Controller area network based monitoring of vehicle´s mechatronics system

The implementation of various electronic subsystems in different kinds of on-road and off-road vehicles is constantly expanding. Accordingly, the new vehicles, instead of being mechanical systems, become advanced mechatronics systems whose development and testing call for a new approach. The possibility of using data available on vehicle network presents itself as an extremely powerful tool. This paper deals with a new approach for service load data measurement and acquisition as a helpful tool in developing and testing of different mechatronics vehicles´ systems. The new approach is based on hardware and software platform oriented to main vehicle controllers with the task to acquire relevant transmission service load data. The said hardware as well as software utilities have to enable computer based monitoring of the vehicle systems behaviour and in that way to be the tool for new vehicles´ development. The new system was tested in real service. The system significantly lessened time of vehicle instrumentation before testing and enabled accurate data acquisition.