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Master'sAutomotive & Motorsport Applications open

Master’s in ECU Strategy & Control Engineering

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in ECU strategy and control engineering: 12 modules covering racing control electronics, engine control systems, applied control theory, torque and driveability strategies, hybrid energy and fuel management, calibration, model-based software development, communications and telemetry, and control data analysis, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
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Take the controls.

Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the electronic architecture of a racing vehicle.

02

Design engine control strategies.

03

Apply control theory to strategy development.

04

Optimise hybrid energy and fuel management.

05

Calibrate control systems on the dyno and on track.

06

Develop model-based control software.

07

Analyse control data for continuous improvement.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Control engineers developing engine and chassis strategies.
  • Calibration engineers working on the dyno or trackside.
  • Embedded software engineers in vehicle electronics.
  • Hybrid systems engineers managing energy deployment.
  • Vehicle electronics engineers working with ECUs and networks.
  • Energy strategy engineers in endurance or hybrid racing.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to break into motorsport.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations (technical rules for F1 cars)
  • ISO 26262 (functional safety of road vehicles)
  • ISO 11898 (CAN bus)
  • ASAM MCD-1 XCP (measurement and calibration protocol)
  • Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code (technical rules for competition vehicles)
  • MISRA C:2023 (guidelines for safe C code)
  • ISO/SAE 21434 (vehicle cybersecurity engineering)
  • MATLAB/Simulink
  • ATI Vision
  • ETAS INCA
  • McLaren ATLAS
  • MoTeC i2
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Electronic architecture of a racing car
  2. 1.2Control units: engine, chassis and hybrid
  3. 1.3FIA standard ECU: McLaren Applied TAG-320
  4. 1.4ECUs in GT, rally and national categories
  5. 1.5CAN and Ethernet networks in the vehicle
  6. 1.6Software and control regulations
  7. 1.7Functional safety in motorsport
  8. 1.8Control engineering tools
  9. 1.9A control engineer's workflow
  10. 1.10Case study: electronic architecture of a GT3 car
  1. 2.1Engine sensors: MAP, lambda, position and knock
  2. 2.2Actuators: injectors, coils and throttles
  3. 2.3Closed-loop fuelling control
  4. 2.4Ignition control
  5. 2.5Knock control
  6. 2.6Boost control
  7. 2.7Idle and start control
  8. 2.8Temperature management
  9. 2.9Diagnostics and protections
  10. 2.10Lab: lambda control in Simulink
  1. 3.1Modelling dynamic systems
  2. 3.2PID control and tuning
  3. 3.3Feedforward control
  4. 3.4Table- and map-based control
  5. 3.5Model predictive control (MPC)
  6. 3.6Observers and estimation
  7. 3.7Non-linear control
  8. 3.8Discretisation and implementation
  9. 3.9Robustness and stability
  10. 3.10Practical: tuning a boost controller
  1. 4.1Engine torque model
  2. 4.2Pedal maps
  3. 4.3Torque delivery by gear
  4. 4.4Traction control
  5. 4.5Launch control
  6. 4.6Pit-lane speed limiter
  7. 4.7Fast gear shifts
  8. 4.8Clutch management
  9. 4.9Wet-weather strategies
  10. 4.10Lab: traction control strategy in Simulink
  1. 5.1Hybrid architectures: MGU-K and MGU-H
  2. 5.2Regulatory energy limits
  3. 5.3Deployment strategies
  4. 5.4Regenerative braking
  5. 5.5Brake-by-wire
  6. 5.6State-of-charge management
  7. 5.7Lap optimisation
  8. 5.8Race and qualifying modes
  9. 5.92026 strategies
  10. 5.10Practical: optimisation of energy deployment
  1. 6.1Fuel flow limitation
  2. 6.2Homologated flow meters
  3. 6.3Saving strategies: lift and coast
  4. 6.4Mixture and power maps
  5. 6.5Calculating consumption per lap
  6. 6.6Stint management
  7. 6.7Sustainable fuels and calibration
  8. 6.8Endurance strategies
