Volcano Network Architect from Mentor Graphics Verifies and Improves Network Bandwidth Usage at Mazda

Mazda has developed their new generation technology, SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, in order to achieve their vision to deliver driving pleasure as well as outstanding environmental and safety performance in their vehicles. The CX-5, one of Mazda's latest products, features breakthrough SKYACTIV
TECHNOLOGY and is now available to the global market.

Mazda has their unique CAN stack in their vehicle networking systems and has been using their own, in-house CAN network design tool. To introduce SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, Mazda shifted their existing tool to the Mentor GraphicsR software VNA to insure their network configuration would work under the worst case conditions. During the tests that Mazda conducted, several networking issues were analysed and were able to be improved upon. In particular, by entering the network data generated from their tools into the VNA, Mazda was able to analyse their network usage and identify which
messages on the bus caused problems.

The VNA tool has very powerful optimization features to load the network more than 90 percent of available bandwidth. In Mazda's case, their engineers used the analysis from VNA to optimize and verify that the network bandwidth is utilized to an increased level but is not overstressed. This
procedure increased the network utilization and significantly reduced the testing requirements and time. Moreover, what was learned by the VNA tool could then be applied to new network additions and the VNA flow Mazda implemented to verify their networks made their networks significantly more
efficient and reliable.

Mazda changed from our internal tool to Mentor Graphics tool for automotive network design system. Migrating from in-house design environment to Mentor Graphics Volcano Network Architect-based design environment moved smoothly and it reduced the testing requirements and time significantly, said Tetsuhiro Yamashita, staff manager, Vehicle Development Division, Vehicle System Development Department, Mazda Motor Corporation. We are happy to have improved our design quality, as well as our automotive network reliability.

VNA has unparalleled capabilities in enabling design, implementation and optimization of deterministic communication systems, leading to profound improvements in efficiency, quality, and reliability of in-vehicle networking, said Serge Leef, vice president and general manager, System
Level Engineering Division, Mentor Graphics. We are pleased we have been able to provide a product to Mazda that makes the management and maintenance of their distributed network solutions more efficient.