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FlexRay Presents New Challenges for Oscilloscope Measurements With the rapid adoption of the FlexRay communication bus in automobiles, embedded hardware designers need to perform signal integrity measurements of their FlexRay-based designs. The primary tool to verify proper signal fidelity and timing of signals is an oscilloscope. Unfortunately, most oscilloscopes lack the required triggering and decoding capabilities that the FlexRay protocol presents. The FlexRay protocol, which is a deterministic bus based on a time-triggered technology presents new measurement challenges not only for FlexRay designers, but also for oscilloscope vendors. Since FlexRay will be employed into many safety-critical systems in the near future, such as brake-by-wire, steer-by-wire, and collision-avoidance systems, it is critical that hardware designers verify proper timing of transmitted frames relative to the specified FlexRay timing schedule. In addition, unlike CAN technology where it is common for error frames to occur due to arbitration, FlexRay designers must insure that their FlexRay systems are error-free. Although low bit-error-ratios can be tolerated in todays computer systems, errors in safetycritical automotive systems cant be tolerated for obvious reasons. This paper will share some of the key learnings that Agilent Technologies and Dependable Computer Systems GmbH (DECOMSYS) discovered during the investigation of a new FlexRay oscilloscope measurement system, and how difficult FlexRay measurement challenges were overcome. This paper includes several FlexRay measurement examples showing how proper FlexRay signal integrity and timing can be verified.
What is FlexRay?
FlexRay is the next generation higher-performance, timetriggered/deterministic serial bus used in higher-end automobiles for safety-critical x-by-wire systems. Time-triggered means that serial communications are based on a global time schedule. X-by-wire could mean brake-by-wire, steer-by-wire, navigation/collision avoidance-by-wire. Faults/errors canNOT be tolerated in these safety-critical automotive applications.
FlexRaytechnology technologyis iscurrently currentlyin inan anearly early FlexRay adoptionphase phaseand andis isexpected expectedto togain gainrapid rapid adoption adoption in the next five years. adoption in the next five years.
FlexRay Measurements Page 2 May 2007
What is FlexRay? FlexRay is the next generation higher-performance, time-triggering/deterministic serial bus used in higher-end automobiles for safety-critical x-by-wire systems. This new time-triggered/deterministic serial bus for automotive applications simply means that digital packets of information are always transmitted within a particular time-slot according to a FlexRay system global timing schedule. This eliminates the possibility of communication collisions and arbitration common with the current CAN bus technology, and makes this new technology an attractive alternative for some of tomorrows safety-critical automotive applications. Many of these safety-critical applications are referred to as x-by-wire systems, such as steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, navigation/collision-avoidance-by-wire. These types of automotive systems which you will see in future automobiles must be error-free. Although todays computers can tolerate low bit-error-ratios, safety-critical automotive systems must induce zero errors for obvious reasons. This is why this new deterministic serial bus architecture has been selected for these types of applications. In addition to safety and reliability issues, x-by-wire technology will enable automotive manufacturers to eliminate bulky mechanical linkages throughout the automobile, such as the steering column. Not only will this reduce weight and improve efficiency, but this opens up a myriad of future possibilities for applying new state-of-the-art electronic systems in the automobile such as navigation, entertainment, comfort controls.