Embedded Software Development Systems

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Embedded Software Development

Companies designing off-highway systems, including those for agricultural, forestry, and construction vehicles, often find schedules so aggressive that little time has been reserved for embedded development and its integration into a system. With DISTek, companies get the support and expertise of an embedded team that provides specialized experience in writing compact and efficient embedded software that adheres to standards such as ISOBUS.

The embedded applications that DISTek provides are easily maintained, and DISTek engineers help customers scale and grow over time by providing support, training, and on-site engineering services. DISTek has assisted in the development of hundreds of different embedded systems for ECUs, electro-hydraulic controls, vehicle networks, and operator interfaces and displays.

Electric Power Technology

Customer Challenge: Create an embedded solution that provides control for up to four electric machines, one machine acting as a generator and up to three additional machines acting as loads in an electric power technology project.

DISTek Solution: Converted the generated, 3-phase AC voltage on a tractor generator to a controlled DC voltage by the rectifier control. Then converted the DC voltage to AC voltage by an inverter using torque control, and subsequently distribute to the loads.

Additional Projects	Dev. Platform	Industry	Project Type	Project Summary
Vehicle Controls	Embedded C	Forestry	Electronic Controls, Vehicle Controls	Expand Summary
Development of electronics for new models of forestry vehicles. Complete redesign of the electronics control system. Integrating numerous software models to promote re-usability and commonality across platforms.
Vehicle Controls for Hybrid Utility Vehicle	Embedded C	Military	Electronic system controls	Expand Summary
Electronically controlled the energy management of a hybrid vehicle by developing a main vehicle controller which interfaces with an engine, alternator, and battery system to send power control messages to the vehicle.
Redesigning an IVT Drive Strategy with Advanced Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Electronic system controls, Transmission controls	Expand Summary
Redesigned an IVT drive strategy for easy user operability and efficient use of power by replacing the drive lever in an existing vehicle and controlling the various inputs to achieve an efficient transmission gear ratio and engine speed.
Transmission Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Cab controls, Transmission controls	Expand Summary
Developed cab controller software for both traditional and infinitely variable transmissions. Features included controls for park brake requests, operator presence evaluation, and when to request gear shifts.
Autonomous Vehicle Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Electronic system controls, Autonomous vehicle controls	Expand Summary
Created an autonomous vehicle system to safely navigate paths over a predetermined course by developing a system that has redundant controls and monitoring to ensure that the vehicle responds properly to stimuli. CAN and wireless systems were put in place for communication.
Electric Power Technology	Embedded C	Agricultural	Rectifier and inverter controls	Expand Summary
Provided control for up to four electric machines, one acting as a generator and up to three acting as loads on the vehicle system.

Additional Projects	Dev. Platform	Industry	Project Type	Project Summary
Steering Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Autonomous vehicle controls, Steering controls	Expand Summary
Created a system with feedback provided by angle sensors. The system was designed to allow operator intervention, and implemented other condition and fault checks.
Controls for Fertilizer Application	Embedded C	Agricultural	Hydraulic cylinder control and monitoring	Expand Summary
Developed software to automate the connection of a fertilizer tank to an applicator by controlling hydraulic cylinders and monitoring sensors per a prescribed sequence of events.
Tracks Steering Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Drive-by-wire, CAN	Expand Summary
Developed steering controls software for track vehicles.
Steer-by-Wire Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Steering controls, ISOBUS	Expand Summary
Created a system where the steering input is provided by an electronic steering wheel and the output is provided by a pair of electrohydraulic steering valves. This project included implementation of ISO 11783-7 (section A.28) and involved security features to prevent unauthorized control.
Height Controller	Embedded C	Agricultural	CAN, Vehicle controls	Expand Summary
Developed height controller software for attachments on large ag equipment.
Common Hitch Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Hitch control	Expand Summary
Developed a common EH hitch control software package. This development was structured to accommodate multiple styles of control valves and multiple types of operator interfaces.

Reusable ISOBUS Driver for Implement Controllers

Customer Challenge: Design and implement a reusable driver that complies with Part 6 of the ISOBUS specification.

