44 research outputs found
An Enhanced Predictive Cruise Control System Design with Data-Driven Traffic Prediction
The predictive cruise control (PCC) is a promising method to optimize energy consumption of vehicles, especially the heavy-duty vehicles (HDV). Due to the limited sensing range and computational capabilities available on-board, the conventional PCC system can only obtain a sub-optimal speed trajectory based on a shorter prediction horizon. The recently emerging information and communication technologies such as vehicular communication, cloud computing, and Internet of Things provide huge potentials to improve the traditional PCC system. In this paper, we propose a general framework for the enhanced cloud-based PCC system which integrates a data-driven traffic predictive model and the instantaneous control algorithms. Specifically, we introduce a novel multi-view CNN deep learning algorithm to predict traffic situation based on the historical and real-time traffic data collected from fields, and the time-varying adaptive model predictive control (MPC) to calculate the instantaneous optimal speed profile with the aim of minimizing energy consumption. We verified our approach via simulations in which the impact of various traffic condition on the PCC-enabled HDV has been fully evaluated
Development of an Optimal Controller and Validation Test Stand for Fuel Efficient Engine Operation
There are numerous motivations for improvements in automotive fuel efficiency. As concerns over the environment grow at a rate unmatched by hybrid and electric automotive technologies, the need for reductions in fuel consumed by current road vehicles has never been more present. Studies have shown that a major cause of poor fuel consumption in automobiles is improper driving behavior, which cannot be mitigated by purely technological means. The emergence of autonomous driving technologies has provided an opportunity to alleviate this inefficiency by removing the necessity of a driver. Before autonomous technology can be relied upon to reduce gasoline consumption on a large scale, robust programming strategies must be designed and tested. The goal of this thesis work was to design and deploy an autonomous control algorithm to navigate a four cylinder, gasoline combustion engine through a series of changing load profiles in a manner that prioritizes fuel efficiency. The experimental setup is analogous to a passenger vehicle driving over hilly terrain at highway speeds. The proposed approach accomplishes this using a model-predictive, real-time optimization algorithm that was calibrated to the engine. Performance of the optimal control algorithm was tested on the engine against contemporary cruise control. Results indicate that the “efficient” strategy achieved one to two percent reductions in total fuel consumed for all load profiles tested. The consumption data gathered also suggests that further improvements could be realized on a different subject engine and using extended models and a slightly modified optimal control approach
Integrated Propulsion and Cabin-Cooling Management for Electric Vehicles
This paper presents two nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) methods for the integrated propulsion and cabin-cooling management of electric vehicles. An air-conditioning (AC) model, which has previously been validated on a real system, is used to accomplish system-level optimization. To investigate the optimal solution for the integrated optimal control problem (OCP), we first build an MPC, referred to as a joint MPC, in which the goal is to minimize battery energy consumption while maintaining cabin-cooling comfort. Second, we divide the integrated OCP into two small-scale problems and devise a co-optimization MPC (co-MPC), where speed planning on hilly roads and cabin-cooling management with propulsion power information are addressed successively. Our proposed MPC methods are then validated through two case studies. The results show that both the joint MPC and co-MPC can produce significant energy benefits while maintaining driving and thermal comfort. Compared to regular constant-speed cruise control that is equipped with a proportion integral (PI)-based AC controller, the benefits to the battery energy earned by the joint MPC and co-MPC range from 2.09% to 2.72%. Furthermore, compared with the joint MPC, the co-MPC method can achieve comparable performance in energy consumption and temperature regulation but with reduced computation time
Providing Real-time Driver Advisories in Connected Vehicles: A Data-Driven Approach Supported by Field Experimentation
Approximately 94\% of the annual transportation crashes in the U.S. involve driver errors and violations contributing to the $1 Trillion losses in the economy. Recent V2X communication technologies enabled by Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) and Cellular-V2X (C-V2X) can provide cost-effective solutions for many of these transportation safety applications and help reduce crashes up to 85%. This research aims towards two primary goals. First, understanding the feasibility of deploying V2V-based safety critical applications under the constraints of limited communication ranges and adverse roadway conditions. Second, to develop a prototype application for providing real-time advisories for hazardous driving behaviors and to notify neighboring vehicles using available wireless communication platform. Towards accomplishing the first goal, we have developed a mathematical model to quantify V2V communication parameters and constraints pertaining to a DSRC-based “Safe pass advisory” application and validated the theoretical model using field experiments by measuring the communication ranges between two oncoming vehicles. We also investigated the impacts of varying altitudes, vehicle-interior obstacles, and OBU placement on V2V communication reliability and its implications. Along the direction of the second goal, we derived a data-driven model to characterize the acceleration/deceleration profile of a regular passenger vehicle with respect to speed and throttle position. As a proof of concept demonstration, we implemented an IoT-based communication architecture for disseminating the hazardous driving alerts to vulnerable drivers through cellular and/or V2X communication infrastructure
