Early model-based verification of automotive control system implementation

Controller Software Verification (CSV) is the critical process used to avoid mismatch between a designed and implemented controller. Common CSV practice in the automotive industry is to test a controller after its software is fully implemented. In this paper, an early model-based CSV methodology is proposed to reduce the development time and improve the robustness of automotive controllers. The application of the proposed methodology is demonstrated on a “Cold Start Emission” control problem in passenger cars. A non-linear model-based controller is designed to reduce cold start hydrocarbon emissions from a mid-size modern passenger car. The controller robustness is analyzed by testing the controller against the major steps occurring during the software implementation process of a controller. The main focus is on the imprecision from sampling, quantization and fixed-precision arithmetic. The results from the robustness analysis are used to specify requirements for the controller implementation for passing current North American ULEV emission standard.