MultiMEC - Multivariable Methods for energy efficient Engine Control

Purpose and goal

In response to incoming emission legislation and stringent energy efficiency requirements, modern powertrains include a number of new subsystems that need to be adequately controlled. The goal of this project is to develop a software platform for handling complex system by exploiting look-ahead information for both heavy duty (e.g. trucks) and for light duty (e.g. passenger cars) applications. Such a platform shall secure emission legislation constraints without penalizing fuel consumption and vehicle driveability.

Expected results and effects

A software platform for achieving the described goals has been developed and tested within the project. Incoming legislation, such as EU VI Step D for heavy duty trucks, are met without big penalties in terms of fuel consumption and driveability. The developed platform is easy to calibrate and can be easily ported on different powertrain configurations, thus reducing the development time. Finally, a high-fidelity simulation platform for assessing the developed software platform has been further developed and can be easily re-used in other projects.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has been run with a Project Management Institute (PMI) approach which is often recognized as the highest standard in project management nowadays. Two sub-teams have been formed: one addressing heavy duty and one addressing light duty applications. Each sub-team periodically held internal progress meetings and, on top of that, four "big project meetings" per year were held. During such big-project meetings each sub-team showed their progresses since last meeting and synergies and commonalities related to a common software platform were discussed and analyzed.