Implementation av FlexRay prototypstack

FlexRay is a new communication protocol which is fast, reliable and flexible and therefore can meet the increasing demands on data communication in the vehicle industry. The protocol is developed by an industrial consortium containing among others BMW, Daimler Chrysler, Motorola and Phillips. Today (May 2009) Hägglunds is using CAN for data transmission in their systems. CAN is getting obsolete and has difficulties in coping with the increasing flow of communication. In this report FlexRay and its communication capacity is studied. A development card and a FlexRay analysator is connected for development studies. About fifty configuration parameters must be fixed for FlexRay before any communication can take place. The parameters are first calculated by hand and then software is produced to make the configuration easier. The price for FlexRay's flexibility is complexity. There are many aspects of the protocol which has to be understood to get full understanding of FlexRay. If problem with the FlexRay communication occur, there are several parameters to examine, and the vast number makes it hard to pinpoint the wrong one. The goal to establish FlexRay communication between the development card and the FlexRay analysator was only partly successful. It was frustrating to stop so close but the time was out. Two application ideas are given examplifying how Hägglunds can transmit data with FlexRay according to their needs