Compact Car Research Articles

Concurrent Powertrain Design for a Family of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles still account for a small share of the total amount of cars on the road. One of the major issues preventing a larger uptake is their higher upfront cost compared to petrol cars. We aim to address this issue by investigating a module-based product-family approach to take full advantage of economy-of-scale strategies, reducing research, development, and production costs of electric vehicles. This paper instantiates a concurrent design optimization framework, whereby diffierent vehicle types share multiple modular powertrain components, whose size is jointly optimized to minimize the overall operational costs instead of being individually tailored. In particular, we focus on sizing battery and electric motors for a family of vehicles equipped with in-wheel motors. First, we identify a convex model of the powertrain, capturing the impact of modules’ sizing and multiplicity on the mechanical power demand and the energy consumption of the vehicles. Second, we frame the concurrent powertrain design and operation problem as a second-order conic program that can be efficiently solved with global optimality guarantees. Finally, we showcase our framework for a family of three different vehicles: a city car, a compact car, and an SUV. Our results show that concurrently optimizing shared components increases the operational costs by 3.2% compared to individually tailoring them to each vehicle, a value that could be largely overshadowed by the benefits stemming from using the same components for the entire product family.

Comparative numerical evaluation of ECE-EUDC cycle performances of a hypothetical car equipped with three types of propulsion systems: conventional, series hybrid and parallel hybrid

This publication refers to the studies which were made to a compact car model to observe the behavior of the three drivetrain versions that the car can be equipped with: the version in which the vehicle model is equipped only with a Diesel engine (classic), a plug-in hybrid version with the combustion engine placed in a series circuit (pSHEV) and a second plug-in hybrid variant, where the thermal engine is arranged in parallel (pPHEV) with the electric motor (EM). The study emphasizes the behavior of three different vehicle propulsion systems equipped on the compact car on a standardized road cycle condition defined by the Urban Driving Cycle (UDC) referred as ECE 15 cycle combined with the Extra-Urban Driving Cycle (EUDC). The scope is to set up the three different powertrain systems through numerical modeling and to generate the conclusions based on the simulations results obtained in ADvanced VehIcle SimulatOR (ADVISOR).

Electric Motor Design Optimization:A Convex Surrogate Modeling Approach

This paper instantiates a convex electric powertrain design optimization framework, bridging the gap between high-level powertrain sizing and low-level components design. We focus on the electric motor and transmission of electric vehicles, using a scalable convex motor model based on surrogate modeling techniques. Specifically, we first select relevant motor design variables and evaluate high-fidelity samples according to a predefned sampling plan. Second, using the sample data, we identify a convex model of the motor, which predicts its losses as a function of the operating point and the design parameters. We also identify models of the remaining components of the powertrain, namely a battery and a fixed-gear transmission. Third, we frame the minimum-energy consumption design problem over a drive cycle as a second-order conic program that can be efficiently solved with optimality guarantees. Finally, we showcase our framework in a case study for a compact family car and compute the optimal motor design and transmission ratio. We validate the accuracy of our models with a high-fidelity simulation tool and calculate the drift in battery energy consumption. We show that our model can capture the optimal operating line and the error in battery energy consumption is low. Overall, our framework can provide electric motor design experts with useful starting points for further design optimization.

A Compensation Network With Error Mapping for Robust Remote Photoplethysmography in Noise-Heavy Conditions

Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) measurement has received much attention due to its attractive applications in contactless physiological monitoring. It calculates the blood volume pulse from color signals with a normal camera. Artifacts caused by motion and illumination changes must be accounted for, especially in real-world usage. In this article, we propose a novel framework that includes an error compensation neural network after conventional signal-based rPPG extraction to improve the measuring results. Our main idea is to leverage facial image factors and frequency spectrum features to characterize the relevance between the current measurement conditions and measurement error; given inaccurate measurements, the compensation network computes the corresponding correction term to improve performance. The implementation of this compensation network includes a feature extractor based mainly on 1-D convolution kernels and a recurrent structure to account for temporal interference. Results of experiments conducted on two open datasets and two self-constructed datasets recorded for compact car drivers and passengers with driving disturbance demonstrate significant improvements over state-of-the-art methods, especially in challenging cases. The percentage of the mean absolute error with respect to that based on conventional signal-based methods improves by up to 72.3% for drivers and 66.7% for passengers.

