Automotive Networking Tools

Testing Automotive In-Vehicle Networks

There are many kinds of communication buses in a car today – interfaces that have been around for a long time such as CAN and LIN alongside more modern interfaces such as automotive Ethernet. Monitoring the traffic on those buses, actively logging it and testing to be sure it works the way it is intended, is critical. The products below offer some simple tools and hardware to help.

Multi-Protocol Vehicle Network Interface

The Keysight AP1200A provides Ethernet, eight channels of CAN (including CAN FD), and four channels of LIN in one tool. All channels run simultaneously and are time-stamped in hardware. A fully isolated high-speed USB interface allows messages to be sent and received without risk of damage to the PC.

Stand-alone logging, scripting, and simulation

In addition to working as a PC interface, the AP1200A can operate in standalone mode. The AP00000A Intrepid Controls Systems Vehicle software is required to configure standalone mode. It can run real-time scripts, log data to a removable microSD card, and simulate ECUs and gateways. With these features, it is possible to run a script to reflash ECUs using data from the microSD card.

Vehicle spy application software

With AP00000A Intrepid Controls Systems Vehicle Spy software, users can monitor and transmit on all channels simultaneously. Users can take advantage of the powerful interface to load databases and to write and debug scripts before downloading them to the device. For users that prefer to write their own software, AP1200A supports three APIs: neoVI DLL API, SAE J2534 API, and the TMC RP1210 A/B API.

Hardware-in-the-loop real-time performance

The AP1200A includes a real-time scripting engine that can be used to perform real-time messaging. For example, an engineer creating an application can load a script into the hardware and interface with the script variables, allowing microsecond-level measurement and control.

100/1000BASE-T1 media converter

Keysight’s APM1000E-STD and APM1000E-CLK are advanced Ethernet media converters. The APM1000E-STD and APM1000E-CLK convert from 100BASE-T1 Ethernet to 100BASE-TX or 1000BASE[1]T1 to 1000BASE-TX. This is useful for connecting a PC to a 100/1000BASE-T1 host or switch.

100BASE-T1 media converter

Use Keysight’s APM0100E to connect one port of 100BASE-T1 (BroadR-Reach) to one port of a 4-wire 10/100 Ethernet (100BASETX).

CAN-FD Interface

Low-cost high-performance CAN FD – USB interface

The AP0200A comes with software-controlled CAN termination, increased buffer size, improved USB latency performance, and standalone operating capability using a USB charger.

The AP0200A supports 2x CAN or CAN FD channels, has USB Type A and Type C options available, and certified drivers for Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10.

The AP0200A is fully isolated from the PC, and its isolation layer is self-powered from USB, which eliminates the need for external power for the CAN transceiver. The AP0200A isolation, a feature not common on low-cost interfaces, eliminates issues with grounding or noise affecting your PC and its communications. The AP0200A is also electrically hardened to survive an abusive environment, including reverse battery voltage and electrical transients. To make wiring easy, the device pinout is printed clearly on the housing.

Multi-Purpose Vehicle Network Software

The AP00000A Vehicle Spy software is a single tool for diagnostics, node and ECU simulation, data acquisition, automated testing, and vehicle network bus monitoring. The AP00000A has been designed with a focus on ease-of-use and user productivity.

Key applications:

• Monitoring networks

• Diagnostics

• Data acquisition and logging

• Node simulation

• Automated testing

Supported networks and protocols

CAN, CAN FD, automotive Ethernet, LIN, FlexRay, K-Line, J1939, J1708, GMLAN, Keyword, UART, CCP/XCP, ISO9141, and ISO14229

Quick and easy

The AP00000A software enables multiple users of a single computer to easily keep track of their own projects, logged data, scripts, and function block setups. Easy to follow tutorials and online help enable a new user to become familiar with the software quickly.

Screens and functional blocks

The Networks View enables users to monitor the statistics, properties and utilization of multiple networks simultaneously. The messages screen allows users to view, filter, sort, customize, and log multiple vehicle bus signals and messages. Automatic message highlighting shows exactly what data is changing on each vehicle network. The messages Editor screen makes it simple for users to quickly set up transmit and receive messages and signals for real-time communication on the vehicle network. Post-analysis functions include multi-Y-axis, multi-X-axis, legends, copy to clipboard, multiple cursors, and much more.