Cambridge UK, 22 August 2012

Xylanta Limited has today announced DeskLab RDS, an 8 channel FM/RDS Encoder for Automotive radio validation.

The DeskLab RDS is a Multichannel FM/RDS Encoder targeted at replicating some of the test scenarios encountered during on-road infotainment system test rides, in a lab environment. It is the first hardware product in Xylanta’s DeskLab test tool range.

The companion DeskLab software provides both a graphical ‘point and click’ test environment, together with a Lua based script automation system for more complex testing needs. This is based on a version of the product already in use for infotainment test automation with a leading automotive Tier 1 supplier.

Validation of the reception characteristics of any RDS capable FM receiver is an essential step in the development process. To fully validate the reception characteristics, it is necessary to utilise the receiver in as many real-world situations as possible. This is difficult to achieve with a receiver designed for use in a static location, and becomes far more complex with moving receivers such as those encountered in automotive infotainment products. Typically this involves extensive periods of on-road testing, across multiple countries, to ensure good coverage of likely usage and failure scenarios.

The ideal would be to recreate these test scenarios in a lab environment, allowing better testing throughout the development process, and reducing the amount of expensive on-road testing required. The DeskLab RDS is specifically designed to assist engineers in this process by providing 8 individually controllable FM/RDS channels, providing a rich environment to emulate real situations without leaving their desks. The use of scripting allows complex test scenarios to be reproduced.

Director, Dr. Ken Aitchison, said “With the release of the DeskLab RDS, Xylanta is moving into a new phase providing specialised test equipment focused on the validation needs of software engineers working in the Infotainment sector, rather than those of hardware developers”.

Evaluation units are available now, with first shipments anticipated in Q4/2012.

About Xylanta Limited

Since its inception, Xylanta has been focused on making innovative test automation solutions available on engineers desks, targeting the industrial and automotive markets.

With a strong hardware and software capability, the company is well placed to provide comprehensive testing solutions, together with custom interfacing and test script development services as needed. In addition, the company also undertakes bespoke development projects.

The staff have been involved in product testing for many years and have a combined experience of over 20 years in providing test solutions to the Automotive market alone. In that time, companies that we have provided test automation consultancy to include GM, Delphi, Ford, Visteon, Motorola, and Detroit Diesel.

For more information, contact:
Andy Jackson
Xylanta Ltd
Email: @xylanta.com

Cambridge UK, 6 April 2009: Due to ongoing rapid growth, Xylanta Limited has moved to new offices in Dry Drayton, just to the north west of Cambridge, UK. The new premises incorporate engineering facilities and will serve as the support base for our customers in the UK, Europe and USA.

Xylanta has experienced very vigorous sales growth recently due to new contracts focused on developing custom product test solutions based around its scripted test tool technology, which has driven the move to new premises.

Director, Dr. Ken Aitchison, said “It is gratifying to see how the team’s hard work over the last couple of years has translated into such tangible success – our new offices reflect the increasing profile of Xylanta and will enable us to expand further”.

The company’s new address is Unit 15, Dry Drayton Industries, Scotland Road, Dry Drayton, Cambridge CB23 8AT, UK.

Notes for Editor’s:

About Xylanta Limited

Xylanta (www.xylanta.com) is focused on providing highly functional, cost effective test and prototyping solutions for the industrial and automotive markets, together with specialist testing products. With a strong hardware and software capability, the company is well placed to provide the scripted testing tools, together with custom interfacing and test script development services as needed. In addition, the company also undertakes some bespoke development projects.

Its founders have long industrial experience and previously ran the Automotive Test Tools business at Pi Technology, with responsibility for the Pi AutoSim hardware-in-the-loop test products.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Ken Aitchison
Xylanta Ltd
Email: @xylanta.com

Cambridge UK, 14 December 2005: Xylanta – the new name in communications prototyping and test solutions for the industrial and automotive markets today announced its first products. The ANB-1 is a prototyping board aimed at OEMs and integrators looking for intelligent, production ready, multi-protocol solutions, whilst the ANM-1 is a complete multi-protocol test solution.

The ANM-1 product, which is oriented towards the automotive market, is based around an ARM-7 micro-controller core and provides support for 4 CAN channels (2 high speed, 1 fault tolerant and one single wire to GM3089 V2.2), 2 LIN channels (master/slave), 2 K-Line channels, 1 L-Line and 1 J1708. For integration with other non-automotive systems, a 10/100 Ethernet connection is available and an on-board expansion bus allows the functionality to be extended with both Xylanta and customer developed daughter boards. Available software support includes a complete toolchain based around the GNU compiler suite and a port of the eCos Open Source operating system. Example source code is available for the major board functions.

Whilst using the same hardware platform, the ANM-1 is a complete packaged test solution, including all the necessary hardware and software to allow a PC to be transformed into the hub of an advanced communication test environment. Key features of the system include the XyCommTool message monitor application, built-in scripting capability, optional J2534 and RP1210A interfaces, on-board logging, industry standard message database import and integration via COM with third-party tools like NI Labview. In addition, the controlling interface is based around the XML-RPC standard allowing the hardware to be incorporated into larger customer test systems directly. Future plans include provision of higher level protocol support for Keyword-2000, J1939, CANOpen and others.

Xylanta Director, Ken Aitchison, commented, “Having been involved in the automotive test market for a number of years, we realised that there is a need for a new generation of highly functional test tools and prototyping solution based around Open Source tools. The ANB-1 and ANM-1 squarely address this need.”

It is anticipated that both products will begin shipping during Q1, 2006.

– Ends –

Notes for Editor’s:

About Xylanta Limited

Xylanta is a new company focused on providing highly functional, cost effective test and prototyping solutions for the industrial and automotive markets based where practical around freely available Open Source software. The initial focus is on supporting the needs of engineers involved in the development and validation of embedded communications software using technologies such as CAN, LIN, J1850, J1939, CANopen and DeviceNet.

Its founders have long industrial experience and until recently ran the Automotive Test Tools business at Pi Technology, with responsibility for the Pi AutoSim hardware-in-the-loop test products.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Ken Aitchison
Xylanta Ltd
Email: @xylanta.com