Review: Rutherford Falls. Peacock Streaming

Review: <i>Rutherford Falls</i>. Peacock Streaming

Advanced Driver Assists and Safety Management System

Electronics and communication is the most important field. In this paper, we can describe how much safety is in the Automobile industry. In this paper, we are using uno-Arduino. The different types of sensors facilities are also provided using key points. The different sensors are provided to check visitor count. In this system, we can monitor and control all the safety precautions their one IoT web platform. This helps in the proper utilization of drivers and helps in avoiding accidents. This paper can be implemented in any two-wheelers, heavily loaded trucks, small SUVs, compact cars. In our paper, the electronics machine/components will be automatically working with using of Arduino program. The proposed wireless sensor platform is an attempt to develop more safety devices that can be used in multiple areas such as homes, schools, and public utilities to reduce accidents. This Advanced Driver Assists system will provide real-time accident detections and monitoring usage information that helps in real-time by using GSM, GPS, and sensors.

Modeling inventory and environmental impacts of car maintenance and repair: A case study of Ford Focus passenger car

Maintenance and repair are necessary to maintain the car's functions throughout its life. As the car ages, maintenance and repairs are becoming more common and consume more and more resources and energy. In this study, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was used to a case study of different maintenance scenarios of internal combustion engine passenger car. The LCA examination is focused on thorough maintenance inventory of a popular compact car, Ford Focus II. The examination considered different maintenance scenarios. The first followed Ford Maintenance Schedule. The other was made to include car breakdown cases, as reported by car users. Both scenarios of maintenance and repair were analyzed using data from 40 vehicles regularly using Ford authorized service center. Material inventories in other stages of the car life cycle were modeled with Ecoinvent data. The environmental impact of maintenance and repair was another focus of the study. The inventories were combined to model different car maintenance scenarios. Each vehicle scenario was further modeled in ICE diesel and petrol versions to compare their maintenance and repair options and to compare data with earlier studies. Another model described a diesel engine version with earlier oil exchange, which often ocuurs in cars that are used mainly in urban environment.The main conclusion is that a new level of thoroughness of inventory data provides by 58% higher effect of car maintenance and repair in a petrol car and by 95% higher in a diesel compared to earlier research. For the scenario with shortened oil exchange interval the effect is twice as great.

MO898NEW ORGANISATIONAL MODEL OF HOME HEMODIALYSIS: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PROVINCE OF BELLUNO

