Fire control electronics integration in virtual battlefield Part 1: Model communication, CAN bus and Ethernet

Integration and system performance issues that arise from fire control electronics integration in a virtual battlefield are addressed. Particularly, solutions are presented for communication obstacles resulting from models running at different frequencies across CAN bus and Ethernet. A simulation environment is constructed using simplified Simulink models and real-time computers to allow a convenient platform to study these issues. A general purpose Simulink block is created to handle multiple subsystem models running at different frequencies. The asymmetric messages across Ethernet and CAN bus are handled by a converter in the form of Simulink s-function so the hardware-dictated timing requirements can be accommodated. The architecture of a general approach is proposed and its performance is studied. Models running at different frequencies are integrated successfully to perform system-level functions at desired timing and with satisfactory accuracy. Resolving above issues allows lab integration of fire control electronics using virtual battlefield for stimulation. Real-time emulators of electronic subsystems are being developed to handle actual vehicle messages and discrete I/O. Results of the integration stimulated by virtual battlefield will be reported later in Part 2.