Tests embedded controllers against simulated plants.
HIL connects the real controller to a real-time simulator emulating the plant and sensors, enabling repeatable tests of faults and extreme cases safely. Used in automotive, aerospace and power electronics. Reduces cost and risk before prototype tests.
An ECU is tested against a simulated engine before vehicle trials.
Hardware-in-the-loop testing lets controllers be checked against simulated plants before they touch real equipment, which saves time and reduces risk.
Tests embedded controllers against simulated plants.
Hardware-in-the-loop testing lets controllers be checked against simulated plants before they touch real equipment, which saves time and reduces risk.
A mathematical or simulated representation of the physical system, such as a motor or a vehicle, that the controller interacts with during the test.
The simulated plant may not match the real one, so final testing still needs real hardware under realistic conditions.
Typical applications include testing a motor controller against a simulated motor and load, checking a brake controller with a simulated vehicle model and verifying the fault handling of a power inverter using simulated grid faults.
Study "Firmware over-the-air updates" first (topic 93 of 104 in Electronics & Embedded). It covers the groundwork this topic builds on.
Real-time simulation at µs steps. I/O emulation. Fault injection.
An ECU is tested against a simulated engine before vehicle trials.
The next topic is "Design for testability", which builds directly on this one.
It is classed as Advanced in Electronics & Embedded (topic 94 of 104). It is an advanced topic. It assumes you are comfortable with the intermediate topics in Electronics & Embedded.
Want to practise? Open the interactive course for quick checks, quizzes, simulations and progress tracking.