Simulation of Electrical Fault Handling Techniques for Sensor Integration with Virtual ECU

Abstract

This paper proposes a comprehensive method of conducting an electrical fault testing/Failure Mode Effect Analysis test(FMEA) for the development of virtual ECU’s. The study discusses the importance of fault diagnosis of faulty sensor connections to the ECU and the effect it has on the safety of the driver/passenger. This method utilizes virtualized ECUs and circuit simulators on MATLAB/SIMULINK® and SIMSCAPE to analyze the effects of circuit-level faults on ECU models, thereby saving prototyping costs. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of FMEA through simulations, where engine and control system performance are affected by a hardware fault. Results show that FMEA can perform software verification with circuit-level faults while minimizing speed degradation. The paper also discusses the importance of complying with functional safety standards like ISO26262 and the need for software verification to support safety-critical automotive systems. Overall, this method offers a promising approach to enhancing software safety verification in complex automotive electronic control systems, contributing to the advancement of functional safety in the automotive industry.