Developing and Evaluating the driving and powertrain systems of automated and electrified vehicles (AEVs) for sustainable transport
In the transition towards sustainable transport, automated and electrified vehicles (AEVs) play a key role in overcoming challenges such as fuel consumption, emissions, safety, and congestion. The development and assessment of AEVs require bringing together insights from multiple disciplines such as vehicle studies to design and control AEVs and traffic flow studies to describe and evaluate their driving behaviours. This thesis, therefore, addresses the needs of automotive and civil engineers, and investigates three classes of problems: optimizing the driving and powertrain systems of AEVs, modelling their driving behaviours in microscopic traffic simulation, and evaluating their performance in real-world driving conditions.
The first part of this thesis proposes Pareto-based multi-objective optimization (MOO) frameworks for the optimal sizing of powertrain components, e.g., battery and ultracapacitor, and for the integrated calibration of control systems including adaptive cruise control (ACC) and energy management strategy (EMS). We demonstrate that these frameworks can bring collective improvements in energy efficiency, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ride comfort, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
The second part of this thesis develops microscopic free-flow or car-following models for reproducing longitudinal driving behaviours of AEVs in traffic simulation, which can support the needs to predict the impact of AEVs on traffic flow and maximize their benefits to the road network. The proposed models can account for electrified vehicle dynamics, road geometric characteristics, and sensing/perception delay, which have significant effects on driving behaviours of AEVs but are largely ignored in traffic flow studies.
Finally, we systematically evaluate the energy and safety performances of AEVs in real-world driving conditions. A series of vehicle platoon experiments are carried out on public roads and test tracks, to identify the difference in driving behaviours between ACC-equipped vehicles and human-driven vehicles (HDVs) and to examine the impact of ACC time-gap settings on energy consumption
2nd Symposium on Management of Future motorway and urban Traffic Systems (MFTS 2018): Booklet of abstracts: Ispra, 11-12 June 2018
The Symposium focuses on future traffic management systems, covering the subjects of traffic control, estimation, and modelling of motorway and urban networks, with particular emphasis on the presence of advanced vehicle communication and automation technologies.
As connectivity and automation are being progressively introduced in our transport and mobility systems, there is indeed a growing need to understand the implications and opportunities for an enhanced traffic management as well as to identify innovative ways and tools to optimise traffic efficiency.
In particular the debate on centralised versus decentralised traffic management in the presence of connected and automated vehicles has started attracting the attention of the research community.
In this context, the Symposium provides a remarkable opportunity to share novel ideas and discuss future research directions.JRC.C.4-Sustainable Transpor
Powertrain Architectures and Technologies for New Emission and Fuel Consumption Standards
New powertrain design is highly influenced by CO2 and pollutant limits defined by legislations, the demand of fuel economy in for real conditions, high performances and acceptable cost. To reach the requirements coming from both end-users and legislations, several powertrain architectures and engine technologies are possible (e.g. SI or CI engines), with many new technologies, new fuels, and different degree of electrification. The benefits and costs given by the possible architectures and technology mix must be accurately evaluated by means of objective procedures and tools in order to choose among the best alternatives. This work presents a basic design methodology and a comparison at concept level of the main powertrain architectures and technologies that are currently being developed, considering technical benefits and their cost effectiveness. The analysis is carried out on the basis of studies from the technical literature, integrating missing data with evaluations performed by means of powertrain-vehicle simplified models, considering the most important powertrain architectures. Technology pathways for passenger cars up to 2025 and beyond have been defined. After that, with support of more detailed models and experimentations, the investigation has been focused on the more promising technologies to improve internal combustion engine, such as: water injection, low temperature combustions and heat recovery systems
Platooning-based control techniques in transportation and logistic
This thesis explores the integration of autonomous vehicle technology with smart manufacturing systems. At first, essential control methods for autonomous vehicles, including Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs), Linear Quadratic Regulation (LQR)/Linear Quadratic Tracking (LQT), PID controllers, and dynamic control logic via flowcharts, are examined. These techniques are adapted for platooning to enhance coordination, safety, and efficiency within vehicle fleets, and various scenarios are analyzed to confirm their effectiveness in achieving predetermined performance goals such as inter-vehicle distance and fuel consumption. A first approach on simplified hardware, yet realistic to model the vehicle's behavior, is treated to further prove the theoretical results.
