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In contrast to highway, there are some sections not well maintained in urban roads. In these sections, there may be faint lane marks or static obstacles due to construction or some other reasons. Therefore, an automated vehicle following system such as traffic jam assistant should consider these sections to guarantee the safety of the system. In order to achieve this purpose, a model predictive control (MPC) scheme has been developed. The objectives of MPC are to compute the sequence of optimal steering input for vehicle following with obstacle avoidance. For this, the MPC uses the lead vehicle's state and obstacle's position obtained by lidars. For this purpose, a simplified nonlinear model of the vehicle was used to predict the future evolution of the system. Based on this prediction, performance index is optimized under operating constraints at each time step. A test vehicle equipped with two lidars on left and right corner of the front bumper has been developed.

In cold start driving cycles, high viscosity of the lubrication oil (engine oil) increases the mechanical friction losses compared with warmed up condition. Thus, an engine oil warm up system can provide the opportunity to reduce the mechanical friction losses during cold start. In this study, an engine oil heater using EGR is used for the fast warm up of the engine oil. This paper presents the effect of the engine oil heater on the fuel economy and emissions over a driving cycle (NEDC). A numerical model is developed to simulate the thermal response of the powertrain using multi-domain 1-D commercial powertrain simulation software (GT-Suite) and it is calibrated using test data from a full size sedan equipped with a 2.0L diesel engine. The model consists of an engine model, coolant circuit model, oil circuit model, engine cooling model, friction model, and ECU model.

Two-mode hybrid architectures with three planetary gear sets and four clutches will bring both flexibility and complexity to energy management of powertrains. In order to take full advantage of the increased degrees of freedom, highly delicate operation strategies are needed. We develop transmission efficiency models for power-split modes, and present a mode shift strategy assuming no battery power. When battery load leveling is additionally considered, the respective optimal operation set for each mode can be obtained and compared to yield a mode shift algorithm for general hybrid operation situations. The investigation of the strategies shows how frequently each mode is used, and verifies the effectiveness of fixed gear operations. We check the validity of the strategies by applying the algorithm to dynamic optimization and by predicting how it works during an actual driving simulation.

This paper describes a driving control algorithm based on skid steering for a Robotic Vehicle with Articulated Suspension (RVAS). The driving control algorithm consists of four parts; speed controller for tracking of the desired speeds, yaw rate controller which computes a yaw moment input to track desired yaw rates, longitudinal tire force distribution which determines an optimal desired longitudinal tire force and wheel torque controller which determines a wheel torque command at each wheel to keep slip ratio at each wheel below a limit value as well as track the desired tire force. Longitudinal and vertical tire force estimators are designed for optimal tire force distribution and wheel slip control. The dynamic model of RVAS for simulation study is validated using vehicle test data.

Periodically, engine block-bearing cap structure is subject to the mixed bearing load from combustion and inertia mass of crank. Recently, due to the trend of lightness, cast steel is replaced with aluminum in the material of gasoline engine block. And, the load acting on the main bearing cap is rapidly rising due to the increase of engine power. Therefore, in the development stage, fretting fatigue failures frequently occurred on the block face contacted with the bearing cap. Fretting is a kind of wear which is occurred by micro relative movement. Even though various researches have been made to investigate fretting fatigue failure with FEA approaches, they are not enough to evaluate the phenomenon. In this study, the new CAE method simulating the fretting fatigue failure on the engine block face is developed and the mechanism of the fretting fatigue on the engine block is investigated.

Modeling of unburned hydrocarbon oxidation in an SI engine was performed in engine condition using modified one-step oxidation model. The new one-step equation was developed by modifying the Arrhenius reaction rate coefficients of the conventional one-step model. The modified model was well matched with the results of detailed chemical reaction mechanism in terms of 90 % oxidation time of the fuel. In this modification, the effect of pressure and intermediate species in the burnt gas on the oxidation rate investigated and included in developed one-step model. The effect of pressure was also investigated and included as an additional multiplying factor in the reaction equation. To simulate the oxidation process of piston crevice hydrocarbons, a computational mesh was constructed with fine mesh density at the piston crevice region and the number of cell layers in cylinder was controlled according to the motion of piston.

