Diseño de banco de pruebas para diagnóstico de ECU mediante simulación de señales automotrices

Abstract

The present project aims to design a system for evaluation of an automotive electronic control unit in a controlled environment, without the need to install it in a real vehicle. The proposal is justified by the increasing complexity of vehicular electronic systems and the limited availability of accessible tools for specialized diagnostics in local workshops. The hypothesis states that controlled signal and load simulation enables safe and efficient identification of internal faults. The project was developed using a structured methodology, employing an Arduino Mega 2560 microcontroller, digital-to-analog converters, signal conditioning circuits, load simulation modules, and a graphical user interface developed in Python. International standards related to electrical safety and electromagnetic compatibility applicable to test equipment were also considered. The results demonstrated that the developed system can reproduce analog and digital signals representative of real sensors and actuators, validating the response of the control unit under simulated conditions. It is concluded that the proposed system is a functional, modular, and scalable tool suitable for automotive electronic diagnostics and specialized technical training. Keywords: Electronic Control Unit, Automotive diagnostics, Signal simulation