Development and implementation of test rig setup for integrated center panel

Integrated Center Panel [ICP] is a mechatronic system that provides the user with an advanced Human Machine Interface [HMI] experience. Since there are different variants of ICP across segments of vehicles, ICP validation has become difficult due to the absence of a test rig setup that can support multiple ICP variants. Therefore test rig setup for ICP using LabVIEW, which can support multiple variants has been selected for ICP validation. The development of such a test rig setup has got scope in the field of HMI and in the field of mechatronics as it can be used as a reference model to test future HMI and mechatronic systems. The work carried out in this paper deals with the development and implementation of test rig setup for Integrated Center Panel.

After analyzing the ICP prototype hardware board and related documents, top level block diagram of the overall ICP system in the car was developed and a LabVIEW model of the ICP was developed using ICP functional block diagram. To simulate the environment in an actual car, the Body control module (also known as Body System Interface [BSI]) was implemented using a NI-PXI Chassis. The CAN network implementation in the car between the BSI and the ICP was implemented in the test rig setup through CAN communication between NI-PXI Chassis and the prototype ICP hardware board through ICP specific interface box which is analogous to the wiring harness in an actual car. Finally Functional Test Procedures [FTPs] were executed using the test rig setup to validate ICP functionality.

The main conclusion arrived is that the development of a test rig setup using LabVIEW can achieve test automation which reduces product validation time and provides more accurate results to tests for fault tolerance of the system. Total 560 FTPs were executed in the test rig setup and 82% of the FTPs were successful. The failed FTPs have been reported to ICP manufacturer and are expected to pass in test iterations which will make use of latest prototype hardware boards. The implementation of such a test rig setup also enables the step by step validation to be initialized before complete development of ICP product.