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This paper describes a reference steering feel tracking algorithm for Electric-Power-Steering (EPS) system. Development of the EPS system with intended steering feel has been time-consuming procedure, because the feedforward map-based method has been applied to the conventional EPS system. However, in this study, a three-dimensional reference steering feel surface, which is determined from current vehicle states, is proposed. In order to track the proposed reference steering feel surface, sliding mode approach is applied to second-order steering dynamics model considering a coulomb friction model. An adaptive technique is utilized for robustness against uncertainties. In order to validate the proposed EPS control algorithm, hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) has been conducted with respect to a typical steering test. It is shown that the reference steering feel is realized well by the proposed EPS control algorithm.

Improving fuel efficiency and emission characteristics are significant issues in engine research. Because the engine has complex systems and various operating parameters, the experimental research is limited by cost and time. One-dimensional (1D) simulation has attracted the attention of researchers because of its effectiveness and relatively high accuracy. In a 1D simulation, the applied model must be accurate for the reliability of the simulation results. Because in-cylinder turbulence mainly determines the combustion characteristics, and mean flow velocity affects the in-cylinder heat transfer and efficiency in a spark-ignited (SI) engine, a number of sophisticated models have been developed to predict in-cylinder turbulence and mean flow velocity. In particular, tumble is a significant factor of in-cylinder turbulence in SI engine.

This paper aims to establish a systematic process of developing a brand driving sound. Firstly, principal factors of a brand sound identity are extracted from factor analysis of many sample cars. As a result, brand sound positioning map is drawn using jury test data. Also, the multiple regression analysis of subjective and objective test results is carried. As a result, the principal factors are expressed by objective test data and brand sound positioning map can be easily updated from the measurement data. In addition, what should be improved for designing a target sound is reviewed. Secondly, various technologies of target sound design are discussed to involve the brand identity and vehicle’s character in driving sound. Also, an efficient tool to implement the target sound with an active sound design (ASD) system in a vehicle is introduced. This tool enables to efficiently design, tune and simulate a target sound for ASD system in a laboratory.

This paper proposes a new screening attenuation evaluation method (PHSA) for hybrid power cables. Hybrid power cables connect battery, inverter and motor. As the noise and shield characteristics of these cables are different from general communication shield wires, new method for evaluating screening attenuation is needed. We considered the radiation direction, noise current path and various load terminations to evaluate the screening attenuation which is different from standard screening attenuation measurement. Feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method were verified with real experiment results.

The goal of this study is to develop an actively translating rear diffuser device to reduce the aerodynamic drag experienced by passenger cars. The feature of this device is hidden under the rear bumper ordinarily not to ruin the external design of the car and slips out backward under the high-speed driving condition. By this study, a movable arc-shaped semi-diffuser device is designed to maintain the streamlined automobile rear underbody configuration. It's installed under the rear bumper of a passenger car. Seven types of rear diffuser devices whose positions, slid out lengths and widths are differing with the basic shape installed in the rear bumper section of a passenger car and performed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses under rotating wheel and moving ground conditions. The main purpose of this study is that explains the aerodynamic drag reduction mechanism of a passenger car via an actively translating rear diffuser device at a high speed driving condition.

The role of 1D simulation tool is growing as the engine system is becoming more complex with the adoption of a variety of new technologies. For the reliability of the 1D simulation results, it is necessary to improve the accuracy and applicability of the combustion model implemented in the 1D simulation tool. Since the combustion process in SI engine is mainly determined by the turbulence, many models have been concentrating on the prediction of the evolution of in-cylinder turbulence intensity. In this study, two turbulence models which can resemble the turbulence intensity close to that of 3D CFD tool were utilized. The first model is dedicated to predicting the evolution of turbulence intensity during intake and compression strokes so that the turbulence intensity at the spark timing can be estimated properly. The second model is responsible for predicting the turbulence intensity of burned and unburned zone during the combustion process.

This paper presents a longitudinal control algorithm for an adaptive cruise control (ACC) with collision avoidance (CA) in multiple vehicle traffic situations. The proposed algorithm consists of a multi-target tracking filter, a primary target selection algorithm and an integrated ACC/CA system. The multi-target tracking filter is used to smooth the sensor signal, and makes it possible to apply to a control system. The primary target selection algorithm decides an in-lane target and provides the information to an integrated ACC/CA system in order to drive a subject vehicle smoothly and improve safety in complex traffic situations. Finally, the integrated ACC/CA system computes the desired acceleration. The performance and safety benefits of the multi-vehicle ACC/CA system is investigated via simulations using real data on driving. Simulation results show that the response of multi-vehicle ACC/CA system is more smooth and safer at a change of traffic situations.

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.

