TK Engineering developed a service and diagnostic tool for Hybricon’s hybrid and electric buses to improve maintenance efficiency and system diagnostics
TKE has supplied a Servicetool to Hybricon Bus Systems, Sweden who develops and manufactures the world’s most energy-efficient, clean and quiet system for public transport buses with an aim of delivering complete systems for electric public transportation in cities.
The project combined CAN communication, diagnostics of modern electric public transport vehicles. The service tool helps maintenance teams identify faults faster, reduce downtime, and improve overall fleet reliability.
Advanced CAN diagnostics and service tool for electric bus systems
Hybricons electric buses are controlled with several ECUs steering the electrical motors, batterypacks and charging. These ECUs are using CAN as communication protocol. The Servicetool in PC was supposed to communicate via CAN to these ECUs so TKE used Kvasers CAN to USB-interface to connect the service computer to the bus communication system.
PC-based service software for CAN and J1939 diagnostics
TKE developed the Windows application using Zuragon’s ViCANdo SDK. ViCANdo supports the full development workflow, from algorithm development, simulation, and code generation to HIL, SIL, laboratory testing, road testing, and full vehicle validation. The team designed and implemented the service tool’s graphical user interface with the Qt software development framework.
The service tool displays DTC fault codes, or Diagnostic Trouble Codes according to SAE J1939, in human-readable text. Service engineers can access both active and historical faults. The fault codes include SPN (Suspect Parameter Number) for the failed parameter, OC (Occurrence Count) and FMI (Failure Mode Identifier) which indicates how it has failed.
The service tool also provides read and write access to ECU service parameters. Engineers can view the physical values, minimum and maximum limits, and units for each parameter directly in the tool.
In addition, the service tool allows engineers to update the firmware or software of a selected ECU with just a few mouse clicks.