Menu
Home
People
Places
Arts
History
Plants & Animals
Science
Life & Culture
Technology
Reference.org
Electronic control unit
open-in-new
<h2 id="types">Types</h2> <ul><li>Generic industry controller naming – Is the naming of controllers where the logical thought of the controller's name implies the system the controller is responsible for controlling</li> <li>Generic powertrain – The generic powertrain pertains to a vehicle's emission system and is the only regulated controller name.</li> <li>Other controllers – All other controller names are decided upon by the individual OEM. The engine controller may have several different names, such as "DME", "Enhanced Powertrain", "PGM-FI" and many others.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Door_control_unit/pQud23T0">Door control unit</a> (DCU)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Engine_control_unit/Q1uYhmyN">Engine control unit</a> (ECU) – not to be confused with <i>electronic</i> control unit,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a> the generic term for all these devices</li> <li>Electric power steering control unit (PSCU) – Generally this will be integrated into the <a href="/facts/Power_steering/QNuVbLQK">EPS</a> power pack.</li> <li><a href="/facts/Human%E2%80%93machine_interface/e9sPEWVD">Human–machine interface</a> (HMI)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Powertrain_control_module/MBPQdDgV">Powertrain control module</a> (PCM) – Sometimes the functions of the <a href="/facts/Engine_control_unit/Q1uYhmyN">engine control unit</a> and <a href="/facts/Transmission_control_unit/qxUzYmmE">transmission control module</a> (TCM) are combined into a single unit called the Powertrain Control Module.</li> <li>Seat control unit</li> <li><a href="/facts/Cruise_control/qy0sUfjM">Speed control unit</a> (SCU)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Telematic_control_unit/xQj8NVnx">Telematic control unit</a> (TCU)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Transmission_control_unit/qxUzYmmE">Transmission control module</a> (TCM)</li> <li>Brake control module (BCM; <a href="/facts/Anti-lock_braking_system/SmXvJn6G">ABS</a> or <a href="/facts/Electronic_stability_control/wFKFDnSw">ESC</a>)</li> <li><a href="/facts/Battery_management_system/XNvWHEfp">Battery management system</a> (BMS)</li></ul> <h2 id="key-elements">Key elements</h2> <ul><li>Core <ul><li><a href="/facts/Microcontroller/MKrnAhnm">Microcontroller</a></li></ul></li> <li>Memory <ul><li><a href="/facts/Static_random-access_memory/Pmyo4V5e">SRAM</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/EEPROM/0yAMFY0I">EEPROM</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Flash_memory/Cn8JsStx">Flash</a></li></ul></li> <li>Inputs <ul><li>Supply Voltage and Ground</li> <li>Digital inputs</li> <li>Analog inputs</li></ul></li> <li>Outputs <ul><li>Actuator drivers (e.g. injectors, relays, valves)</li> <li><a href="/facts/H_bridge/H7qJQXlR">H bridge</a> drivers for servomotors</li> <li>Logic outputs</li></ul></li> <li>Communication links <ul><li>Housing</li> <li>Bus Transceivers, e.g. for K-Line, CAN, Ethernet</li></ul></li> <li>Embedded Software <ul><li><a href="/facts/Boot_Loader/j6N1kRpc">Boot Loader</a></li> <li>Metadata for ECU and Software Identification, Version Management, Checksums</li> <li>Functional Software Routines</li> <li>Configuration Data</li></ul></li></ul> <h2 id="design-and-development">Design and development</h2> <p>The development of an ECU involves both hardware and software required to perform the functions expected from that particular module. Automotive ECU's are being developed following the V-model.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> Recently the trend is to dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to develop safe modules by following standards like <a href="/facts/ISO_26262/HWp4Cazz">ISO 26262</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> It is rare that a module is developed fully from scratch. The design is generally iterative and improvements are made to both the hardware and software. The development of most ECUs is carried out by Tier 1 suppliers based on specifications provided by the OEM. </p> <h2 id="testing-and-validation">Testing and validation</h2> <p>As part of the development cycle, manufacturers perform detailed <a href="/facts/Failure_mode_and_effects_analysis/fdjxbXxP">FMEAs</a> and other failure analyses to catch failure modes that can lead to unsafe conditions or driver annoyance. Extensive testing and validation activities are carried out as part of the <a href="/facts/Production_part_approval_process/RLPJ92jr">Production part approval process</a> to gain the confidence of the hardware and software. <a href="/facts/On-board_diagnostics/rPmCA4NN">On-board diagnostics</a> or OBD help provide specific data related to which system or component failed or caused a failure during run time and help perform repairs. </p> <h2 id="modifications">Modifications</h2> <p>Some people may wish to modify their ECU so as to be able to add or change functionality. However modern ECUs come equipped with protection locks to prevent users from modifying the circuit or exchange chips. The protection locks are a form of <a href="/facts/Digital_rights_management/4AF8JmDt">digital rights management</a> (DRM), the circumventing of which is illegal in certain jurisdictions. In the <a href="/facts/United_States/P0sCdLe5">United States</a> for example, the <a href="/facts/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act/rVTdnnc2">DMCA</a> criminalizes circumvention of DRM,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a> though an exemption does apply that allows the owner of a motorized land vehicle circumvention if it is required to allow diagnosis, repair or lawful modification (ie. that does not violate applicable law such as emissions regulations).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>National Instruments White Paper on Electronic Control Units Archived 2013-12-21 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.ni.com/white-paper/3312/en/" target="_blank">http://www.ni.com/white-paper/3312/en/</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"Number of automotive ECUs continues to rise". eeNews Automotive. 2019-05-15. Retrieved 2021-07-18. <a href="https://www.eenewsautomotive.com/news/number-automotive-ecus-continues-rise" target="_blank">https://www.eenewsautomotive.com/news/number-automotive-ecus-continues-rise</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Ebert, Christof; Jones, Capers (2009-04-01). "Embedded Software: Facts, Figures, and Future". Computer. 42 (4): 42–52. doi:10.1109/MC.2009.118. S2CID 14008049. Retrieved 2010-09-15. <a href="http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1550393.1550433" target="_blank">http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1550393.1550433</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>baua (2022-01-04). "What is Electronic control Unit and what does it do". Bauaelectric News. Retrieved 2022-01-12.[dead link] <a href="https://bauaelectric.com/cars/what-is-electronic-control-unit-and-what-does-it-do/" target="_blank">https://bauaelectric.com/cars/what-is-electronic-control-unit-and-what-does-it-do/</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>National Instruments White Paper on Electronic Control Units Archived 2013-12-21 at the Wayback Machine <a href="http://www.ni.com/white-paper/3312/en/" target="_blank">http://www.ni.com/white-paper/3312/en/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Case, Lenny (October 2011). "Fast-tracking ECU development". Automotive Industries. <a href="http://www.ai-online.com/Adv/Previous/show_issue.php?id=4376" target="_blank">http://www.ai-online.com/Adv/Previous/show_issue.php?id=4376</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Circumventing ECU protection being illegal". Wired. 2015-01-23. <a href="https://www.wired.com/2015/01/let-us-hack-our-cars/" target="_blank">https://www.wired.com/2015/01/let-us-hack-our-cars/</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>"Federal Register". 2015-10-28. <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-27212/p-173" target="_blank">https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2015-27212/p-173</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>