As the automotive and off-highway industries evolve, manufacturers, especially small and medium OEMs, face increasing pressure to deliver advanced, competitive vehicles faster and more efficiently. In Latin America, MCBTI is helping redefine what’s possible by bringing world class Model-Based Design (MBD) practices to a segment traditionally underserved by advanced engineering tools.
Through its partnership with Ecotron and MathWorks, MCBTI is enabling a new generation of manufactures and research centers to move seamlessly from simulation to production, accelerating innovation while improving quality and competitiveness. One example is Instituto Hercílio Randon (IHR), a Brazilian research institute focused on mobility leveraging this workflow to modernize development processes and improve engineering efficiency.
To help address these challenges and evolutions in the automotive industry, MCBTI and IHR are working together to bring advanced Model-Based Design to vehicle manufacturers, using MathWorks MATLAB and Simulink, combined with Ecotron's EcoCoder, EcoCal, EcoFlash, and EcoCoder-AI toolchain.
Empowering Regional Manufacturers
MCBTI’s mission is to empower small and medium automakers with cutting-edge technology, while driving the regional adoption of applied engineering practices. Their customers, including manufacturers of trucks, buses, forklifts, and specialty vehicles, often face challenges such as slow development cycles, high warranty costs, and difficulty competing in international markets.
Unlike large global OEMs with established internal toolchains, many of these companies lack access to advanced development methodologies. MCBTI plays a critical role as a technology bridge, bringing modern Model-Based Design workflows to organizations seeking to elevate their engineering capabilities and compete globally.
By combining deep expertise in embedded systems, real-time simulation, and vehicle control, MCBTI enables customers to modernize development processes and achieve world-class performance.
Building a Seamless Path from Simulation to Deployment
Over the past decade, MCBTI has established itself as a regional authority in Model-Based Design. Initially focused on verification and validation using real-time platforms, the company has steadily expanded its capabilities to support the entire development lifecycle.
With the adoption of EcoCoder in the past two years, MCBTI has evolved into a full V-model engineering partner, covering everything from system design and simulation through to embedded deployment on production hardware.
Ecotron's hardware and software ecosystem provides that foundation.
This workflow is built around a tightly connected toolchain:
- Simulink + Embedded Coder (MathWorks) for model development and baseline code generation
- EcoCoder (Ecotron) for optimized production-grade code generation directly from Simulink models
- EcoCoder-AI (Ecotron) for AI-assisted code optimization and development acceleration based on Simulink workflows
- EcoCal (Ecotron) for calibration of embedded control algorithms on target hardware
- EcoFlash (Ecotron) for flashing and deploying compiled software onto ECUs
Together, these technologies create a continuous workflow spanning the entire V-model, from concept through validation to production deployment.
Using Ecotron's EV22297A03 and EAORA07 controllers, engineers can perform rapid control prototyping, validate algorithms, and evaluate system performance during early development stages. Once models are validated, EcoCoder works alongside Embedded Coder to generate production-ready software directly from Simulink models.
The workflow is further supported by EcoFlash for controller programming and EcoCal for calibration, creating a unified toolchain from development through deployment.
A Unified Model-Based Development Workflow
A key differentiator in MCBTI’s approach is the use of a single application model as the authoritative source across all development stages. This model is reused for:
- Model-in-the-Loop (MIL) simulation
- Software-in-the-Loop (SIL) testing
- Rapid Control Prototyping on Ecotron ECUs
- Production deployment using EcoCoder and Embedded Coder
This eliminates fragmentation, reduces risk, and ensures consistency from concept through production.
A Collaborative Ecosystem Driving Automotive Innovation
The collaboration between MCBTI, IHR, Ecotron, and MathWorks demonstrates how tightly integrated engineering tools and regional market expertise can support the next generation of vehicle development.
As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, workflows built around MATLAB and Simulink, combined with direct deployment through Ecotron’s embedded toolchain, are enabling manufacturers to bring new technologies to market faster while maintaining engineering rigor and traceability.
Beyond technology, collaboration has been central to success. Ecotron’s engineering team works closely with MCBTI, providing responsive support and adapting solutions to regional market needs.
Customer Perspective
“Ecotron enables true Model-Based Design, bridging the gap between Simulink and target deployment for production, with a diverse ECU range and exceptional support. They are a key partner in our mission to deliver tailored automotive solutions.”
— MCBTI