Abstract Background and Aims Belluno is a mountainous province of 3610 Km2, with a low population density (56 people/Km2), and an high ISTAT old age index of 228. Four HemoDialysis (HD) Centers assist 112 patients, who spend up to 8 hours/week by ambulance to arrive at the HD Center, with a CO2 estimated emission (EE) up to 6.6 ton/year patient. The cost of in-Center HD may reach up to 61.000 €/year patient. Giving these premisis, we consider as first choice either Peritoneal Dialysis or Home HD (HDD), otherwise than in-Center HD. HHD can be Not assited HHD (NHHD), performed by the patient himself, or Assisted HHD (AHHD), the new HHD service which involves a nurse assistance at home. Both HHDs enables patients to stay at home, may improve patient’s quality of life, reduce the HD costs (32.000-34000 €/year patient), and may reduce the environmental burden of the healthcare procedures (CO2 EE of 0-2.3 ton/year patient). Method One patient have undertaken NHHD and other two the AHHD. Patient 1, on NHHD, is a 50 year old (y.o.) male, on HD since 9/2013. His Past Medical History (PMH) encompasses End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) due to IgA Nephropathy, a previous kidney transplant, and hypertensive cardiopathy. Patient 2, on AHHD, is a 88y.o. woman, on HD since 01/2020. Her PMH includes ESRD due to multiple myeloma, and hypertension. Patient 3, on AHHD, is a 95y.o. male on HD since 09/2009. His PMH includes ESRD due to hypertensive nephropathy, atrioventricular block with pacemaker, hepatopathy. HHD is performed utilising: the NxStage System (Fresenius®) for NHHD, and the Dialog iQ® System (B.BRAUN®) for AHHD. The HD prescription plans 2 hours treatment for 6 times/week for NHHD, and 4 hours treatment for 3 times/week for AHHD. The total amount of the economical resoureces employed for HD comprise: HD equipment, healthcare-worker, and ambulance transportation (Figure). The EE of CO2 have been determined using a calculator (www.myclimate.org). The EE of CO2 for in-Centre HD comprise both those caused by patients and nurses (Figure). We assumed the same fuel consumption of a diesel Van for the ambulances one. We assumed that nurses use a diesel compact car to commute. Results All patients reported a significantly improved quality of life because they were able to avoid many hours of travel to reach the HD Center. Moreover, the patient on NHHD, appreciated an increased subjective wellness, a greater independence in setting the daily work and personal appointments, and a wider freedom in the eating and drinking habits. The economical resources that may be riallocated by the Healthcare System are up to 30.000 €/year patient. Finally, the environmental burden of the HD procedures may be significantly reduced, with a CO2 EE saved up to 6.6 ton/year patient (equal to 3 round-trip flights Venice-NY). Conclusion Home HD enable patients and their families to substantially improve their quality of life, provide a safe and effective dialysis treatment for the patients, contribute to operational efficiency of the healthcare system, and reduce both the economical impact and the environmental burden of hemodialysis. In conclusion, we believe both HHDs are exellent solution, in particular NHHD for active young patients, and AHHD for fragile patients without a caregiver, resulting in a better management and outcome.

Quantifying the carbon footprint reduction potential of lifestyle choices in Japan

Numerous studies have investigated the hotspots for reducing carbon emissions associated with household consumption, including reducing household carbon footprints (CFs) and greener lifestyle choices, such as living car-free, eating less meat, and having one less child. However, estimating the effect of each of these actions requires the simultaneous consideration of lifestyle choices and household characteristics that could also affect the household CF. Here, we quantify the reduction in household CFs for 25 factors associated with individual lifestyle choices or socioeconomic characteristics. This study linked approximately 42 000 microdata on consumption expenditure with the Japanese subnational 47 prefecture-level multi-regional input–output table, which are both the finest-scale data currently available. We improved the accuracy of household CF calculations by considering regional heterogeneity, and successfully estimated the magnitude of household CF reduction associated with individual lifestyle choices and socioeconomics. For example, it was found that moving from a cold region to a region with mild climate would have considerable potential for reducing the CO2 emissions of a household, all other factors being equal. In addition, a household residing in a house that meets the most recent energy standards emits 1150 kg less CO2 per year than if they reside in a house that meets previous energy standards. Ownership and use of durable goods also had the potential for reducing the CO2 emissions of a household; a normal-sized car, a personal computer, a compact car, and a bidet were associated with CO2 emissions of 922, 712, 421, and 345 kg per year, respectively. The findings therefore have important implications for climate change mitigation and policy measures associated with lifestyle.

A Heart Rate Monitoring Framework for Real-World Drivers Using Remote Photoplethysmography.

Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) is an unobtrusive solution to heart rate monitoring in drivers. However, disturbances that occur during driving such as driver behavior, motion artifacts, and illuminance variation complicate the monitoring of heart rate. Faced with disturbance, one commonly used assumption is heart rate periodicity (or spectrum sparsity). Several methods improve stability at the expense of tracking sensitivity for heart rate variation. Based on statistical signal processing (SSP) and Monte Carlo simulations, the outlier probability is derived and ADaptive spectral filter banks (AD) is proposed as a new algorithm which provides an explicable tuning option for spectral filter banks to strike a balance between robustness and sensitivity in remote monitoring for driving scenarios. Moreover, we construct a driving database containing over 23 hours of data to verify the proposed algorithm. The influence on rPPG from driver habits (both amateurs and professionals), vehicle types (compact cars and buses), and routes are also evaluated. In comparison to state-of-the-art rPPG for driving scenarios, the mean absolute error in the Passengers, Compact Cars, and Buses scenarios is 3.43, 7.85, and 5.02 beats per minute, respectively. Moreover, AD also won the top third place in the first challenge on remote physiological signal sensing (RePSS) with relative low computational complexity.

Parametric Study of a Blind Spot Zone: Case Studies of Perodua Viva, Perodua Myvi and Proton Suprima

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; The initial works on Blind Spot Zone (BSZ) identification presents the importance of the blind spot towards the everyday drive. The alarming collision rate in the blind spot zone especially when changing lanes has triggered the necessity of BSZ detection and warning system, focusing on a daily-used and affordable car segment. Such technologies are recently available at top variant cars. Therefore, a low cost yet facilitative BSZ detection and warning system is required. This paper presents the continuity experimental result of identification of the BSZ of three different car segments, i.e. Perodua Viva in a compact A-segment car, Perodua Myvi in a compact B-segment and Proton Suprima in a C- segment hatchback. Instead of using volunteered persons, this paper presents a dedicated platform with adjustable heights and camera to replace the human. The results show that the blind spot area and angle is affected by types of car model and driver heights. Also, the relationship between the blind spot area and angle with driver height can be shown in a straight line.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Aerodynamic Characterization of a Full-Scale Compact Car Exposed to Transient Crosswind

The transient surface pressure over a full-scale, operational compact automotive vehicle—a Volkswagen Golf 7—exposed to transient crosswinds with relative yaw angles of β = 22-45° has been characterized. Experiments were performed at the BMW side-wind facility in Aschheim, Germany. Measurements of the incoming flow in front of the car were taken with eleven five-hole dynamic pressure probes, and separately, time-resolved surface pressure measurements at 188 locations were performed. Unsteady characteristics (not able to be identified in quasi-steady modelling) have been identified: the flow in separated regions on the vehicle’s leeward side takes longer to develop than at the windward side, and spatially, the vehicle experiences local crosswind as it gradually enters the crosswind. The total effects of these localized unsteady pressure characteristics have also been predicted to affect the vehicle globally, with the evaluation of the transient forces and moments—through pressure integration—exhibiting unsteady characteristics of overshoots, undershoots, and temporal lag; relative to steady crosswind. These results provide new insight into both the characteristics and the causes of the unsteady crosswind response of a real, operational vehicle operating in real-world conditions. This insight can be used in the design of future vehicles to make them less sensitive to unsteady gusts. Further these results can be used to develop and validate numerical and reduced-scale experimental methods that can test and assess new vehicle geometry designs during the early stages of vehicle development.

Front, rear and side impact analysis of backbone chassis of a compact sports car

The automotive chassis is the main load carrier and energy absorbing component in all crash events namely, frontal impacts, rear impacts, side impacts and roll over. It is important to have a strong and light weight material for the chassis. The purpose of this paper is to observe how a backbone chassis behaves during collision. This work involves static, dynamic and modal analysis of a backbone chassis of Lotus Europa, a compact sports car. Deformation, stress and strain distribution are evaluated and factor of safety is calculated using static structural analysis. In modal analysis mode shapes for different natural frequencies of the system are presented. Further, impact analysis performed using explicit dynamic analysis compares the deformation and stress distribution for front, rear and side impact for different impact velocities. Two materials namely mild steel and aluminium are compared for impact analysis.

