By: STMicroelectronics
Through the years, ST has multiplied the AutoDevKit improvement boards for motor management functions in automobiles, which all have a reputation that begins with “AEK-MOT”. There are common programs just like the AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1 for driving three DC motors, the AEK-MOT-3P99081 for brushless motors, and the AEK-MOT-SM81M1 for stepper motors. There are additionally extra focused approaches just like the AEK-MOT-TK200G1 for powered liftgates or the AEK-MOT-WINH92 for powered home windows. The explanation behind this broad vary of options is that engineering wants in automobiles are altering, and as functions turn into diversified, so should the options that deal with them. Let’s discover how those that make automobiles are taking a look at them in a different way.
How the automotive has modified
Problem 1: Utility diversification
Whereas many speak in regards to the electrification of automobiles or the arrival of AI in autos, there’s one pattern that many overlook. In a span of a few many years, autos went from having about ten or so motor management functions to shut to 50, and we’re going to attain 100 in just a few years. The reason being easy: as automobiles turn into extra digital, changing a primary mechanical system with a motor management utility means larger security and the flexibility so as to add sensible options. There are in style examples, comparable to powered home windows, doorways, or trunks. There are additionally programs that many drivers are oblivious to, like energetic suspensions, electrical braking and energy steering, EV drivetrains, new actuators, and extra.
Problem 2: Architectural transformation
Furthermore, the underlying basis of the automotive itself goes by means of a significant shift as many undertake a zonal structure. In essence, it implies that engineers arrange electrical management items primarily based on their zone or bodily location as an alternative of simply grouping related options collectively. It has the benefit of simplifying designs. In some instances, transferring to a zonal structure helped scale back the general harness weight by 20%. It additionally implies that engineers can use rather more highly effective computing programs, main engineers to make use of an much more numerous vary of motor management functions as they infuse synthetic intelligence in additional components of the automotive.
The necessity for brand new motor management functions
This pattern comes with two vital challenges. The primary one is that as extra numerous functions use motor management programs, OEMs want completely different motor drivers and motor sorts. Some additionally wonder if they want an built-in or non-integrated resolution. Merely put, because the sorts of functions turn into extra diversified, groups wrestle to search out new options to satisfy their wants. The second problem is that designers are taking a look at automobiles in a different way. The transfer to zonal architectures implies that extra numerous programs should simply work together with each other. Put merely, groups are more and more trying on the car as an entire slightly than the sum of its components, and so they want options that may meet this new international imaginative and prescient.
AEK-MOT or easy methods to sustain with the adjustments
A complete ecosystem
One other problem is that every automated part should speak to the central unit, which suggests coping with quite a few interfaces. At present, some programs prioritize SPI, whereas others use LIN, CAN, 100BASE-TX, 10BASE-T1S, or one thing else totally. As engineers have a look at the automotive extra globally, they’re demanding motor management programs that may work with each new and current interfaces. How a motor management utility implements these programs additionally issues. Are they built-in or not? Does the SDK make another accessible than the others, and may abstraction layers assist remedy these points? Because of this our AutoDevKit ecosystem contains diversified improvement boards and a software program library to benefit from them extra simply.
Moreover, to reinforce the transition in direction of software-defined autos (SDV), ST has developed an extra AutoDevKit practical block, AEK-COM-10BASET, that acts as a gateway between the legacy protocols present in most motor driver ICs and the brand new fashionable 10BASE-T1S. The latter is a key constructing block for the brand new Distant Management Protocol (RCP) specification presently in progress (Open Alliance – TC18 Distant Management Protocol), which makes use of native Ethernet frames on 10BASES-T1S for deterministic efficiency. In essence, RCP is an middleman between the Ethernet bodily interface and SPI or I2C to entry registers or speak to the microcontroller.
Non-integrated
The AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1 can drive as much as three DC motors, two bi-directional in parallel or three with correct sequencing. It options VN7 high-side switches and the VNH704AY built-in H-bridge motor driver. The documentation exhibits easy methods to arrange the motors and the configurations obtainable. Moreover, builders can use the graphical person interface in AutoDevKit to handle rotation course, begin them, enhance or lower their velocity, and extra. The AEK-MOT-2DC40Y1 connects to an SPC5 MCU board, that means integrators can quickly design a proof-of-concept. Equally, the AEK-MOT-SM81M1 additionally connects to an SPC5 board however options the L99SM81V stepper motor driver, whereas the AEK-MOT-WINH92 for window lifts makes use of the L99H92.
Built-in
The AEK-MOT-3P99081 focuses on CAN-controlled brushless motors. It’s an built-in resolution with an SPC560P microcontroller and the L9908 gate driver. The MCU talks with the motive force by means of an SPI interface for simple entry to configuration choices, safety options, and diagnostic messages. Equally, the AEK-MOT-TK200G1 for powered liftgate runs on the SPC582B60E1 microcontroller and the L99DZ200G drivers, which helps LIN and HS-CAN interfaces for MCU programming throughout manufacturing. Builders speak to the board utilizing a CAN bus to make it simpler to entry the motor remotely, that means from one other area controller. Avid readers will keep in mind it was on the heart of our AEKD-TRUNKL1 demo.
All in all, the great facet of the AutoDevKit ecosystem implies that the training curve will get simpler as groups use completely different AEK-MOT improvement boards. They get a spread of built-in and non-integrated options that each one work collectively underneath one ecosystem. In consequence, everybody, from the decision-makers to the engineers constructing the platform, can extra simply have a look at the automotive as an entire and see how all its parts can come collectively underneath one overarching system. Which means ST is uniquely positioned to turn into a one-stop store as increasingly motor management functions rework autos.
