rCube is Ricardo's rugged high performance control unit that supports rapid prototyping in the automotive environment. Developed by Ricardo, the generic hardware has been designed to provide maximum flexibility, being configurable through software, to suit numerous advanced application requirements. Computing performance is realised using a dual floating point microcontroller architecture and multiple communications protocols.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
Ricardo developed the control unit to address the automotive electronic control trend to greater computing power and new communication requirements for applications such as:
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Advanced Powertrain Control
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Drive-by-Wire
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Integrated Safety
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Vehicle Dynamic Control
- >500MIPs processing power from 2 PowerPC microcontrollers
- Memory 16MB Flash ROM and 96MB RAM
- Powerful RTOS development environment includes support for autocoding
- 42V tolerant I/O
- Integrated power drivers
- Software configurable I/O drivers
- Power supply and watchdog monitoring for failure detection and safety operation
- Automotive temperature range
- 9-58V input supply
- IP66 Environmentally sealed housing
- 160 pin automotive connector
- ASCET-SD and Simulink compatible
- Reduced performance version available
DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT
Low level software drivers that configure and control the hardware interfaces are compatible with both ASCET-SD and Simulink toolchains. A number of application specific block-sets have been created which are configurable via the rCube Manager. Ricardo can develop and configure further interfaces and tools to meet your application needs.
CUSTOM DEVELOPMENT
Ricardo can rapidly develop a dedicated control unit to meet your specific requirement based on the current circuit blocks, designed to meet automotive ECU performance specifications. With this approach, we can reduce time between concept evaluation and first prototype implementation.
APPLICATION EXAMPLE - ADVANCED ENGINE CONTROL
Ricardo are developing advanced engine control algorithms to improve emission and torque characteristics. These algorithms need much higher real time processing performance than is available on existing engine management systems. Ricardo are using this high performance control unit as the hardware platform, evaluating their real time engine model for accurate and predictive combustion control optimised on a per cylinder basis. This is enabling the practical realisation of the direct feedback combustion control for stable transitions between conventional spark ignition and compression ignition operation.
If you would like to discuss rapid prototyping and harness the capability implemented in Ricardo’s advanced rapid prototyping environment, please use the "Contact us" box on the right hand side.
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