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 Powertrain Controls
Section
The Powertrain Controls Section has excelled in the areas of
powertrain and vehicle controls and has supported the automotive industry in a broad range
of efforts. These include full authority control of spark and compression ignition engines
using both conventional and alternative fuels, transmission control, hybrid vehicle
simulation and control, embedded control of smart subsystems, and signal processing and
numerical analysis techniques useful in the development of robust optimized control
algorithms. Engines and vehicles studied range in power from 5 to 5,000 horsepower, from
lawnmowers and motorcycles through locomotives. The section has developed dedicated
embedded 8-, 16-, and 32-bit microprocessor based controllers for specialized applications
such as fuel valves, high voltage injector drivers, power amplifiers, and servo motor
control and airborne vehicle engine monitoring. SwRI's powertrain control systems
expertise has also been put to work in the area of high volume production powertrain
electronic control unit (ECU) design, development, and testing.
A powerful and cost effective PC-based tool for use in rapid
prototyping environments called RPECS (Rapid Prototyping Electronic Control System) has
been developed and can be used for applications ranging from single-cylinder engine
control through integrated hybrid vehicle control. RPECS has been successfully applied to
many applications, including achieving ULEV (Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle) emissions
standards for spark-ignition gasoline-fueled vehicles, full authority control of all
aspects of spark-ignition and combustion-ignition engines, and control of electric and
hydraulic hybrid vehicles. When applied in the hybrid vehicle environment, RPECS is
powerful enough to provide not only supervisory vehicle control, but also detailed control
of vehicle subsystems such as the auxiliary power unit (APU), transmission (for parallel
systems), or power storage and conversion devices. RPECS also supports high level
algorithm development (C language), convenient and user-friendly calibration and data
acquisition capabilities, as well as remote networking for both test cell and
vehicle-based applications.
Jayant Sarlashkar,
Acting Manager
Technical strengths in the section include:
- Control algorithm development for engine, transmission, and
vehicle systems
- Software development for a variety of embedded CPUs, both
assembly and C
- Hardware development, both experimental and production intent
- System design, integration, and test
- Controller calibration and automated mapping
- Algorithm and calibration optimization for improved performance,
emissions, and driveability
- Modeling for both real-time embedded models and laboratory
simulations
- Hardware in the loop simulation capabilities
- Signal processing and data analysis
- Rapid prototyping of powertrain and vehicle control systems
- OBD-II diagnostics
- Multiplexing and controller communications
- Hybrid vehicle control
- Benchmarking and reverse engineering of existing powertrain
systems
Engine and Vehicle R&D
Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division
SwRI Technical Divisions
 SwRI Home
August 22, 2008
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