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The University of Texas Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) has completed the successful design, integration and testing of a hybrid electric power and propulsion system incorporating a flywheel energy storage device. During testing, the improved drive train was shown to double acceleration rates while simultaneously reducing prime power usage in excess of 25% when compared to the same vehicle without the flywheel energy storage system. While the system was designed for and demonstrated on a transit bus, the technology described herein is applicable to a wide variety of applications, including additional mobile and marine power and propulsion systems. This paper (1) describes the drive train design with an overview of the critical components and (2) presents results from system-level testing of the transit bus with the integrated drive train.

The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics has developed an active suspension system that recovers, stores, and manages energy while actively controlling vehicle suspension activity. Tests described in this paper quantify increases in rolling resistance from flat to rough terrain, and demonstrate that active suspension systems can limit this increase to 50% of that experienced by passive suspension systems.

The University of Texas at Austin Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) has been developing advanced suspension technology for high-speed off-road applications since 1993. During the course of the program, advanced simulation techniques, verified by hardware demonstrations, were developed and refined. Based on this experience, UT-CEM conducted a detailed simulation-based comparison of passive, semi-active, and full-active suspension systems for an 18,000 kg (20 ton) 8 x 8 vehicle. Performance metrics are proposed to compare crew comfort, crew effectiveness, on-board equipment effectiveness, and power/energy consumption. This paper presents the methodology and rationale for metrics used in the study, simulation results, and data from this trade study. Results indicate significant advantages offered by well-designed active systems compared to both passive and semi-active, in all metrics.

The University of Texas Center for Electromechanics (UT-CEM) has been developing active suspension technology for off-road vehicles since 1993. The UT-CEM approach employs fully controlled electromechanical actuators to control vehicle dynamics and passive springs to efficiently support vehicle static weight. The project described in this paper is one of a succession of projects toward the development of effective active suspension systems, primarily for heavy off-road vehicles. Earlier projects targeted the development of suitable electromechanical actuators. Others contributed to effective control electronics and associated software. Another project integrated a complete system including actuators, power electronics and control system onto a HMMWV and was demonstrated at Yuma Proving Grounds in Arizona.