Fatigue life of a V-belt pulley, which is commonly used in automotive powertrain to transfer power to other parts, is predicted based on damage analysis by finite element analysis (FEA). Load conditions on pulley are analyzed by considering interactions among the pulley, V belt, bracket and bolts. Both normal force and traction force on the contact surfaces between the pulley and V belt were calculated. Assembly load due to the tightening of the bolts as well as operation load was considered to describe the actual load conditions in durability test. Static analysis at initial position of the pulley after assembly was performed with given load conditions. As the pulley rotated every ten degrees, consecutive static analyses were followed to find out the stress history of the pulley during operation. Using stress history data calculated from FE analysis, damage over one rotation of pulley was calculated and fatigue life, number of rotation to failure, was estimated.

In regard to the evaluation of the performance of a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), there are as many simulation methods as there are developers or researchers. They adopt different operational algorithms and they use diverse techniques to realize their logic. However, the relation among the various simulation methods has not been clearly defined. Thus, it is not easy to choose a method that would bring the best consequences in the most efficient way. Here, we present three types of backward-looking simulation algorithms for evaluating the fuel efficiency of a power-split HEV. Then the results and cost-effectiveness of each algorithm are analyzed using various component ratings over a representative driving mode. Based on the comparative analysis, the algorithm that uses equivalent fuel consumption is shown to be highly cost-effective. Also, an inductive or empirical base is set up with the results for a component sizing methodology using the recommended simulation.

As the number of user selectable electrical modules increases for passenger car, the number of cars with different combinations of option can easily exceed 100,000 cars. It results to a situation where we can not manually verify all the logical connection by making wiring combinations for each car. In this paper, we propose an algorithm that can reduce verification time for all possible wiring with available option combinations. The algorithm separates the whole wiring circuits into independent circuits and verifies the logical connections for each independent circuit with all possible options. The algorithm is time effective so the required time to verify the connections increases logarithmically as the number of possible car increases. The algorithm was implemented as software verification tool and its effectiveness was proved to be feasible.

Due to increasing amount of modules and customized options in commercial vehicles, it becomes more and more difficult to verify the circuit design. In this paper, a wire segment error locating algorithm is proposed to automate the exact wire segment error locating process. When a wrong connection is found by existing tool, guided by the exact description of wire segment error, this algorithm can locate exact wire segment error in the connection by searching for the one that has at least one neighboring segment from a correct connection.

Exterior shape of automobile can be represented by shape function through this study so that aerodynamic shape parameters can be easily controlled and changed. Also ordinary geometric information can be extracted easily from shape function model by simple calculations. It is possible to predict the aerodynamic performance of functional virtual car models which are transformed continually by developing automated program in initial design stage that includes all of above process. Innovative vehicle design process with exterior design guide will be proposed for stylist, engineer and packaging department in order to achieve low aerodynamic drag and high fuel efficiency targets.

In the forming of TB (Tailored Blank) side outer panel, splits frequently occur in the stretch flange areas. Most splits in these areas are categorized as two different types - one at the end of weldline in blank corner due to the local concentration of deformation on thinner or weaker material resulting from different material gauges or strengths and the other at the die corner due to the lack of draw-in of blank during stamping. Therefore, the proper design of blank shape, weldline placement and drawbead in the stretch flange area is crucial for the successful forming of TB side outer panel. In this paper, the design practice of TB stretch flange forming was investigated. The effects of the selected design parameters such a blank corner radius, weldline position and drawbead restraint forces were examined separately and the optimal TB stretch flange design was examined with respect to the several design parameters.

An anatomically detailed elderly human body model is under development. Using the anthropometric database of domestic nation-wide size survey, SizeKorea, a standard size and shape of 50th %tile elderly was constructed. Through the local recruitment process, a male volunteer with 71 years of age, 163cm of height and 63kg of weight has been selected. The exterior (skin) geometries were acquired from whole body 3D laser scan. And the geometries of interior (skeleton and organ) were reconstructed using CT scanning in a supine posture, and then adjusted in an occupant posture based on X-ray, and Ultrasonic data. A particular attention has been paid into the combining process of exterior and interior geometries especially for joint articulation positions since they were measured at different postures (sitting vs. supine).

