National Instruments (NI) and ETAS GmbH said that they have signed agreements to jointly design, build, and service pre-integrated Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) systems. For this, both the companies will pool their resources for build test and validation of software for automotive electronics, including electronic control units (ECUs) and sensors.
Under the agreement, NI will bring its software-defined platform and I/O capabilities with ETAS expertise in developing and integrating HiL solutions to deliver a new test offerings for electrification and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).
In this JV, each company will own 50 percent share and the company will be headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions including regulatory and antitrust clearances and is expected to close in June 2019, said NI.
“ETAS has an exceptional team with experience in development and integration of HiL systems for the automotive industry,” said Eric Starkloff, NI President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). “We believe their quality of service and global deployment presence combined with our innovative platform will enable this partnership to meet the quality and time to market demands of our customers and partners.”
“By establishing this joint venture, ETAS expects to extend the application of HiL systems to new areas such as automated driving,” said Friedhelm Pickhard, the chairman of the board of management of ETAS GmbH. “NI has a leading platform for automated test and consistent focus on innovation. Building on their platform will enable the joint venture to deliver new HiL solutions and progress with regard to the early validation of automotive electronics software.”
The development of modern vehicles is continuing to become more complex through increased levels of automation via driver assistance systems. As a result, automotive suppliers and automakers demand increased efficiency in software development.
The strength of the NI and ETAS teams, domain expertise, and global footprint create an opportunity to broaden the reach to customers and help them solve the development challenges in the automotive industry. The systems offered by the joint venture will provide a solution, helping facilitate shorter design cycles, reduced test time and faster time to market, said NI.
