Category: Product News

Due to the rapid increase in electronics and software in the vehicle, testing ECUs is becoming increasingly complex. It is no longer only individual systems that have to be tested, but also the interactions between the systems. One possible key to the solution is test automation. While good results are already being achieved in many areas of vehicle electronics through simulations, this step still needs to be taken in vehicle diagnostics. It is obvious: An external device, the diagnostic tester, is developed or adapted to perform the test - but the necessary counterpart in the form of an ECU or vehicle is missing to test the tester. With Softing TCS, a configurable diagnostic simulation with real communication is available in time, which considerably accelerates the creation of automated tests.

Nowadays, modern vehicles are becoming more and more dynamic due to data and software-driven developments, which leads to more complex maintenance and repair processes for future vehicle generations. The acute, further increasing shortage of skilled workers is making this situation even more glaring! To close the large gap between demand and locally available expertise in workshops and mobile service teams, Remote Expert Support represents an innovative solution. Remote Expert Support is already integrated in our Softing TDX diagnostic tester. Service technicians on site can thus be supported remotely by an expert during complex maintenance and repair procedures.

We expanded our Vehicle Communication Interface (VCI) portfolio with a universal, robust diagnostic interface via CAN/FD. The diagnostic interface VIN|ING 800 unites state-of-the-art hardware design for CAN/FD and maximum sturdiness with all-round impact protection at a highly attractive price. For many service applications requiring just one CAN interface, this device is the perfect choice as it provides a lean and at the same time powerful interface from the application to the vehicle. VIN|ING 800 can also be deployed to efficiently solve communication tasks in the engineering of vehicle systems.

The automotive industry has realized that software is assuming an increasingly important role in vehicle technology. In the process, the number of lines of code in vehicles has risen many times over. To meet these requirements, the industry is cooperating more and more with technology companies. In this partnership, cloud technologies and mobile platforms are being explored to optimize software processes and digitize vehicle production. In the future, autonomous vehicle systems are conceivable that perform their own tests, updates and coding.

Softing Automotive welcomes you again this year to the Diagnostics Conference in Dresden. On May 23 and 24, you will learn everything about diagnostics in mechatronic vehicle systems. Among others, Jürgen Heilmeier, Manager Innovation & Test at Softing Automotive, and Markus Steffelbauer, Head of Product Management at Softing Automitive, will present the innovations in SOVD in development - from ECU to vehicle.

The complexity in the E/E architecture continues to increase - and with it the required test effort. This applies both with regard to the validation of functionalities and to ongoing regression tests of the test methods. The latter are of particular importance due to the strong creation of variants of vehicles, both in terms of functionality and via software and hardware variants released over time. Different motorizations, for example, are generated both via different engines and via coding.

The on-demand webinar shows the latest CAN technology enhancements (CAN, CAN FD, CAN XL) support UDS, what the new SAE J1979 regulations mean in practice for diagnostic testing, and how OEMs and Tier 1s can benefit. It will also provide an introduction to coupling Kvaser's U100 interface with Softing's TDX diagnostic test development suite for on-road vehicle and mobile machinery maintenance. The latter includes protocol templates for UDS that, once developed, can be reused.

Another great milestone for the TCS team: Just in time for the Christmas season, the first diagnostic simulations are on their way to the customer. Markus Steffelbauer, Head of Product Management at Softing Automotive, couldn't be prouder: "Our thanks go to the entire team, which has developed a solution in a really short time that will greatly simplify the work of our customers. In the next few months, we'll be adding a few more exciting features!"

We are pleased to be able to inform you that a new version of our “Diagnostic Tool Set” is in the starting blocks. Version 9.03 of the diagnostic tester Softing DTS.monaco contains lots of new features that will make your work even simpler. Thanks to the integration of a new connect plug-in (dynamic VCI handling), both the integration and configuration of a VCI are now more convenient than before – regardless of whether the VCI is local or remote.

Targeted maintenance and repair play an extremely important role in increasingly complex vehicles. The paradigm “fix it right the first time” avoids extra costs and increases customer satisfaction. Alongside intuitive operation of the repair shop tester, the seamless integration and intensive use of digital technologies are of particular importance.