On-Target Rapid Prototyping and Virtual Prototyping

Image shows a screenshot of the EHOOKS application.

EHOOKS enables you to immediately realize changes in the ECU software to support your development, prototyping, calibration, and testing needs. Modifications can be done independently of the ECU supplier, the software build process and the ECU build tool chain. Virtual ECUs are also fully supported.

Your benefits

Time and cost savings

Changes can be inserted into the ECU software on-demand and tested immediately under real conditions in the vehicle or on the test bench. Expensive waiting times for software changes are significantly reduced.

Flexibility

The advanced post-build hooking technology supports a wide range of different bypass methods for any kind of ECU (AUTOSAR and non AUTOSAR ECUs).

Highly reliable

Used by many vehicle manufacturers and suppliers worldwide.

More than 30 ECU platforms from more than 15 ECU suppliers are already supported.

Features

Patented hook insertion technology

With its advanced, patent-pending hook insertion technology, EHOOKS provides a reliable and accurate way to modify the ECU software. It only needs access to the ECU HEX and A2L file.

EHOOKS provides secure data exchange between the ECU software supplier and the OEM using the software. This allows EHOOKS to exploit deep internal knowledge of the ECU software to ensure high quality hooks, while protecting the ECU software supplier’s intellectual property.

Above all, EHOOKS is very easy to use. All you need to do is select the ECU variables (measurements), which will be calibrated/bypassed from a list and then click the build button. The modified ECU HEX and A2L are available within seconds.

Real ECUs and virtual ECUs

EHOOKS supports virtual ECUs and physical ECUs with the same workflow, same feature set and user interface. EHOOKS configurations (bypass hooks, bypass functions, added functions, calibration hooks, ...) can be transferred easily between virtual ECUs and real ECUs without any effort.
EHOOKS is compatible with all virtual ECU Runtime/Simulation environments and supports all Windows 32bit virtual ECU types (type 1 to 4).

Various operational modes

Supports several operational modes by adding configurable enablers. Enablers are switches that allow added function and modifications to be enabled or disabled with a calibration tool like ETAS INCA

Shadow mode
Limited operation
Unlimited operation
Feature toggling

High use case flexibility

EHOOKS is a flexible technology for inserting bypass hooks into the ECU software. It supports a wide range of use cases in across different development domains software/function development, testing and calibration.

Software/function development: You can use EHOOKS to insert new algorithm implementations (including AI models) directly into the ECU software itself. This enables goal-oriented prototyping and testing of the implementation and the efficient development of new control strategies.
Testing: EHOOKS can provide an efficient method for injecting test data into the control unit software via calibration bypass hooks. This allows direct control of software signals or overwrites for diagnostic state machines.
Calibration: EHOOKS provides a mechanism for calibration engineers to work around minor software bugs or to enhance the efficiency of the calibration process by giving them direct control over the calibration parameter input variables.

Comprehensive system integration

Graphic visualizing the comprehensiv system integration options of ETAS EHOOKS

EHOOKS integrates seamlessly with all members of the ETAS software and hardware family as well as with third-party tools. This enables end-to-end support for many different use cases throughout the software development cycle.

ASCET integration

EHOOKS allows integration with ASCET to support on-target bypass experiments. The key features are:

Support for ASCET-SE targets
Usage of ASCET physical or implementation models with ECU target quantization
Full support for measurement and calibration of ASCET models
Unchanged usage of ASCET models for on-target bypass
“One-click build” from ASCET and automatic integration of model code into ECU

Simulink^® integration

EHOOKS introduces a new Simulink^® integration package that makes it easy to configure EHOOKS and integrate Simulink^® models for on-target bypass. The package adds new Simulink^® blocks and system targets that allow the entire EHOOKS configuration and build process to be managed directly within Simulink^® in a natural, intuitive, and efficient manner. The key features are:

Support of Real-Time Workshop (RTW) and Real-Time Workshop Embedded Coder allows users to exploit Embedded Coder’s code efficiency
Full support for measurement and calibration of Simulink^® models
Reuse of existing calibration parameters within Simulink^® models
Automatic conversion of ECU data to and from physical data types
Automated and seamless integration from configuration to building of new ECU HEX files directly from within Simulink^®

AI Support

AI Support

AI models can be quickly and easily integrated into the control unit using ETAS Embedded AI Coder.