The combustion process using two fuels with different reactivity, known as dual-fuel combustion or RCCI is mainly studied to reduce emissions while maintaining thermal efficiency compared to the conventional diesel combustion. Many studies have proven that dual-fuel combustion has a positive prospect in future combustion to achieve ultra-low engine-out emissions with high indicated thermal efficiency. However, a limitation on high-load expansion due to the higher maximum in-cylinder pressure rise rate (mPRR) is a main problem. Thus, it is important to establish the operating strategy and study the effect of in-cylinder flow motion with dual-fuel combustion to achieve a low mPRR and emissions while maintaining high-efficiency. In this research, the characteristics of gasoline-diesel dual-fuel combustion on different hardware were studied to verify the effect of the in-cylinder flow motion on dual-fuel combustion.

In this study, fundamental questions in improving thermal efficiency of spark-ignition engine were revisited, regarding two principal factors, that is, stroke-to-bore (S/B) ratio and valve timings. In our experiment, late intake valve closing (LIVC) camshaft and variable valve timing (VVT) module for valve timing control were equipped in the single-cylinder, direct-injection spark-ignition (DISI) engine with three different S/B ratios (1.00, 1.20, and 1.47). In these three setups, displacement volume and compression ratio (CR) were fixed. In addition, the tumble ratio for cylinder head was also kept the same to minimize the flow effect on the flame propagation caused by cylinder head while focusing on the sole effect of changing the S/B ratio.

Increasing compression ratio is essential for developing future high-efficiency engines due to the intrinsic characteristics of spark-ignited engines. However, it also causes the unfavorable, abnormal knocking phenomena which is the auto-ignition in the unburned end-gas region. To cope with regulations, many researchers have been experimenting with various methods to suppress knock occurrence. In this paper, it is shown that cooling the combustion chamber using coolants, which is one of the most practical methods, has a strong effect on knock mitigation. Furthermore, the relationship between thermal boundary and coolant temperatures is shown. In the beginning of this paper, knock metrics using an in-cylinder pressure sensor are explained for readers, even though entire research studies cannot be listed due to the innumerableness. The coolant passages for the cylinder head and the liner were separated to examine independent cooling strategies.

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.

CAI engine is well known to be advantageous over conventional SI engines because it facilitates higher engine efficiency and lower emission (NOx and smoke). However, its limited operation range, large cyclic variation, and difficulty in heat release control are still unresolved obstacles. Previous studies showed that a high load range of the CAI engine is limited mainly by the combustion noise caused by a stiff pressure rise (knock), and that a low load range is also limited by the combustion instability caused by the high dilution of residual gas. In this study, the characteristics of each cycle were analyzed to find the cause of the cycle variation at the high load limit of CAI operation. Moreover, to improve combustion stability, we tested the in-cylinder fuel stratification by applying nonsymmetrical fuel injection to the intake port. Experiments were performed on a PFI single cylinder research engine equipped with dual CVVT and low lift (2 mm) cam shaft with NVO strategy.

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.

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.

Discomfort models play a significant role in ergonomic simulation. More detailed and specific discomfort models are required for older drivers who represent the fastest-growing segment of the driving population. Owing to the physical degradation, various biomechanical discomfort factors should be incorporated into the model to properly evaluate discomfort for the older population group. In this experimental study we attempted to identify and quantify biomechanical factors that affect the older drivers' discomfort ratings. Different egress motion strategies (e.g., with and without using assist devices) were designed to induce various physical activities. The corresponding discomfort ratings were then produced. From the kinematic analysis using a digital human body model with reconstructed egress motion, the hip abduction was found to have the most statistically significant effect on the discomfort rating.

Characteristics of syngas combustion at various reforming ratios were studied numerically. The syngas was formed by the partial oxidation of methane to mainly hydrogen and carbon monoxide and cooled to ambient temperature. Stiochiometric and lean premixed flames of the mixtures of methane and the syngas were compared at the atmospheric temperature and pressure conditions. The adiabatic flame temperature decreased with the reforming ratio. The laminar burning velocity, however, increased with the reforming ratio. For stretched flames in a counterflow, the high temperature region was broadened with the reforming ratio. The maximum flame temperature decreased with the reforming ratio for the stoichiometric case, but increased for the lean case except for the region of very low stretch rate. The extinction stretch rate increased with the reforming ratio, implying that the syngas assisted flame is more resistance to turbulence level.

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.

This paper presents a methodology of trajectory planning for the surrounding-aware lane change maneuver of autonomous vehicles based on a data-driven method. The lateral motion is planned by sampling candidate patterns which are defined based on quintic polynomial functions over time. Based on the cost evaluation among the sampled candidates, the optimal lateral motion pattern is selected as a reference and tracked by the controller. The longitudinal motion is planned and controlled using Model Predictive Control (MPC) which is an optimal control method designed considering the surrounding traffic information. To realize the lane change motion similar to the human driving behavior in the surrounding traffic situation, the human driving pattern is modeled in the form of motion parameters and considered in planning the lateral and longitudinal motion.

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.