Design of an Educational Hardware in the Loop Simulator for Model-Based Development Education

Abstract

This study proposes a HIL simulator for model-based development (MBD) education and checks its behavior. In recent years, product structures have become diverse and complex; further, short-term development with limited resources is required to respond to consumers’ needs. MBD using computer simulation is effective for the efficient execution of such developments. An increasing number of companies have introduced MBD; however, engineers who are newly engaged in such development do not always have sufficient experience. Therefore, in this study, the authors have proposed an educational program to learn the basics of MBD in a short period of time. However, the introduction of industrial hardware in the loop (HIL) simulator, which plays an important role in MBD, is expensive. The present study proposes a method of designing an educational HIL simulator by using a microcomputer board. The proposed educational HIL simulator can reduce the production cost of industrial HIL simulators and can be provided to individual participants undergoing MBD training. Using numerical examples and experimental results, we show that the proposed HIL simulator can perform a simulation of experimental equipment used in actual MBD education.