Parallel hybrid karting vehicle modelling and control

Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) utilize energy both from internal combustion engine and an electric drive system. For an efficient energy management between two different power sources, an effective control strategy is needed. A governing algorithm is required which is developed and verified by using a lab scale plant model that is verified by sample plant simulations. An effective energy management can minimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions. The algorithm that is developed in this study consists of a finite state machine and a charge depleting control, which are mainly based on some rules and an optimal control strategy. The work involves integration of a secondary power source on an existing karting vehicle. The goal is to efficiently capture the released energy during the braking period and utilize this energy to supplement power need during acceleration. A full model of the system has been constructed using the commercially available code MATLAB/Simulink. In addition, an experimental test system has been constructed to validate modeling and simulation work. Two different power storage alternatives have been simulated and tested to determine most efficient and economically advantageous configuration. Lead acid batteries provided low cost and robustness at the expense of extra weight. Ultracapacitor storage elements have been also studied to determine level of system efficiency gains due to light weight and rapid charge/discharge characteristics at the expense of extra cost. Furthermore, their performances on different control algorithms are compared and discussed

Piezoelectric wind power harnessing – an overview

As fossil energy resources deplete, wind energy gains ever more importance. Recently, piezoelectric energy harvesting methods are emerging with the advancements in piezoelectric materials and its storage elements. Piezoelectric materials can be utilized to convert kinetic energy to electrical energy. Utilization of piezoelectric wind harvesting is a rather new means to convert renewable wind energy to electricity. Piezoelectric generators are typically low cost and easy to maintain. This work illustrates an overview of piezoelectric wind harvesting technology. In wind harvesting, piezoelectric material choice is of the first order of importance. Due to their strain rate, robustness is a concern. For optimum energy harvesting efficiency resonant frequency of the selected materials and overall system configuration plays important role. In this work, existing piezoelectric wind generators are grouped and presented in following categories: leaf type, rotary type, rotary to linear type and beam type wind generators

Motion control and vibration suppression of flexible lumped systems via sensorless LQR control

This work attempts to achieve motion control along with vibration suppression of flexible systems by developing a sensorless closed loop LQR controller. Vibration suppression is used as a performance index that has to be minimized so that motion control is achieved with zero residual vibration. An estimation algorithm is combined with the regular LQR to develop sensorless motion and vibration controller that is capable of positioning multi degrees of freedom flexible system point of interest to a pre-specified target position with zero residual vibration. The validity of the proposed controller is verified experimentally by controlling a sensorless dynamical system with finite degrees of freedom through measurements taken from its actuator

Optimal motion control and vibration suppression of flexible systems with inaccessible outputs

This work addresses the optimal control problem of dynamical systems with inaccessible outputs. A case in which dynamical system outputs cannot be measured or inaccessible. This contradicts with the nature of the optimal controllers which can be considered without any loss of generality as state feedback control laws for systems with linear dynamics. Therefore, this work attempts to estimate dynamical system states through a novel state observer that does not require injecting the dynamical system outputs onto the observer structure during its design. A linear quadratic optimal control law is then realized based on the estimated states which allows controlling motion along with active vibration suppression of this class of dynamical systems with inaccessible outputs. Validity of the proposed control framework is evaluated experimentally

The Effect of Sugammadex on Time of Sciatic Block by Perineural Bupivacaine in Rats

Objectives We aimed to investigate the effect of sugammadex on the motor, sensory and deep sensory block in the sciatic nerve created by bupivacaine in rats. Materials and Methods 18 Sprague-Dawley adult male rats treated with unilateral sciatic nerve block by bupivacaine (0.2 ml) were randomly divided into three groups. Control group (Group C, n = 6, 1.5 mL saline) perineural sugammadex group (Group PNS, n = 6, 16 mg/kg) and intraperitoneal sugammadex group (Group IPS, n = 6, 16 mg/kg) Motor, sensory, and deep sensory functions were evaluated every 10 minutes by a blind researcher. 6 tissue samples each belonging to the sciatic nerve, 1.5 cm in length and 0.2 cm in diameter, were taken from paraffin blocks. Sections of 3-4 micrometers were stained with Hematoxylin + Eosin, Masson Trichrome dyes and examined under a light microscope. Results There was no statistically significant difference between 3 groups in terms of the time to return to normal motor, sensory and deep sensory function. There was also no significant difference in edema, extracellular matrix, and myelin. Inflammatory cells were seen in all groups, mainly epineurium, epineurium, and perineurium. Conclusion There are findings of no histological effects or effects on local block of sugammadex in rats undergoing sciatic nerve block