PROTOS – Hardware in the loop testing 

The PROTOS miniHIL (Hardware In the Loop) is a compact complete solution consisting of the hardware board, similar to your H.W. (based on Eval board consists your specific MCU) and a software platform for environment simulations and test cases.

miniHIL fits on your work bench and allows embedded software developers to test their application after each and every code change.

With the miniHIL hardware, the pins of the target microcontroller are connected to the test system on the signal level.

The miniHIL software is used to develop and generate test cases and environment simulations with models. The environment simulations (e.g. for motors, batteries or bus protocols) are needed to make the System under Test (SUT) work completely without system hardware. This allows the SUT to be put into very many different situations very quickly and with little effort. This makes the test fully automatable for good and bad cases.

watch the full youtube Video with real demo

miniHIL Hardware Setup

Setting up your test system is quick and easy:

• Connect your evaluation board: Simply plug in your system-under-test (SUT) to ensure your embedded application is tested on the target microcontroller.
• Connect hardware interfaces: Connect the SUT’s hardware interfaces to the miniHIL test system.
• Expand with FPGA: Need an interface or function that’s missing? Easily add the FPGA Board to the platform.
• Develop simulations and test cases: Create environment simulations and test cases that run on the integrated STM32H7 embedded processor.

miniHIL Test Development

Tests and environment simulations are developed using a model-driven approach with the open-source tool eTrice, enabling structured behavior modeling and code generation. Seamlessly integrate CaGe test models into eTrice models for easy development of combined environment simulation and testing models.

• Requirements: Windows PC with 8 GB RAM and USB 2.0 ports.
• miniHIL Model Components:
• Adapter library (eTrice models) for controlling hardware interfaces.
• Simulation and monitoring elements (eTrice models) based on hardware interfaces.
• Test cases (CaGe models) with direct access to hardware interfaces and simulation/monitoring elements (e.g., for fault injection).

Areas of Application for the miniHIL

The miniHIL is ideal for testing products with complex controls or safety-critical functions, including:

•   Industrial power tools: Drills, batteries, etc.
•   Medical devices: Blood glucose meters, insulin pumps, etc.
• Applications in the field of automotive where safety must be ensured, such as a window lifter.

  Automotive applications: Window lifters and other safety-critical systems

Success story:

Medical devices