  9. 6.9Strategy tools
  10. 6.10Case study: fuel strategy in an endurance race
  1. 7.1The calibration process
  2. 7.2Calibration tools: ATI Vision and INCA
  3. 7.3Design of experiments for calibration
  4. 7.4Dynamometer calibration
  5. 7.5On-track calibration
  6. 7.6Calibration version management
  7. 7.7Model-based calibration
  8. 7.8Calibration validation
  9. 7.9Documentation
  10. 7.10Lab: calibration of an ignition map
  1. 8.1Model-based development
  2. 8.2Automatic code generation
  3. 8.3Model-in-the-loop and software-in-the-loop
  4. 8.4Hardware-in-the-loop
  5. 8.5MAAB modelling standards
  6. 8.6Software testing
  7. 8.7Requirements management
  8. 8.8Version control
  9. 8.9ISO 26262 functional safety
  10. 8.10Practical: code generation with Embedded Coder
  1. 9.1CAN and CAN FD networks
  2. 9.2Vehicle Ethernet
  3. 9.3Bidirectional telemetry and regulations
  4. 9.4Data logging
  5. 9.5XCP and CCP calibration protocols
  6. 9.6Diagnostics in the pits
  7. 9.7Vehicle cybersecurity
  8. 9.8Message management
  9. 9.9Bus analysis
  10. 9.10Lab: CAN bus analysis with diagnostic tools
  1. 10.1Relevant control channels
  2. 10.2Slip and traction analysis
  3. 10.3Gear shift analysis
  4. 10.4Energy deployment analysis
  5. 10.5Fault detection
  6. 10.6Strategy comparison
  7. 10.7ATLAS and MoTeC tools
  8. 10.8Reports for the driver
  9. 10.9Continuous improvement
  10. 10.10Practical: analysis of lap data in ATLAS
  1. 11.1Regulatory control of software
  2. 11.2FIA technical scrutineering
  3. 11.3Reliability of electronics
  4. 11.4Fault management during the race
  5. 11.5Electric racing vehicles
  6. 11.6Artificial intelligence in strategy
  7. 11.7Autonomous racing
  8. 11.8Trends
  9. 11.9Transfer to series-production vehicles
  10. 11.10Workshop: electronics reliability plan
  1. 12.1Definition of the control system
  2. 12.2Plant modelling
  3. 12.3Strategy design
  4. 12.4Implementation in Simulink
  5. 12.5MIL and SIL validation
  6. 12.6Calibration and testing
  7. 12.7Results analysis
  8. 12.8Conclusions
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it can be combined with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB/Simulink, ATI Vision, ETAS INCA, McLaren ATLAS and MoTeC i2, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for developing control strategies in Simulink, calibration on the dyno and on track, and control data analysis. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations, ISO 26262, ISO 11898 (CAN), ASAM MCD-1 XCP, Appendix J to the FIA International Sporting Code, MISRA C:2023, ISO/SAE 21434.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the FIA Formula 1 Technical Regulations, ISO 26262 and ISO 11898 (CAN) applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:MATLAB/Simulink, ATI Vision, ETAS INCA, McLaren ATLAS and MoTeC i2, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete control strategy, from plant modelling and strategy design to Simulink implementation, MIL/SIL validation and calibration, defended before a panel.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Plant and controller design
Model an engine subsystem and design a lambda or boost controller in Simulink.
Driveability strategy
Develop a traction control strategy and validate it in simulation.
Energy and fuel optimisation
Optimise hybrid energy deployment and fuel consumption over a lap and a stint.
Code generation and calibration
Generate code with Embedded Coder and calibrate an ignition map.
Master's Thesis
Design, implement, validate and calibrate a complete control strategy, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Control engineerCalibration engineerEmbedded software engineerHybrid systems engineerVehicle electronics engineerEnergy strategy engineer
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with MATLAB/Simulink, ATI Vision, ETAS INCA, McLaren ATLAS and MoTeC i2, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a computer able to run the software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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