Hardware-in-the-loop research on the electronic control unit for diesel engines

A hardware-in-the-loop simulating platform is developed to avoid designing defects caused by the complicated logical structure and multiple-functional buildup of the electronic control unit (ECU) in modern diesel engines, and to diminish potential damages on components or human exposure to dangers in R & D endeavor. This platform consists of a computer installed with software Matlab/Simulink/RTW and dSPACE/ControlDesk; a diesel engine ECU, and a dSPACE autobox which runs a real-time diesel engine model. A typical model of diesel engine with turbocharger and intercooler is presented. Based on this model our research is carried out with a real ECU to test its software control strategies. Results show that by using the diesel engine model downloaded inside, the hardware-in-the-loop platform can simulate diesel engine's working conditions and generate all kinds of sensor signals which ECU needs on a real-time basis. So the ECU control strategies can be validated and relevant parameters roughly calibrated.