Abstract
Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP) is becoming crucial to reduce the time development of new control and diagnostic algorithms, since the final stage of software development consists of testing the algorithm performance on-line. For this reason, an easily programmable Electronic Control Unit (ECU) that allows running such tests has been developed. The paper describes the setup and use of a RCP system partly based on commercial products, developed by dSPACE . The programmable ECU has in fact been designed to be compatible with the latest injection systems, such as Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) and Diesel Common Rail (DCR) engines. Therefore, to satisfy the corresponding high accuracy requirements on spark advance, injection duration and start of injection instant, a self-built external synchronizing circuit has been added to our original configuration of the dSPACE System. The paper includes a description of the system and an explanation on how the external circuit works. The system was tested on a multi-point sequential injection FIAT 1.2 liter 4 cylinders spark ignition engine, comparing the original ECU ignition and injection commands with the Virtual ECU ones.