Company
Motorola Automotive Industrial Electronics' Powertrain Controller Projects
Motorola's AIEG Powertrain Controls group designs high-performance Automotive Controllers for some of America's most prestigious automobile manufacturer's in America. Being an industry-recognized leader in the microcontroller industry, Motorola holds a competitive edge in the Automotive Controller market. This is enhanced by the high quality of software that resides on these Controllers.
In developing this software, Motorola's Automotive Controller group found SSI Embedded Systems Programming a good candidate to participate. The timely deployment of these Automotive Controllers was essential, and a reliable, results-oriented team was the only way to go. The Electronic Throttle Control (ETC), TEHCM Transmission Controller, Powertrain Control Module and Next Generation Controller were among the products in which SSI's Software Team played an important role.
All these transmission and/or engine control units are microprocessor-based
controllers that, in response to both analog and digital inputs
and a serial communication bus, provide the vehicles with autonomous
intelligent control over its powertrain operations.
Through Motorola's proven success in creating high-quality Powertrain
Controller Units, these types of products are widely used by many
of America's leading vehicles.
This project was the first of a series of highly successful collaborations between SSI and Motorola. The Electronic Throttle Control system allowed the customer's engine to operate smoothly by monitoring and algorithmic manipulation of analog and digital inputs related to the various features of the engine.
SSI's involvement in the software development of these Controllers
was extensive. From software design to implementation to unit
and box tests, SSI played many roles in the Powertrain Control
Module software. SSI's long-term involvement in this project continued
through many releases and Model Years.
The system included Fuel, Spark, general Engine and Transmission
controls, unit test scripts and Test Executive software to run
functional tests of the system. Through a rigorous process, and
advanced automated and manual test procedures, a highly robust,
reliable controller was produced.
In the initial development of this product, Motorola's factory
needed validation software for their Engine and Transmission subsystems.
SSI helped design and implement a robust suite of validation software
for this product that was later rolled into production software.
In rapidly bringing this validation software to completion SSI
allowed Motorola's engineers to fully test and develop the controller,
ironing out kinks at an early stage in the development process.
SSI was able to provide crucial assistance in the timely deployment of yet another controller, this time for a diesel-based engine system.
In addressing a challenging schedule, this complex transmission
control system had to be implemented reliably and quickly.
Once again, SSI's team was called upon to play an integral role
in its development. Working with system and application engineers,
SSI's team had to write precision algorithmic control software
to capture the complexities of the transmission system. This would
result in a smooth, robust transmission that would complement
the rest of the powertrain's seamless operation.
Developed C Language code for a Controller Entry Transponder (CET) IC combining passive auto immobilization technology and RFid Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) functions. Required skills included efficient code for ultra low power consumption, interrupt driven application knowledge to meet strict timing outlined by customer's proprietary communication protocol, and writing small footprint executables for fitting in limited EEPROM space. Used an industry leading Integrated Development Environment (IDE) which included a processor specific C compiler, simulator, and JTAG flash emulator tool.
