- Analog Devices, Inc (ADI) and Rohde & Schwarz have implemented a solution for automatic testing of wireless battery management systems (wBMS) operated by electric vehicles.
According to ADI and Rohde & Schwarz, the battery management system (BMS) is one of the most vital components of an electric vehicle (EV), ensuring safe and efficient management of the battery pack and thereby influencing the safety, range and performance of EVs. Traditional BMSs are wired systems which limit the design flexibility and EV production scalability, as well as increase the weight of the vehicle. Another approach is to perform the communication between the Cell Monitoring Controller (CMC) for each battery module and Battery Management Controller (BMC) wirelessly. This simplifies the assembly, maintenance, and exchange of cells resulting in cost and effort advantages. In addition, it saves space and provides weight reduction in the vehicle.
ADI, a semiconductor manufacturer and battery management technology specialist, has developed a complete wBMS. ADI’s wBMS, currently in production across multiple EV platforms, is, according to ADI, the first ISO21434 CAL4 compliant wBMS which adheres to the strictest cybersecurity standards. It also meets high requirements in RF performance and robustness to maximize battery capacity and lifetime value.
Ultra-compact automated test system for production lines
Rohde & Schwarz, together with ADI, has developed an ultra-compact automated test equipment (ATE) system for wBMS. With this test setup, the necessary wBMS module calibration, receiver, transmitter and DC tests can be conducted for verification in the lab as well as for production tests. It consists of the R&S CMW100 radio communication tester, the R&S WMT wireless automated testing software framework, and the new R&S ExpressTSVP universal test and measurement platform. Due to radiated test, the device under test (DUT) is placed in an interference-free environment such as the R&S TS7124 RF shielded box.
Record and playback solution for RF robustness testing of wireless BMS
For RF robustness testing, Rohde &Schwarz and ADI worked together to get an off-the-air recording solution to capture real-world RF spectrum. They then played it back in the lab to confirm the correct operation of wBMS in demanding RF environments. This solution from Rohde & Schwarz allows a realistic, repeatable, and efficient verification of wireless devices. During several test drives in various complex RF environments, an R&S FSW signal and spectrum analyzer monitored the RF spectrum and sent it to an R&S IQW wideband I/Q data recorder. For playing back the recorded spectrum profiles in a lab, the R&S IQW is connected with an R&S SMW200A vector signal generator.
