BSE develops and manufacturers handheld diagnostic tools for the automotive industry. With our partner companies, we provide a full compliment of tools to support content development within OEM engineering, manufacturing, and service organizations. Diagnostic tools are built to the specific customer requirements and are used for servicing vehicles in dealerships and manufacturing plants throughout the world.
Bright Star Engineering’s smartEdge Telematics Platform is a comprehensive hardware and software suite that includes:
This powerful suite is capable of data collection, processing and visualization, and data analytics and prediction. With included GPS functionality, the platform allows fleet tracking features such as mapped route tracking, alarm panels, historical playback, and more.
Our GUI and script based rules engine allows users to quickly and easily define data processing rule chains, aggregate and route data, trigger scripts, and schedule ECU updates.
The Mopar Diagnostic Pod (MDP+) for wiTECH 2.0 and wiADVISOR is compatible with all new vehicle architectures (including MY2026), providing the same diagnostic capabilities as the original MDP, and also incorporates new vehicle communication technology including CAN FD and Ethernet which are not supported on the microPOD II device.
MDP+ key benefits:
The Honda Antares Capsule is a variant of our wireless Antares diagnostic interface that supports Honda and Acura vehicles from 1996 model year to current. Plug it in and go — Get up and running faster than ever before!
Bright Star Engineering’s microPOD II is equipped to act as a vehicle network gateway for pass-thru diagnostic applications or can operate standalone for monitoring/logging applications. The internal 450 MHz ARM CPU and Linux OS provide a powerful platform for pass-thru diagnostic, monitoring and telematics applications. The internal 2+ GByte flash disk provides ample local storage for user applications and recorded vehicle data. The microPOD II also provides a sleep mode whereby it turns off, drawing only 750 uA of current and will wakeup upon detecting bias or traffic on the CAN bus. The microPOD II also incorporates a rich software environment including wireless network management/security, pass-thru diagnostic protocol services, data recording services, web configuration GUI, Java JVM as well as system features for in the field software upgrades.
The microPOD II is small enough to fit in a shirt pocket and offers 100-percent CAN coverage for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Fiat vehicle platforms. This dongle-style, PC-based device can be used in place of the StarMobile, StarScan and wiTECH Pod scan tools and is smaller, faster, and half the cost of its predecessor. The diagnostic time savings is large due to the superior organization and logical navigation of web based wiTECH software.
BSE’s J2534 device is a compact design with an integrated vehicle cable. It supports all OBD protocols and has 4 CAN BUS channels that can be used simultaneously. The device also includes legacy Chrysler SCI and CCD protocols and is certified by Chrysler for use on all on all Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge vehicles.
wiTECH 2.0 introduced the first web-based OEM diagnostic tool in the industry. This included a microPOD device that could be reached remotely through a cloud server using tablets, smartphones, and PCs. wiTECH 2.0 architecture allows each user to enhance their diagnostic speed, range, and mobility.
Benefits include:
The wiADVISOR platform uses BSE’s micropod device to assist service advisors in providing accurate, consistent and transparent service write-up experiences to their customers. The system arms service advisors with required information at their fingertips and eliminates the need to search through various systems and databases. WiADVISOR even determines if all the vehicle computers are running the current level of software. With access, service advisors may immediately print out factory-required and dealer-recommended maintenance requirements tailored specifically for that customer’s vehicle.
To support manufacturing and further extend the diagnostic process chain, the service and engineering diagnostic hardware and software was extended and optimized for the manufacturing environment. When electrical issues occur on a vehicle while being processed on the assembly line, the vehicle is moved to a repair bay where the manufacturing tool is used to assist with diagnostic troubleshooting.
BSE engineers worked with OEM engineering organizations to introduce a more comprehensive diagnostic and flash application that leveraged the service tool hardware. These tools allow internal engineering OEM organizations to test ECU diagnostic support and perform flash updates when changes are required, and marked the introduction of a unified process chain for both engineering and service diagnostic tools. This process chain includes applications and utilities that manage input source data, collaboration between engineering organizations, and content sharing and promotion.
wiTECH delivered the industry’s first interactive topology that enabled technicians to view vehicle specific information. wiTECH introduced a legacy tool emulator that allows previously launched tools and software to continue to be used without the full cost of migrating to the new platform. wiTECH also introduced a single global diagnostic application, which was faster and nearly half the cost of its predecessor.
StarMOBILE came to market as the first WiFi PC based scan tool with flight recorder capability that captures diagnostic information while the customer drives the vehicle.
The Key Programmer tool is used to program automotive keys with an immobilizer feature. The tool has the following features:
StarSCAN introduced the first color touch screen diagnostic tool. Other features include an industry first vehicle topology screen, CAN support, and direct connection to the network.
The Daimler Chrysler Diagnostic Interface (DCDI) was developed to assist DaimlerChrysler in creating the next generation of diagnostic tools for Chrysler, Mercedes, and Mitsubishi vehicles. Work performed on this development platform is helping bring to production the next generation of diagnostics devices.
BSE has developed radar installation and beacon control boards used in US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) radar installation and beacon sites. The FAA is primarily responsible for the advancement, safety, and regulation of civil aviation and BSE is proud to assist the FAA in their continuing mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world.
A network of five of BSE nanoEngines are used inside each WorldSID crash dummy as part of the in-dummy data acquisition system that captures up to 200 channels of sensor data during the crash event. Robust BSE electronics readily meet the requirements of this harsh environment where control boards need to withstand shocks of up to 500 G’s and operate at temperature extremes of 70 degrees centigrade.
BSE has expertise in developing control boards for controlling laser illumination sources for photolithography systems used in the manufacturing of semiconductors. One of our customers, Cymer LLC, has used our product as part of their semiconductor fabrication processes worldwide.
The Bright Star Engineering Smart Breakout Box (SBoB) performs in-circuit testing of cable harnesses to locate cable, component, sensor, and actuator faults. The SBoB utilizes analog signature impedance analysis to compare the analog signatures of each circuit within the harness against a database of known good signatures. This analysis can be done on a vehicle in the repair bay without requiring extensive vehicle disassembly. The ECU breakout adapter is simply attached between the ECU and harness with the SBoB attaching to the adapter.
Our expertise in developing network-enabled circuit boards is a natural fit for designing smart cables that need a measure of electronic control included in the harness. In many cases, preexisting hardware can be extended to add additional features or support at a fraction of the cost of replacing the entire design. Our quick prototype team can provide the answer in a cost-effective manner.
Release management and validation testing are critical components to the success of any large-scale development where content is delivered over time in a progressive fashion. Automated testing through one of our regression testers allows for regression testing of all previously delivered content as new content is added.
For an example of our automated test systems, see the Anvil Automated Testing System case study below.
In many applications, thousands of changes are introduced to the software and content that could affect previously released support. Development organizations without regression testing are faced with expensive manual revalidation or worse yet, forced to leave it to the end-customer to call if new releases break previously released functionality and content. The former leads to high retes