Spontaneous Population Mobility and Demand for Transportation during the Pandemic: Evidence from Taiwan

Using administrative traffic data from Taiwan, this paper quantifies the effect of the COVID-­19 outbreak on the spontaneous demand for public and private transportation. Despite extremely low numbers of infections—and therefore the absence of mobility restrictions—the public has reacted strongly to confirmations of infections. Our results suggest that the COVID­-19 outbreak reduced the numbers of rail passengers by between 40% and 60% when the numbers of new COVID­-19 cases hit their peak. In contrast, during the same period, the numbers of compact cars on highways increased by 20% in the rush hours. This finding suggests that individuals not only reduced their mobility, but they also substituted public transport for private modes of travel. Finally, transportation patterns did not fall back to “normal” levels until the mid-­June, even though Taiwan had not had any new local COVID­-19 cases since mid­-April. We discuss how Taiwan’s experience can provide a useful lesson for future pandemics.

The Last Friday in Caracas

The Last Friday in Caracas Alejandro Puyana (bio) The morning after the first night my friend Coco slept over, Anita, our maid—and my nanny since I was four years old—put a hand over her mouth and gasped from behind the kitchen island. The night before had been a band night, and Coco had asked for a ride to his apartment all the way west to La Pastora, and everyone he asked made a face as if he’d asked to go to the moon and not a few miles west on Avenida Urdaneta. To be fair, space travel was significantly safer than going to La Pastora at 3:00 am, so I told him, “Just stay over at my place tonight.” And he shrugged and said, “Fino.” And that was the beginning. Anita stood there with her face as flat as a corncake until I walked over and kissed her on the cheek and said, “Buenos días, biutiful,” like I did every morning except Sundays, when she had her day off. In that time, all those years ago, it was one of the ways I kept track of the days of the week. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays were a blur: interchangeable rum and cokes, guitar riffs, dented and chipped mic stands, busted sound equipment. On Sundays there was no one walking around the house picking up after me and my sisters and my dad (my mom never gave Anita any work to do, except the work to clean after the rest of us, which was plenty, I guess). A kiss on the cheek was enough to hit the reset button. Anita smiled wide and blushed and snapped the kitchen rag at me, shooing me away, “Sale pa ‘lla! Go. Go sit. Arepas are almost ready,” she said. “This is Coco, Anita. A friend,” I told her. And Anita immediately turned cold again. “Good morning, joven,” is all she said before turning back to the griddle. “I didn’t make enough for two,” she said. But I knew Anita would make more dough for him. I didn’t even have to ask. “No worries, ma’am, I’m okay,” Coco said. His voice was guttural as always, and still scratchy from a night of screaming into the microphone, and cheering for the other bands (mine included), and talking loudly over the music so we could hear each other, and flirting with Lucía. Coco had a big crush on Lucía, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him yet that he might as well have been flirting with a wall because she would have never—ever—done more than politely chat with him. Lucía was the type of Caracas sifrina that only went to those house parties and listened to those bands because it was the cool thing to do and not because she liked the music, or even the people, except for a few that she would run into [End Page 164] at church or at Le Club or at the pool at El Country. I mean, imagining Tamara Vicentini, Lucía’s mom, seeing her daughter hold the hand of a guy like Coco was enough to send me into a fit of delight. There were not enough pearls in the Caribbean to clutch. The only Black people the Vicentinis routinely spoke to were their chauffeur and the folks at the Aruba Hilton where they stayed three weeks every summer since Lucía turned five. Coco was big, had a nose ring, and wore Pantera T-shirts. Two Pantera T-shirts, to be exact, and he cycled through them ad infinitum. People assumed he was a metalhead—I mean, he loved metal, but that’s not the music his band played. It was garage rock with electronic beats he arranged in a beat-up IBM laptop that weighed as much as a compact car. That thing could have stopped a bullet and kept churning out beats. He worked through obsolete FL Studio software that he had bought, pirated of course, from a place close to his house that would burn anything and everything, from the latest video game to the raunchiest...

