Silver

Software in the Loop – a virtual integration platform for agile mechatronic development.

Silver is a tool used by development engineers to integrate and test system modules virtually using simulation on Windows PC. Two alternative set-ups are supported:

Co-execution of control software and of hardware simulation models in order to test system-level behavior even before physical prototypes exist

Rapid control prototyping: controller functions running on laptop under Silver can be connected via CAN to overwrite certain functions of real ECUs running in car or in a hardware-in-the-loop or testbench simulation

Control software and simulation models can be imported from development tools such as MATLAB®/Simulink, Real-Time Workshop, TargetLink, ASCET, Dymola, SimulationX, SIMPACK, AMESim, C/C++ or Python. Silver provides built-in support for automotive standards such as ASAP2/A2L, CAN, FMI, MDF, XCP and ISO 26262.

Benefits

  • extremely fast development cycles due to comfortable integration of software and vehicle components on the PC of the developer. This helps to detect problems early.
  • excellent debugging and test support, e. g. with Microsoft Visual Studio Debugger or QTronic TestWeaver. Found problems can be exactly reproduced as often as needed.
  • parallelize the development process: A Silver configuration can easily be duplicated at low cost. This way, every member of a team can use its personal 'virtual' development environment 24 hours a day, without blocking rare resources like HiL test rigs, or physical prototypes.
  • sharing results without sharing IP: With Silver, all members of a team exchange working results by exchanging compiled modules (DLLs), not sources. This helps to protect intellectual property.
  • executing others contributions without their tools: Silver runs modules (simulation models, control software) developed using very different tools. To run these modules in Silver, you do not need access to these tools. This greatly reduces the complexity of Silver setups (no tool coupling).

Today, Silver is in use for automotive software development at Mercedes-Benz, AMG, IAV, Continental and others.
 

Silver screenshot

Silver is a product of QTronics GmbH and is distributed by Modelon.