Seamless integration: How a leading German OEM mastered complex multi-ECU braking system calibration with a unified ETAS toolchain

As vehicle systems become more interconnected, the interaction between different ECUs is critical. The customer’s challenge was to calibrate a new supplier-provided braking ECU in a setup with their existing HPC ECU. However, the A2L description file for the new braking unit was optimized for the supplier’s proprietary tools and was not compatible with the OEM’s standard tool, ETAS INCA. This forced them to consider using a separate tool just for the braking ECU, creating workflow inefficiencies and data silos.

The ETAS team tackled the problem by providing a crucial service to enhance the A2L file from the new braking ECU. By adding the missing data required by INCA, the file became fully readable and compatible. This simple yet powerful fix transformed the situation. With the enhanced A2L, ETAS INCA could seamlessly measure and calibrate the new braking ECU alongside the existing one in a multi-domain environment. The final integrated setup allowed INCA to access the high-performance controller via an ES891 interface with FETK, and the braking ECU via a high-speed interface adapter, creating one unified workflow.

The ETAS solution delivered significant and measurable benefits for the OEM. By enabling the use of a single tool across multiple domains (powertrain and chassis), the customer completely avoided the cost of purchasing and integrating a new, additional tool environment. This decision led directly to substantial time savings, as engineers did not need to learn a new toolchain. Furthermore, it proved INCA's capability to support setups with third-party hardware, giving the customer’s team greater flexibility and confidence in managing mixed-hardware environments efficiently.