ECUs

[Gavin Walker]

Hello,
  Here's a newbie thinking about the obvious.

  In control systems you there are three main categories: stochastic,
derived and hybrids.  Stochastic systems analyse input and out and and
try and set up discrete mappings according to optmisation criteria.  
Derived attempt to solve the physical systems and so specify them as 
equations rather than tables.  A hydbrid uses both where appropriate.
Using empirical data to calibrate derived equations and pure
stochastic solutions where the equations are too difficult.

  It seems, from the discussion here, most ECUs seem to be
stochastic.  I assume this is due to the "try it and see" empirical
background of automotive engineers.

  My soldering skills are best not talked about in polite circles so
an ideal development platform would be one like.

    - ECU running a multitasking operating system
    - Services available to access input and manipulate outputs (like
    timing, etc).
    - Each service would have a local butter to store/read data
    cyclicly so the optimization can be done externally.
    - Persistent code/data storage such as FRAM chips.
    - Laptop interface


  So you'd have some, say Java, firmware on the FRAM and more bulky
code on the PC.  Adding new drivers would create new Java objects to
manipulate them.

    Does anything close to this exist or is it all pipe dreams?

-- 
  _--_|\             -|-    Gavin Walker
 /      \             |     
 \_.--.*/ <- Canberra,      gavin.walker at dit.csiro.au
       v     Australia      Phone +61-6-2167030     Fax +61-6-2167111