRC-EP150

The FRC-EP150 is a powerful FlexRay/CAN platform for PC based and stand-alone applications. Used as a PC interface, the FlexRay CCM is, with its open interface, a measurement device for comprehensive analysis and simulation tasks for FlexRay and CAN networks. An exact local time stamp enables the time synchronous recording of FlexRay and CAN messages. The FlexRay analysis is made with a FlexRay protocol chip and with an asynchronous bit stream analysis, allowing the control of the system start-up and the detection of specific errors on the FlexRay bus.

FR-IB100/PCIe

With its FR-IB100/PCIe interface IXXAT offers a powerful and economy-priced FlexRay interface card for both control and analyzing applications. The card can be used in desktop PCs and in the industrial area, e.g. test benches, and is available in a standard and low-profile version.

Gateways

FlexRay/CAN Gateway

The FlexRay/CAN gateway is a flexible, configurable tool with which FlexRay messages and signals can be transferred to the CAN bus. This works in both directions and is especially useful for applications where existing CAN-based measurement and control technology is to be integrated into new FlexRay environments. Another use is the integration of a FlexRay control unit in the CAN bus of a vehicle. In addition, CAN-to-CAN and FlexRay-to-FlexRay data exchange is possible.

The FlexRay/CAN gateway contains configuration software for the PC and a gateway runtime application which executed on the hardware platform. The software on the PC is required to define the gateway configuration. After downloading to the target hardware, the gateway application runs independently of the PC.

Test Platform

Automotive Test Platform

The Automotive Test Platform (ATP) is a powerful hardware platform with interfaces for all conventional fieldbus systems. It is aimed at customers who wish to develop specific application software for the automotive sector but do not have the relevant target hardware.

Besides the hardware, the ATP is supplied with the necessary software in order to be able to develop custom applications on Windows CE in C, C++ or C#. After successful implementation of the application, IXXAT also offers adaptation or optimization of the ATP design to the specific needs of the customer.