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The University of Idaho has sponsored entries in the Collegiate Design Series (CDS) Clean Snowmobile Competition since 2001. During this period, a topic of ongoing concern among its student leaders is project and knowledge management. The need for holistic implementation of specific methods/tools is underscored by survey feedback from current CDS teams and University of Idaho alumni, many now employed in the automotive/motorsports industry. This paper details local implementation of nine developmentally appropriate practices for CDS teams composed of students at multiple levels in their academic study (underclassmen, seniors, and graduate students).

There is insufficient time within a single technical elective to learn principles of internal combustion engine operation as well as specialized simulation tools such as GT Suite or Kiva. A number of authors have recognized this constraint, and they have structured their internal combustion engine text around use of programming languages such as FORTRAN, C++, and MATLAB®. This paper reports on how the capabilities of MATLAB® have been synergized with learning activities and homework assignments to set the stage for a successful final engine simulation project. The MATLAB® code involved in this effort can accept basic input parameters such as bore, stroke, compression ratio, spark advance, throttle position, RPM, air/fuel equivalence ratio, and volumetric efficiency. The code returns output power and torque using the Wiebe function and bulk temperature. The model uses a two-zone heat release model to predict power, torque, brake specific fuel consumption, and volumetric emissions.

Fuel economy and energy consumption in hybrid electric powertrain vehicles are highly dependent on managing power flow requirements. This opportunity has been minimally addressed in previous vehicles entered in the Formula Hybrid SAE competition. This paper outlines a method for determining an optimal rule-based energy management strategy for a post-transmission parallel hybrid electric vehicle developed at the University of Idaho. A supervisory controller determines the proper power split ratio between the available power sources (electrical and thermal). A GT-Suite model was used to simulate powertrain performance based on inputs of a numerically predicted engine performance map, an electric motor characteristic curve, vehicle data, road load parameters derived from a roll-down test, and vehicle driving cycle.