e7

This is our new ECU architecture for Eco Illini, inspired heavily by Rivian’s zonal model, but with notable changes to make it accessible to new students and also fit our use case with fewer engineers and moving parts.

The design philosophy is aligned with the following goals in mind:

• Will work for both engine-oriented (gasoline) vehicles and electric vehicles with only one ECU swap
• Will allow separate workflows for embedded and human interface oriented developers
  • this is due to the split between CS / CompE / EE students who join our club
• Maximal amount of reusable components/sub-schematics
• Safety system aligned with Shell Eco-marathon’s rules
• Use automotive standard protocols if possible, otherwise simplify for new students
• Room for proper electromechanical handling/harnessing

This is a longer-term goal, aimed for deployment during the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 season.

During Phase 1 (firmware trial on g7 body) (Spring 2025)

• littleECU - test module meant to emulate any of the three main modules, minus the MPU
• littlePDU - power distribution module for FZC
• littleDDU - driver display & infotainment board with i.MX93 SoM

During Phase 2 (implementation trial) (Fall 2025)

• FZC0 & FZPDU0
• RZC0
• DLU

During Phase 3 (trial at shell, g7.5 body) (Spring 2026)

• TBD