EHOOKS products

For the different tasks the following EHOOKS products are available:

EHOOKS-PREP (preparation)
EHOOKS-PREP is used by supplier to prepare the ECU software for EHOOKS. EHOOKS-PREP is usually integrated into the build process of the ECU software. The result is the EHOOKS-A2L file with encrypted information about the ECU software, which EHOOKS-DEV can then use to improve the accuracy and reliability of the bypass hooks and greatly enhance the ease of use for end users. EHOOKS-PREP is ECU specific and requires porting to a new ECU family.
EHOOKS-DEV (developer)
EHOOKS-DEV is used to insert changes and function extensions into the ECU software. EHOOKS-DEV provides a simple configuration environment and allows the quick and easy addition of specific software changes and extensions (bypass hooks).EHOOKS-DEV outputs a new ECU software (HEX and A2L file), which contains the modifications and extensions.EHOOKS-DEV is ECU specific and requires porting to a new ECU family.

Just seconds

With EHOOKS you can add changes and new functions to the ECU software within a very short time and independently of the supplier. This reduces the waiting time for the modified software to seconds, which can take days or weeks if the changes have to be integrated by the supplier. This remarkably shortens the development phase and significantly simplifies cooperation between the OEM and supplier.

Use cases

Internal bypass on target prototyping

. Image shows an illuminated hourglass on a blue background with text on the right-hand side reading “EHOOKS. Use case – internal bypass on target protocols.”

This video demonstrates how to use EHOOKS to add bypass hooks and new functions for on-target bypass directly into the ECU software.

Increase calibration efficiency

Image shows an illuminated hourglass on a blue background with text on the right-hand side reading “EHOOKS. Use case – increase calibration efficiency.”

This video demonstrates how to use EHOOKS to increase calibration efficiency.

Activating diagnostics via software

This video demonstrates how to use EHOOKS to test diagnostic state transitions more efficiently by injecting test data directly into the diagnostic software.

ETAS Downloads

ETAS Download Center provides abundant information on ETAS Products and Solutions, in the form of flyers, brochures, technical articles, or manuals. You will also find hotfixes and software updates.

Download Center

Technical data

Host System Requirements
Host System Requirements Operating system	WINDOWS® 10, WINDOWS® 11
Host System Requirements Hardware	Minimum: 2.0 GHz CPU, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB HDD Recommended: 3 GHz CPU, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB HDD DVD-ROM drive for installation Graphics card with a resolution of at least 1024 x 768, 256 MB RAM, 16 bit color and DirectX 9
Host System Requirements Supported System Integration
Host System Requirements	EHOOKS V5.5 supports all versions of MATLAB®/Simulink® 2018b to 2024b ASCET V6.4 and higher
Host System Requirements Supported ECUs [1]
Host System Requirements	Bosch MEDC17, MDG1 and MDG2 families Bosch RH850 families Continental CTCEMS, AURIX and VLE families Denso SH2, Z4, Z7 and AURIX families Melco SH2 and RH850 families General Motors PPC, AURIX and RH850 families Chrysler PPC family Delphi DCM6, DCM7, ETC3 and MTRI families Magneti Marelli 11GV, AURIX and MMTRI3 families AUTRON Aurix families HITACHI AURIX and RH850 families Stellantis Tricore family DRÄXLMAIER PPC family Marquardt Tricore family Virtual ECUs (Windows 32bit)
Host System Requirements

Notes
[1] Please contact ETAS sales for latest information on supported ECU platforms. Support of additional ECUs is continuously being added. New ports are available upon request.
This product has been developed and released for use in automotive applications. For usage in other domains please contact your ETAS representative.