Configurable Powertrain Controller for Multi-Architecture Hybrid Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of controlling hybrid powertrains with multiple power sources and unique architectures poses challenges in designing and evaluating controllers, as existing solutions are often biased towards specific control methods and struggle to adapt to various configurations.
Innovation Solution
A universal powertrain controller with a configurable model and optimiser module that uses a generic powertrain component library and connection parameter module to model and optimize effort or flow requests across different powertrain architectures, allowing for real-time control of complex powertrains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal configurable powertrain model is implemented, then adaptability to different powertrain architectures is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal powertrain model that can represent multiple powertrain architectures (series hybrid, parallel hybrid, conventional, etc.) using a single configurable framework. The model uses generic component types (power sources, power sinks, couplings, inertance elements, compliance elements) that can be configured through input files to represent specific powertrain configurations, eliminating the need for separate controllers for each architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter-based configuration where the powertrain model structure and behavior are defined through input files containing parameters such as component connections, component types, and system architecture specifications. By changing these parameters in the input file, the same controller can adapt to different powertrain configurations without structural modifications.
2Measurement precision
If existing specialized controllers are used for specific powertrain architectures, then control precision for that architecture is improved, but adaptability to other architectures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed as a universal system that maintains control precision across multiple powertrain architectures by using a unified configurable model. The same control algorithms and optimization modules work effectively for series hybrid, parallel hybrid, and conventional powertrains by simply reconfiguring the model parameters through input files.
Solution Approach 2:
The powertrain model is implemented as a dynamic, reconfigurable structure where component connections and system architecture can be changed at runtime through input file parameters. This allows the controller to adapt its internal model to match the actual powertrain configuration being controlled, maintaining accuracy across different architectures.
3Reliability
If multiple specialized controllers are developed for different powertrain types, then control performance for each type is improved, but development time and validation overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple specialized controllers into a single universal controller that handles series hybrid, parallel hybrid, and conventional powertrains. By combining these into one configurable system, the development effort and validation processes are consolidated, reducing overall development time while maintaining control performance through the unified model framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal controller provides a single codebase that can control multiple powertrain types, eliminating the need to develop, test, and validate separate controllers for each architecture. The configurable model allows the same controller software to be validated once and then applied to various powertrain configurations by simply changing input parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a universal powertrain for controlling an effort request and/or a flow request to a powertrain based on a demanded effort or demanded flow for the powertrain. The universal controller includes a configurable powertrain model and a configurable optimiser module. The universal controller is configurable to control a class of generic powertrains comprising J generic power sources, K generic power sinks, and L generic couplings. The universal controller is arranged to receive an input file of a plurality of input parameters to configure the universal controller to control a specific powertrain having a powertrain architecture with N power sources, M power sinks, and X couplings, the configurable powertrain model comprising: (a) a generic powertrain component library configured to provide a model of each of the N power sources, M power sinks and X couplings of the specific powertrain, and (b) a connection parameter module configured to define a model architecture of the N power source models, M power sink models and X coupling models which is representative of the powertrain architecture based on flow weight parameters and effort weight parameters of the input file, the configurable optimiser module comprising: a generic performance objective function library comprising a plurality of configurable performance objective functions from which a cost function is configurable based on input parameters of the input file, wherein the configurable optimiser module is configurable to calculate at least one of an optimised effort request or an optimised flow request for each of the N power sources of the specific powertrain based on: the cost function, the powertrain model of the specific powertrain, the demanded effort request of demanded flow request.