RT Box 2

Multi-Core Processing for Complex Models

The RT Box 2 speeds up the simulation of complex models of power electronics circuits. Models that can be split into separate physical sub-systems will benefit from the parallel processing capability. The RT Box 2 also offers a second Nanostep® solver unit along with the faster FPGA-based simulation of various circuit elements, additional analog and digital interfaces plus a solid-state drive for data storage.

If you are looking for a real-time simulator with more analog and digital I/Os, you might want to consider the RT Box 3.

Processor

The RT Box 2 employs the latest generation Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ multiprocessor system-on-chip. Of its four Cortex-A53 CPU cores, up to three can be used for real-time simulation calculations, while the remaining core runs an embedded Linux for communication and ancillary services. The FPGA inside the Zynq Ultrascale+ is used to control the analog data converters and the the digital I/Os. With the latest release of the PLECS Coder and the RT Box firmware, the user can simulate specific power stages using the included pair of Nanostep solver units, and compute the additional parts of the simulation model with time-steps in the sub-microsecond range on the FPGA, or in the microsecond range on the CPU.

Analog I/O

Compared to the RT Box 1, the maximum sample rate of the analog I/Os has been increased to 5 Msps and the settling time of the analog outputs has been halved to 0.5 µs.

Resolver I/O

When used for HIL simulation, the RT Box 2 can emulate a magnetic resolver with an analog bandwidth of up to 10 MHz. The RT Box 2 also features a resolver-to-digital converter for position evaluation in control application.

Technical Specifications

Processor Xilinx Zynq Ultrascale+ ZU9EG 
  CPU cores 4 x ARM Cortex-A53, 1.5 GHz
Nanostep® solver Units 2
  Step size 4 ns
Analog inputs Channels 16
  Resolution 16 bit, simultaneous sampling
  Voltage ranges -10 ... 10 V
  -5 ...   5 V
  Input type Differential
  Max. sample rate 5 Msps
  Input impedance 1 MΩ, 24 pF
  Connector D-SUB 37 pin male
Analog outputs Channels 16
  Resolution 16 bit, simultaneous update
  Voltage ranges -10 ... 10 V
    0 ... 10 V
  -5 ...   5 V
    0 ...   5 V
  Max. update rate 5 Msps
  Output impedance 0 Ω
  Max. output current 10 mA
  Connector D-SUB 37 pin female
Digital inputs Channels 32
  Logic levels 3.3 V (5 V tolerant)
  Connector D-SUB 37 pin male
Digital outputs Channels 32
  Logic levels 3.3 V
5 V
  Connector D-SUB 37 pin female
Resolver Input/Output 1/1
  Connector D-SUB 9 pin male/fem.
I/O protection Short-circuit Permanent
  Overvoltage -24 ... 24 V
Connectivity Gigabit Ethernet 2
  SFP+ interconnects
6.25 Gbps per lane
8
  Industrial Ethernet 2 (EtherCAT)
  CAN bus 2
  RS 232/422/485 2
  USB A 3.0 1
  DisplayPort 1
Storage Internal SSD 480 GB
  Firmware SD card
Power supply
(internal)
100 ... 240 Vac
50 ... 60 Hz
65 VA
Size (mm) Depth x Width 310 x 250
  Height 100

Technical specifications of all RT Boxes in comparison.