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.

Autonomous Utility Vehicle

Customer Challenge: Produce software for a fully autonomous vehicle for military and security applications.

DISTek Solution: Used drive-by-wire technology that allows the vehicle to operate in hostile or repetitive environments, ultimately freeing the operator for other mission-critical tasks. This new system was developed, tested, and successfully demonstrated.

Additional Projects	Dev. Platform	Industry	Project Type	Project Summary
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.
Automated Steering Controls	Embedded C++	Agricultural	ISOBUS, Autonomous vehicle controls	Expand Summary
Ported a significant portion of Embedded C vehicle controller algorithms to the embedded C++ display in accordance with the ISO 11783-7 standard. Implemented control loops to support a new distributed architecture.
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.
Application Controller	Embedded C	Agricultural	Electronic system controls	Expand Summary
Designed embedded code to enhance a rate controller for liquid fertilizer applications, including coordinating object-pool changes for UI enhancements.
Vehicle Controls	Embedded C	Construction	Vehicle control unit	Expand Summary
Created software for a new vehicle controller which handled all of the hydraulic functionality of the vehicle using CAN valves by writing comprehensive software that included steering, suspension, blade control, PTO, and aux valves.
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.
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.
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.
Final Tier 4 Vehicle Update	Embedded C	Construction	Vehicle Controls, Transmission Controls	Expand Summary
Implemented all aspects of cab and transmission control. Updated legacy models and code fulfill Tier 4 Final requirements.
Vehicle and Transmission Controls	Embedded C	Construction	Vehicle Controls, Transmission Controls	Expand Summary
Developed software for a hybrid electric vehicle to perform various functions from vehicle propulsion to transmission calibration. Created an operator interface to interact with these functions.
Chassis Controls	Embedded C	Forestry	Chassis controls	Expand Summary
Developed the tasks and functions that will be performed by a vehicle chassis controller, including a variety of sensor readings, interpretation and generation of many different CAN messages and logic to support the operation of many electrically controlled features, like the cooling fan and lights. DISTek engineers used a combination of hand-coding in C and Simulink models for the project.
Vehicle Calibration	Embedded C	Agricultural	Electronic system controls	Expand Summary
Redesigned existing code and added feature enhancements for the calibration of attachments on large ag equipment.
Vehicle Controls	Embedded C	Construction	Electronic system controls, Vehicle control unit	Expand Summary
Developed vehicle controls for new model of high-speed construction equipment.
Transmission Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Transmission controllers	Expand Summary
Developed updated controls for a large tractor transmission. Updates were for both traditional and infinitely variable transmission controllers.
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.
PTO Software	Embedded C	Agricultural	Electronic system controls	Expand Summary
Updated the power take-off ECU for a new vehicle platform by creating new code to add functions, including calibration procedures, support for new sensor types, and preventative maintenance functionality.
Small Vehicle Transmission Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Transmission controls	Expand Summary
Developed transmission controller software, that included speed limiting, for small vehicle transmission.
Switch Block Driver	Embedded C	Software	Operating systems, Hardware drivers	Expand Summary
Designed drivers for engineers creating application software systems that interfaced with the external "Switch Block" chip to read each of the inputs from the device and handle device configuration.
Vehicle Controls	Embedded C	Construction	Vehicle control unit, Virtual terminals	Expand Summary
Developed VCU controller software that included new functionality required for IT4 certification.
16-Bit Virtual Terminal Enhancements and Test	Embedded C	Agricultural	Virtual terminal (VT) display, ISOBUS	Expand Summary
Modified a 16-bit virtal terminal (VT) to add additional display functionality, including optimization and new debug capabilities.
Software Control System for an Agricultural Vehicle	Embedded C	Construction	Operator interface	Expand Summary
Created a control system and complex architecture software system for an articulated, large-scale agricultural service vehicle. Created requirements and then used a combination of control system modeling and hand-coding to create one comprehensive software system.
Vehicle Controls	Embedded C	Construction	Controller integration, Electronic system controls, Vehicle controls	Expand Summary
Created a vehicle control unit for high-speed construction equipment by producing and integrating a VCU that controls everything except the transmission and engine.
OS Testing	Embedded C	Agricultural	Automated testing	Expand Summary
Developed formal test procedures to allow common driver functionality to be automatically tested using validation procedures and test scripts by designing and implementing a hardware loopback circuit for inclusion into a test bed unit to allow automatic loopback testing of the IO and PWM drivers.
Vehicle Communication Network	Embedded C	Forestry	CAN	Expand Summary
Added a secondary CAN bus to the existing controller to reduce bus utilization on the first CAN bus.
Transmission Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Transmission controls	Expand Summary
Developed an ag vehicle transmission interface controller used to interface with operator controls.
Vehicle Control Unit	Embedded C	Construction	Vehicle controls, cab controls	Expand Summary
Developed VCU software for several four-wheel-drive vehicle models. Included maintenance and support of production software.
Vehicle Coordination	Embedded C	Agricultural	Autonomous vehicle controls	Expand Summary
Modified existing vehicle controllers to provide vehicle coordination functionality. Included simulation of CAN messages to/from controllers that were not available.
Vehicle Display	Embedded C	Construction	Virtual terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Developed a virtual terminal with a seven-inch LCD for construction machines.
Vehicle Display Software	Embedded C	Agricultural	Virtual terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Developed the embedded software code for an ISO-compliant VT.
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.
Virtual Terminal Testing	Embedded C	Agricultural	Virtual terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Developed a test plan to fully exercise the functionality of a VT display.
Vehicle Display	Embedded C	Forestry	Operator Interface	Expand Summary
Updated a dash monitor for a wheeled forestry vehicle.
Vehicle Display Software	Embedded C++, Ubuntu/GCC/Qt	Agriculture	Operator Interface	Expand Summary
Developed an operator interface application contained in a vehicle display. Application interfaces with the framework of the display.
Autonomous Utility Vehicle	Embedded C	Military	Autonomous vehicle controls	Expand Summary
Teamed with customer to produce software for a fully-autonomous vehicle for use in military and security environments by using drive-by-wire technologies that allowed the vehicle to operate in hostile or repetitive environments, freeing a human to do other, mission-critical tasks.
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.

