FPGAs as versatile configurable I/O devices in Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation * )

This paper describes the use of FPGAs as versatile reconfigurable devices in Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation. Advantages of software development (flexibility, short design cycles) now also apply to the I/O hardware development. The development method considers the implementation proc- ess as a stepwise refinement from physical system models and control laws to efficient control computer code, and that all phases are verified by simulation or HIL Simulation. Experiments with a basic mechatronic set-up show that the HIL Simulated system behaves as the real system, and can be considered a useful addition in Systems Design. This can shorten the development time considerable, especially when the mecha- tronic product to be developed is complex, as is the case in our Boderc project.