The CANopen Conformance Test Suite is a software tool to test devices for conformance to the higher-layer protocol CANopen. The CiA international users’ and manufacturers’ group certifies CANopen devices with the help of this tool.
Since every manufacturer may interpret specifications differently, a conformance test is an important tool for rendering devices with interfaces operable. […]

LabVIEW is now 20 years old, and like most 20 year olds, it continues to mature. Version 8.20, the latest version, adds new features designed for advanced analysis and control, improved distributed system management and new targets for human-machine interfaces (HMIs). For instance, new libraries in LabVIEW allow engineers to use streamlined FPGA targeting tools […]

The new release of Virtual.Lab (Rev 6) adds 64-bit support, making it more practical to handle complex models with high accuracy, while significantly reducing calculation times. The new release also delivers a unified modeling environment that integrates all the required model creation tools and multidisciplinary simulation capabilities to accurately assess system level performance for a […]

I don’t know how many of you are Mac users, but since I recently switched over to the Mac, I thought I’d give Mac users a little love, too…..Dan
Red Rock Software’s DeltaGraph 5.7 for Macintosh is an update to the data analysis, charting and graphing software. A single Universal Binary version is compatible with both […]

Paul Hansen, publisher of The Hansen Report on Automotive Electronics, is headlining a three-day user conference on breakthrough developments and best-industry practices in the embedded controls industry.
Presented by dSPACE, a producer of engineering tools for developing and testing embedded Electronic Control Units (ECUs), “Overcoming ECU Development Challenges” will take place at the St. John’s Conference […]

The CANopen LabVIEW Library lets engineers create industrial control and measurement applications with connectivity to hundreds of industrial CANopen devices, including motion drives, sensors and distributed I/O. The new library is a collection of high-level, easy-to-use LabVIEW functions that convert high-speed NI Series 2 Controller Area Network (CAN) devices into fully functional CANopen master interfaces. […]

Using ASAM-standards not only simplifies the process of creating and testing diagnostic information for vehicle manufacturers and control module suppliers, but also enables different tool suppliers to interconnect their systems. Teradyne and Softing proved the standard-conformity of their product platforms in a cross-test, by linking the diagnostic authoring- and runtime system GRADE-X and the DTS-CommunicationServer […]

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has shown that ventilated automotive seats not only improve passenger comfort, but also help consumers get better gas mileage. According to NREL scientists, ventilated seats keep drivers and passengers cooler, so they need less air conditioning to be comfortable.
John Rugh, project leader for NREL’s Vehicle Ancillary Loads Reduction Project […]

The Reliability Information Analysis Center (RIAC) has recently added a new member to its family of Reliability Engineer’s Toolkits, the System Reliability Toolkit. The new toolkit focuses on the impact of software and human factors on the reliability of systems or equipments as well as hardware, which was the predominant focus of earlier versions. The […]

A new study, “Automotive Semiconductor Demand Forecast 2003 - 2012,” indicates that the market for automotive grade semiconductors in 2005 will reach $16.3 billion, a year-on-year growth of 7.2 percent. The study predicts that planned enhancements to vehicle performance, features and safety will drive automotive semiconductor revenues to $25.7 billion by 2012, ensuring steady growth […]