Semiconductor Equipment

Software-defined battery lab takes cue from SDVs

27 June 2023

The fundamental components of a battery validation lab include the cyclers to inject and draw power from the batteries, measurement and instrumentation equipment, a chamber to ensure environmental and safety conditions, and the software to run the whole test cell.

All these components, of course, are commercially available. Each includes a software interface, returns some type of data, and — for a cost — can be integrated to operate together and perform battery testing.

The software-defined battery lab concept represents an open and flexible approach to electric vehicle battery validation. Source: paulbr75/CC0 The software-defined battery lab concept represents an open and flexible approach to electric vehicle battery validation. Source: paulbr75/CC0 However, as pointed out by NI, formerly known as National Instruments, this kind of fragmented approach to lab setup can bring several challenges, including inconsistencies in data storage practices, software approach and test methodologies; manual asset management and limited automation; and, simply put, too many instrument and system types.

Taking a wider perspective reveals an even bigger challenge: the fragmented approach is liable to produce limited product insight, high engineering costs and slower development time. Still another issue is the potential risk-tolerance to a “test enough” approach in which all regulations and requirements are met, but there are no extended efforts to optimize battery performance and test operations.

NI’s answer? The Software-Defined Battery Lab, a new offering the company describes as a “critical milestone” in its testing capabilities covering the sustainable battery life cycle. The idea draws parallels from the concept of software-defined vehicles (SDVs), which is currently being used by engineering teams to bring vehicles to market and continuously improve their performance. The SD battery lab enables battery validation, data management and analysis while also being open and flexible to scale for global validation testing and adapt to the ever-evolving innovations in battery technologies.

Unlike fragmented or closed-vendor approaches to battery testing, NI said its solution allows battery manufacturers to own their test strategy to maximize capital investment reuse, allow test customization and establish vendor independence.

The solution builds upon NI’s core battery testing capabilities with key components including:

  • Battery test development and execution software, providing proven battery testing capabilities out-of-the-box while also allowing customization and extensibility;
  • Lab system and data management software, a scalable enterprise solution for managing labs, improving test operations and analyzing test results to extract meaningful insights;
  • Extensive battery cycler portfolio allowing third-party integration;
  • Battery measurement and control built on NI’s software-connected, modular hardware platforms; and
  • Global engineering integration and support.

“We’re in the nascent stages of the battery revolution,” said Drita Roggenbuck, senior vice president and general manager of NI’s Transportation Business Unit. “Companies are faced with driving down battery costs, improving performance, innovating endlessly, and scaling. At a time when new vehicle programs are as short as ever, and battery validation and production must scale immediately and continuously through the end of the decade, NI’s Software-Defined Battery Lab offers the step function change needed to improve time to market and battery performance through test systems and test insights.”



Powered by CR4, the Engineering Community

Discussion – 0 comments

By posting a comment you confirm that you have read and accept our Posting Rules and Terms of Use.
Engineering Newsletter Signup
Get the GlobalSpec
Stay up to date on:
Features the top stories, latest news, charts, insights and more on the end-to-end electronics value chain.
Advertisement
Weekly Newsletter
Get news, research, and analysis
on the Electronics industry in your
inbox every week - for FREE
Sign up for our FREE eNewsletter
Advertisement