Developing Steering Controls for an Agricultural Vehicle

Customer Challenge: Control electro-hydraulic steering valves on various models of tractors and sprayers. The system must send guidance commands to a semi-autonomous steering device to guide self-propelled ag equipment via GPS or row-sensor inputs.

DISTek Solution: Created system with feedback provided by angle sensors. System was designed to allow operator intervention and was implemented with other condition and fault checks.

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.
Brake Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Brakes and brake cooling	Expand Summary
Created the software to control the electro-hydraulic front service brake, the electro-hydraulic secondary brake, and brake cooling on ag vehicles.
Drill Rig Controls	Plus1	Construction	Electronic system controls	Expand Summary
Developed a common software platform for large horizontal drill rigs. The project included controller development and integration with a commercial display.
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.
Spreader Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Implement controls, CAN	Expand Summary
Developed spreader controller software that interfaced with multiple sensors and the operator through a virtual terminal display.
EH Hitch	Embedded C	Agricultural	Hitch control	Expand Summary
Developed a hitch control algorithm for ag vehicles that included a lever-based operator interface, lockout logic, and fault detection.
Tracks Steering Controls	Embedded C	Agricultural	Drive-by-wire, CAN	Expand Summary
Developed steering controls software for track vehicles.
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.
Software Control System	Embedded C	Forestry	Electronic Controls, Vehicle Controls	Expand Summary
Develop software for boom control and advanced engine features.

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.
Sensor Communication Software	Embedded C	Agricultural	CAN, Virtual Terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Developed a CAN interface for a smart sensor and added an interface layer for the customer.
Virtual Terminal CAN Driver	Embedded C	Agricultural	CAN, Virtual Terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Created CAN drivers for the XC2267 processor.
Vehicle Communication Network	Embedded C	Forestry	CAN	Expand Summary
Added a secondary CAN bus to the existing controller to reduce bus utilization on the first CAN bus.
Vehicle Coordination	Embedded C	Agricultural	Autonomous vehicle controls	Expand Summary
Modified existing vehicle controllers to provide vehicle coordination functionality. Included simulation of CAN messages to/from controllers that were not available.
Vehicle Display	Embedded C	Construction	Virtual terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Developed software for a virtual terminal with a seven-inch LCD for construction machines.
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.
Virtual Terminal Testing	Embedded C	Agricultural	Virtual terminal (VT) display	Expand Summary
Developed a test plan to fully exercise the functionality of a VT display.
Vehicle Display	Embedded C	Forestry	Operator Interface	Expand Summary
Updated a dash monitor for a forestry vehicle.
Operator Controls	Embedded C	Agriculture	CAN, LIN	Expand Summary
Developed application that bridges a LIN network to a CAN network and optimizes message traffic.
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.

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Featured DISTek Expert

Name:

Bryan

Technical Strengths:

Platform Experience: ARINC 429, RS 235, RS 485, CCD, CAN, SAE J1939, ISO 11783, ISO 15765, CANOpen, EtherCAT, ADA, Basic, C, C++, C#, Java, Lisp, Scheme, SQL, Visual Basic, Perl

Past Experience

Software development in avionics industry, U.S. Army telecommunications.

DISTek Employee Since:

1999

What I love about my job:

I enjoy the challenge and gratification of designing and developing embedded software products while working with and learning from highly skilled and intelligent people and having the opportunity to be a member of global development teams.

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DISTek Integration, Inc.