Modular, Rapid, Common Hardware-in-the-loop Framework Development

Today, typical HWIL simulation computer systems are based on COTS, PC-based computer technology offering a tremendous HWIL simulation computational capability at a very low cost. However, standard PC architectures tend to impose significant system latency in the areas of multi-node communication and system I/O read/write operations. There is strong demand for technology capable of allowing high-speed simulation subsystems to be executed with ultra-low-latency and allowing these very fast subsystems to communicate across ultra-low-latency wideband communication in a distributed manner, with other high-speed subsystems. Increasingly, Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology is demonstrating its ability to augment standard PC-based HWIL simulation system capabilities to meet the needs of next generation, ultra-low-latency HWIL simulation applications. Applied Dynamics proposes the development of an FPGA-based Wideband Communication and Simulation Processor device. This device will take the form of a standard form factor computer board (PCI Express I/O board) offering the latest in multi-node, ultra-low-latency, wideband communication and the ability to target fast parts of a simulation in a firmware environment with minimal latency communication between ultra-fast simulation subsystems.