Mechatronic design approach for engine management systems

Abstract

Internal combustion engines with electronic management systems have developed to mechatronic systems. They basically consist of a thermodynamic process, electromechanic, hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, electronic sensors and one ore more digital control units with their specific software. In order to meet rising demands concerning drivability, emissions and consumption under the restriction of shorter development cycles, there is a rising need for modern identification methods (neural networks) and software/hardware tools (Rapid Control Prototyping (RCP), Hardware-in-the-Loop-Simulation) for the design of engine control units. In this contribution, a software/hardware environment for a mechatronic design approach for engine control systems is discussed. A dynamic engine test stand equipped with a RCP system is described which allows fast and comfortable design and testing of new control functions. Enlarged with an on-line indication system, a cylinder pressure based engine management system can be established, where the desired control settings are calculated by an upper level engine optimization. Time-variant optimization strategies for an improved exhaust-, consumption- and drivability performance were developed by means of adequate models of the engine behavior with fast neural networks.