DISTek Solution: Created reusable, ISOBUS compliant driver that allows implement controllers to display information on commercial virtual terminal (VT) displays. The customer can now market applications as ISOBUS/VT-compatible and expand sales to a wider group of clients.

Additional Projects	Dev. Platform	Industry	Project Type	Project Summary
Boot Block	Embedded C	Agricultural, Construction, Forestry, Military	Controller programming	Expand Summary
Developed a compact and secure boot block to allow factory and field programming of controllers connected to a vehicle network.
Operating System	Embedded C	Agricultural, Construction, Forestry, Military	Custom proprietary operating system, Hardware drivers	Expand Summary
Developed a common operating system and reusable software for enterprise-wide projects by creating a system, with diagnostics, controls, and I/O drivers including CAN J1939 and ISOBUS drivers, that was scalable and useable across multiple vehicle systems.
Reusable ISOBUS Driver for Implement Controllers	Embedded C	Agriculture	ISOBUS, Virtual terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Designed and implemented a reusable controller/driver that complies with Part 6 of the ISOBUS specification. Created a driver that allows implement controllers to display information on commericial VT displays.
Vehicle Display Software	Embedded C	Agricultural	Virtual terminal (VT) display, Operator Interface	Expand Summary
Developed vehicle display software that included both LCD and virtual terminal displays.
Sequence Control	Embedded C	Ag, Construction/Forestry, and Miltary	Custom driver, CAN, ISOBUS	Expand Summary
Developed a sequence control client driver that complies with ISO 11783-14 and allows an implement/function to be controlled via a sequence control master.

Control Models

Customer Challenge: Customer vehicles come in many variants with more planned for the future. Complex suspension control software is required that works in any of these variants using a single software payload.

DISTek Solution: Control models were designed to be distributed into AUTOSAR software components to support variation in geometry, pneumatic properties, and even number of axles. Test harness models were created to test each SWC as early as possible.

Additional Projects	Dev. Platform	Industry	Project Type	Project Summary
Update Controls to AUTOSAR	Embedded C, Vector PREEvision	Agricultural	Electronic System Controls	Expand Summary
Designed and implemented AUTOSAR-compliant software for ag vehicle control systems. Created software architectures in Vector PREEvision including software component design, vehicle network definitions, and software component to hardware mappings.
ECU Architecting for AUTOSAR	Simulink, Vector PREEvision	Agricultural	Software Architecture	Expand Summary
Created and defined the requirements & architecture for AUTOSAR software implementation using Vector PREEvision. Defined interface between software components, including communication and diagnostics. Created MATLAB model based shell for AUTOSAR implementation and developed components using Simulink. Implemented and tested AUTOSAR software applications for electronic control units.
Enterprise AUTOSAR Reuse	Simulink, Vector PREEvision	Agricultural	Software Architecture	Expand Summary
Partnered with a Fortune-500 customer to create embedded AUTOSAR software components in Vector PREEvision & MathWorks Simulink that could be reused throughout the entire organization, and which demonstrate the cutting edge of model-based software development practices.
Control Models	AUTOSAR, Simulink	Defense	Suspension control	Expand Summary
Control models were designed to be distributed into AUTOSAR software components to support variation in geometry, pneumatic properties, and even number of axles. Test harness models were created to test each SWC as early as possible.

Modeling
& Simulation Embedded
Software Automation
& Test

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Featured DISTek Expert

Name:

Benjamin

Title

VP-Business Development

Technical Strengths:

C, C++, CAN, SAE J1939, Matlab, Simulink, Digital Signal Processing

Past Experience

Autonomous steering for agricultural equipment using GPS or feeler-sensors; electro-hydraulic steering controls for joystick-driven loaders; hydrostatic transmission controls.

DISTek Employee Since:

2006

What I love about my job:

I enjoy learning, and the experts with whom I work provide me ample opportunity to do so. I also enjoy solving problems of many kinds, and am often given the opportunity to delve into a mechanical or hydraulic problem outside my primary area of electrical expertise.

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DISTek Integration, Inc.