Subsequently, performance improvement in smart manufacturing systems (SMS) is treated. The focus is placed on offline and online scheduling techniques exploiting Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) to model the shop floor and Model Predictive Control (MPC) to adapt scheduling to unforeseen events, in order to understand how optimization algorithms and decision-making frameworks can transform resource allocation and production processes, ultimately improving manufacturing efficiency.
In the final part of the work, platooning techniques are employed within SMS. Autonomous Guided Vehicles (AGVs) are reimagined as autonomous vehicles, grouping them within platoon formations according to different criteria, and controlled to avoid collisions while carrying out production orders. This strategic integration applies platooning principles to transform AGV logistics within the SMS. The impact of AGV platooning on key performance metrics, such as makespan, is devised, providing insights into optimizing manufacturing processes.
Throughout this work, various research fields are examined, with intersecting future technologies from precise control in autonomous vehicles to the coordination of manufacturing resources. This thesis provides a comprehensive view of how optimization and automation can reshape efficiency and productivity not only in the domain of autonomous vehicles but also in manufacturing
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Visual performance maps for expanded human choice based on duty/demand cycles in hybrid vehicle’s Multi-speed hub Drive Wheels
The Multi-speed hub Drive Wheel (MDW) for four-independent drive wheels of future electric vehicles has recently been designed by the Robotics Research Group at the University of Texas at Austin. The MDW is equipped with four distinct speeds (two electrical and two mechanical) with the aim of improving efficiency and enhancing the drivability features of the vehicle, such as acceleration and braking on the driver’s command. The MDW will have different unsprung weights in the wheels depending on a range of suggested rated power levels such as 16, 20, 24, 32, up to a maximum of 40 hp, which would then become basic choices for the customer.
The overall objective of the research is to analytically develop a framework for maximizing human vehicle choice by means of visualizing human performance needs/requirements so that customer demands can be met at the time of purchase for an open architecture hybrid electric vehicle which would then be assembled on demand. In addition, based on the customer’s individual duty/demand cycle, a vehicle can then be tailored to meet the particular customer priorities such as cost and efficiency, or on the other end of the spectrum, one who is an aggressive driver. This leads to expanded human choice for future electric vehicles. To meet human needs, the appropriate MDW will be software customized to suit the customer’s demand cycle.
Satisfying human needs implies responding directly to human commands / objectives over the life history of the vehicle. The decision framework developed in this study is based on detailed human needs structured by performance maps to visually guide the customer in terms of purchase / operation / maintenance / refreshment decisions.
This framework augments the MDW design procedure to maximize operational efficiency and drivability for unique customer requirements. The customer-oriented duty cycle analysis based on an individual’s measured demand cycle is proposed to structure the MDW specification in terms of ten purchase criteria. Also, a comparison of two speed regimes in the MDW and Protean’s single speed in-wheel model is made and discussed in terms of efficiency. The analytical result shows that a remarkable efficiency improvement in terms of loss reduction of 1.9x for urban and 1.8x for highway duty cycles is feasible. In addition, another loss reduction of 1.2x is expected by using the reconfigurable power/electronic controllers.
The present study looked at the effect of the unsprung mass on acceleration, braking, and cornering maneuvers under various road conditions (i.e., dry asphalt, wet asphalt, snowy or icy road) which was evaluated and compared based on the implementation of a nonlinear 14 DOF full-vehicle model based on ride (7 DOF), handling (3 DOF), tire (4 DOF), slip ratio, slip angle, and the tire magic formula. Based on the 14 DOF full-vehicle model, visual performance maps are generated in terms of ten operational criteria to assist the customer to visualize the vehicle’s expected performance.Mechanical Engineerin