Parallel ECU & HPC Flash Programming

Maximum Time Savings with the Softing Multiflash Unit

Whether in development or production, flash programming is a bottleneck in modern vehicle architectures. Instead of more than 100 ECUs, the software-defined vehicle (SDV) has only a small number of high-performance computers (HPCs) and zone controllers. An HPC runs multiple processor cores and operating systems in parallel, enabling it to handle highly complex calculations and functions.

For flash programming, this results in a small number of very large software images. These software packages can be several tens of gigabytes in size and contain tightly interconnected components. The enormous size of HPC images consequently increases flash times in both development and production.

With the Multiflash Unit, Softing Automotive enables up to four HPCs to be programmed simultaneously via DoIP. When programming conventional ECUs via CAN, as many as eight software updates can even be performed in parallel. This standalone workstation reduces flash time, increases flexibility, and improves software quality. In addition to the housing with up to eight ECU connection ports, the Multiflash Unit includes four Softing VIN|ING 2000 interfaces. This powerful diagnostic interface delivers excellent performance for both CAN and DoIP communication.

Instead of actual ECUs, the cover image shows four units of our configurable diagnostic simulation solution, Softing TCS.device connected to the Multiflash Unit. A TCS simulation of the diagnostic communication can be generated either from trace data or from ODX data alone. This makes it possible to test flashing processes even before ECU prototypes are available.

The flash sequences are initiated from a test PC, which can be connected to the Multiflash Unit via an Ethernet cable. Our Softing DTS.monaco development tester and Softing TDX after-sales tester are suitable diagnostic applications for the PC.