This paper presents a closed-loop evaluation of the Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) systems using a vehicle simulator. Human driver-VSC interactions have been investigated under realistic operating conditions in the laboratory. Braking control inputs for vehicle stability enhancement have been directly derived from the sliding control law based on vehicle planar motion equations with differential braking. A driving simulator which consists of a three-dimensional vehicle dynamic model, interface between human driver and vehicle simulator, three-dimensional animation program and a visual display has been validated using actual vehicle driving test data. Real-time human-in-the loop simulation results in realistic driving situations have shown that the proposed controller reduces driving effort and enhances vehicle stability.

A radar sensor is an essential part for forward collision warning and avoidance. The radar sensor gives information of relative distance and speed. However, some lane change situations need additional sensors for reliable estimation of relative motion. So, the authors introduce a vision system that can detect interruption by lane changing and give approximate relative distance. Vision data are used to verify radar data, and vision/radar data are used for more accurate estimation of relative motion. The authors perform a vehicle test for the verification of this algorithm.

Dynamic properties of flexible polyurethane foam materials for car seats are highly complicated. In this paper, characterizations of dynamic stiffness of several foam specimens based on static stiffness obtained from IFD(Indentation Force Deflection) curve measurements are presented. It is observed that dynamic stiffness and its drift with static loading duration in logarithmic scale are proportional to the static stiffness at a given static loading regardless of types and dimensions of the foam. A three degree-of-freedom model of seated human body based on apparent mass measurements together with the characteristics of foam materials were incorporated for transmissibility prediction of the passenger-seat system.

The residual gas in SI engines is one of important factors on emission and performance such as combustion stability. With high residual gas fractions, flame speed and maximum combustion temperature are decreased and there are deeply related with combustion stability, especially at Idle and NOx emission at relatively high engine load. Therefore, there is a need to characterize the residual gas fraction as a function of the engine operating parameters. A model for predicting the residual gas fraction has been formulated in this paper. The model accounts for the contribution due to the back flow of exhaust gas to the cylinder during valve overlap and it includes in-cylinder pressure prediction model during valve overlap. The model is derived from the one dimension flow process during overlap period and a simple ideal cycle model.

Ground systems in automobiles become more important as more electric devices are installed and the amount of currents flowing increases. The performance of the devices depends on the ground voltage, which is generated between ground points by I-R voltage drops. Therefore, low ground voltages are required for the reduction of the unnecessary power dissipation as well as the reliable performance of the devices. In this paper, we propose an automotive ground system model to analyze ground structure and reveal the main cause of ground voltages. The equivalent resistor network model is presented to describe the relationship between ground points. Then, we validate the model by comparing the simulation results with the measurements in a real car. The presented analysis can provide guidance on designing a reliable ground system such as how to reduce the ground voltages for the proper operation of devices.

The technical feasibility of applying anaerobic digestion for reduction and stabilization of the organic fraction of solid wastes generated during space missions was investigated. This process has the advantages of not requiring oxygen or high temperature and pressure while producing methane, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and compost as valuable products. High-solids leachbed anaerobic digestion employed here involves a solid-phase fermentation with leachate recycle between new and old reactors for inoculation, wetting, and removal of volatile organic acids during startup. After anaerobic conversion is complete, the compost bed may be used for biofiltration and plant growth medium. The nutrient-rich leachate may also be used as a vehicle for nutrient recycle. Physical properties of representative waste feedstocks were determined to evaluate their space requirements and hydraulic leachability in the selected digester design.

The importance of defining requirements correctly in the development process of software is well known in software industry. Since RAM(Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability) is a significant effectiveness element for the operation of automotive engine, it requires a thorough analysis during the design and testing of an engine. In this study, user requirements for the calculation of RAM and RG(Reliability Growth) were identified and documented by using a Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tool, RDD-100. The tool supports the traceability of each function to the corresponding requirement. Requirements were organized into behavior items such as RAM calculations, display, and data query and into non-behavior items such as input, output, and environment conditions. Additional requirements were derived if new functions are needed in the software even if the originating requirements did not exist in the early stage of the software development.