Model based control strategies for a class of nonlinear mechanical sub-systems

This paper presents a comparison between various control strategies for a class of mechanical actuators common in heavy-duty industry. Typical actuator components are hydraulic or pneumatic elements with static non-linearities, which are commonly referred to as Hammerstein systems. Such static non-linearities may vary in time as a function of the load and hence classical inverse-model based control strategies may deliver sub-optimal performance. This paper investigates the ability of advanced model based control strategies to satisfy a tolerance interval for position error values, overshoot and settling time specifications. Due to the presence of static non-linearity requiring changing direction of movement, control effort is also evaluated in terms of zero crossing frequency (up-down or left-right movement). Simulation and experimental data from a lab setup suggest that sliding mode control is able to improve global performance parameters

Development and Application of Co-simulation and "Control- oriented" Modeling in the Improvement of Performance and Energy Saving of Mobile Machinery☆

Abstract Due to rising energy costs and tighter emissions restrictions from law regulations, mobile machinery and off-road vehicles manufacturers are forced to develop and exploit new techniques for the reduction of fuel consumption and pollutant emission. The main focus in this direction is the optimization of the matching between the fluid power circuit and the thermal engine to improve the efficiency of the hydraulic system and reducing the fuel consumption. A specific research activity has been started in this field by the authors to define methods and techniques for the mathematical simulation of off-road vehicles, where usually hydraulic systems are powered by internal combustion engines. The models proposed in the paper and the related results clearly show how these simulation tools can be used to improve the energy efficiency of the overall system, leading to an interesting reduction in fuel consumption by merely changing the engine rotational speed instead of adopting a constant-speed strategy

EVA Glove Research Team

The goal of the basic research portion of the extravehicular activity (EVA) glove research program is to gain a greater understanding of the kinematics of the hand, the characteristics of the pressurized EVA glove, and the interaction of the two. Examination of the literature showed that there existed no acceptable, non-invasive method of obtaining accurate biomechanical data on the hand. For this reason a project was initiated to develop magnetic resonance imaging as a tool for biomechanical data acquisition and visualization. Literature reviews also revealed a lack of practical modeling methods for fabric structures, so a basic science research program was also initiated in this area

A finite element approach for the implementation of magnetostrictive material terfenol-D in automotive CNG fuel injection actuation

Magnetostriction is the deformation that spontaneously occurs in ferromagnetic materials when an external magnetic field is applied. In applications broadly defined for actuation, magnetostrictive material Terfenol-D possesses intrinsic rapid response times while providing small and accurate displacements and high-energy efficiency, which are some of the essential parameters required for fast control of fuel injector valves for decreased engine emissions and lower fuel consumption compared with the traditional solenoid fuel injection system. A prototype CNG fuel injector assembly was designed, which primarily included magnetostrictive material Terfenol-D as the actuator material, 1020 Steel having soft magnetic properties as the injector housing material, AWG copper wire as the coil material and 316 Stainless Steel having non-magnetic properties as the plunger material. A 2D cross-sectional geometry including the injector housing, coil, Terfenol-D shaft, and plunger, was modeled in both Finite Element Method Magnetics (FEMM) and ANSYS for 2D axisymmetric magnetic simulation. The magnetic simulations were performed in order to determine the coil-circuit parameters and the magnetic field strength to achieve the required magnetostrictive strain, and consequently, the injector needle lift. The FEMM magnetic simulations were carried out with four different types of AWG coil wires and four different injector coil thicknesses in order to evaluate the relationship between the different coil types and thicknesses against the achieved strain or injector lift. Eventually, the optimized parameter obtained from FEMM results analysis was verified against ANSYS electromagnetic simulation. Subsequently, a three dimensional replica of the CNG flow conduit was modelled in GAMBIT with the resultant injector lift. The meshed conduit was then simulated in FLUENT using the 3D time independent segregated solver with standard k-ε, realizable k-ε and RSM turbulent models to predict the mass flow rate of CNG to be injected. Eventually, the simulated flow rates were verified against mathematically derived static flow rate required for a standard automotive fuel injector considering standard horsepower, BSFC and injector duty cycle

Intelligent Based Terrain Preview Controller for a 3-axle Vehicle

Presented at 13th International Symposium on Advanced Vehicle Control, AVEC'16; Munich 13-16/09/2016The paper presents a six-wheel half longitudinal model and the design of a dual level control architecture. The first (top) level is designed using a Sugeno fuzzy inference feedforward architecture with and without preview. The second level of controllers are locally managing each wheel for each axle. As the vehicle is moving forward the front wheels and suspension units will have less time to respond when compared to the middle and rear units, hence a preview sensor is used to compensate. The paper shows that the local active suspensions together with the Sugeno Fuzzy, (locally optimised using subtractive clustering), Feedforward control strategy is more effective and this architecture has resulted in reducing the sprung mass vertical acceleration and pitch accelerations

Coupling excavator hydraulic system and internal combustion engine models for the real-time simulation

Rising energy costs and emissions restrictions force manufacturers to exploit new techniques to reduce fuel consumption and pollutant production. Many solutions have been proposed for off-road vehicles, mainly based on reduction of hydraulic losses, better control strategies and introduction of hybrid architectures. In these applications the optimization of the matching between hydraulic system and thermal engine is a major concern to improve system overall efficiency. The work presented in the paper is focused on the development of a method for the simulation of typical mobile machinery where hydraulic systems are powered by internal combustion engines; the proposed co-simulation approach can be useful in the development cycle of this machinery

Circle grid fractal plate as a turbulent generator for premixed flame: an overview

This review paper focuses to ascertain a new approach in turbulence generation on the structure of premixed flames and external combustion using a fractal grid pattern. This review paper discusses the relationship between fractal pattern and turbulence flow. Many researchers have explored the fractal pattern as a new concept of turbulence generators, but researchers rarely study fractal turbulence generators on the structure premixed flame. The turbulent flow field characteristics have been studied tand investigated in a premixed combustion application. In terms of turbulence intensity, most researchers used fractal grid that can be tailored so that they can design the characteristic needed in premixed flame. This approach makes it extremely difficult to determine the exact turbulent burning velocity on the velocity fluctuation of the flow. The decision to carry out additional research on the effect circle grid fractal plate as a turbulent generator for premixed flame should depends on the blockage ratio and fractal pattern of the grid. 1

Automotive Powertrain Control — A Survey

This paper surveys recent and historical publications on automotive powertrain control. Control-oriented models of gasoline and diesel engines and their aftertreatment systems are reviewed, and challenging control problems for conventional engines, hybrid vehicles and fuel cell powertrains are discussed. Fundamentals are revisited and advancements are highlighted. A comprehensive list of references is provided.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72023/1/j.1934-6093.2006.tb00275.x.pd

Explicit-Ready Nonlinear Model Predictive Control for Turbocharged Spark-Ignited Engine

International audienceThe trend to reduce the engine size in automotive industry is motivated by more restrictive pollutant emissions standards. That is why engine technical definitions have become more and more complicated. The control challenge has also grown since engines are now considered as highly nonlinear multi-input multi-output systems with saturated actuators. In this context, the need for model-based control laws is bigger than ever. In this study we propose a nonlinear model predictive control strategy based on a physical engine model. Moreover, we also underline the benefit of using a thermodynamic engine term in the objective function. Finally, the design and calibration choices consciously fulfill the criterions of the use of an explicit approach for the real time implementation