Investigation of the Fatigue Vehicle Load for a Long-span Steel Bridge Based on Nine Years of Measured Traffic Data

ABSTRACT This study conducts a rational investigation of nine years of traffic monitoring information concerning the Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge within which the traffic flow, vehicle composition, vehicle load and axle-weight features are analyzed and discussed. Based on the annual analysis of traffic information, it is observed that compact cars weighing less than 30 kN account for 61% of the total traffic volume. According to the number of axles, wheelbase and axle groups, the vehicles in the traffic flow are classified into 11 representative types. Among them, two-axle vehicles form the major category, accounting for 80% of the total traffic flow. Statistical analysis of the gross vehicle weight and axle weight indicates that the gross vehicle weight follows a bimodal normal distribution, whereas the axle weight follows diverse distributions, including a normal distribution and an extreme distribution. In addition, by using equivalent damage theory, five equivalent vehicle models are established according to measurements of the axle weight and wheelbase. Finally, a six-axle fatigue-loaded vehicle model is proposed and discussed.

TRIGGERING EMOTIONAL VALUE THROUGH AESTHETICS OF COMPACT CAR DESIGN IN MALAYSIA

The relationship between typicality and novelty was discussed in order to identify the significant emotional value arising in the compact car design of Malaysian manufacturers. Typicality and novelty usually are associated with the aesthetic preference of human artefacts as in this study in compact car design. Considering a typical product is rarely new and, conversely, a novel product often labelled as typical, the positive effects of both features seem incompatible. This paper discusses the history of the Malaysian manufacturer’s compact car design according to its timeline and the current market based on its model and achievement. Furthermore, the relationship between compact car design such as the limitation of emotional value arising through typicality and novelty of specific compact car design and how it triggers the user’s perception through its aesthetics form. Hence, a pilot study was conducted to validate a set of stimulus and questionnaires as a way to formulate an actual survey. Finally, the outcome of this study will suggest a way forward in exploring typicality and novelty through a reliable method of compact car design.

Experimental energy and exergy performance of an automotive heat pump using R1234yf

Various energy and exergy performance parameters of an automotive heat pump (AHP) with R1234yf have been investigated and compared with those of the baseline system with R134a. For this aim, an AHP system was set up from the components of an air-conditioning system employed in a compact car and equipped with instruments for mechanical measurements. It was tested with R1234yf and R134a by changing the compressor speed and air stream temperatures incoming the outdoor and indoor units. Using test data, energy and exergy analyses of the AHP were performed, and its performance parameters were evaluated. The R1234yf system provided conditioned air temperatures in the range of 29.9–59.3 °C, heating capacities in the range of 1.96–3.14 kW and coefficient of performance (COP) values in the range of 2.44–4.56. It yielded 3.3–10.8 °C lower conditioned air temperature, 9.2–15.4% lower heating capacity, 1.6–7.1% lower COP, 13.8–21.6 °C lower compressor discharge temperature, 3.1–19.2% higher total exergy destruction rate per unit heating capacity but significantly less TEWI in comparison with the system with R134a. Moreover, the R1234yf system yielded larger exergy destructions in the outdoor unit, compressor and expansion device but lower exergy destruction in the indoor unit. These findings reveal that R1234yf can be used in AHP systems in expense of less heating capacity, lower COP and higher exergy destruction rate per unit heating capacity in comparison with R134a.

Application of Multiple Unipolar Axial Eddy Current Brakes for Lightweight Electric Vehicle Braking

The braking system in a vehicle has the main role of slowing down the speed or stopping the moving vehicle. Compared to mechanical braking, which utilizes friction, non-contact braking has several advantages, including longer lifetime and less maintenance. One form of non-contact braking systems is the eddy current brake (ECB), an electric braking system that employs eddy currents to operate. This research focuses on the impact of magnetic field sources used in the ECB. In addition, the number of magnetic field sources is also observed. In order to achieve an ECB design that can be easily applied in any types of vehicles, including motorcycles and compact cars, a compact ECB design with an excellent braking torque is required. In this study, a compact design of the ECB is obtained by distributing the required braking torque from the disc brake into multiple electromagnets. Finite element method-based modeling has been performed to study ECB parameters, including the number of coil winding, the number of electromagnets, and the electric current. The results of this study show that the developed compact ECB could produce 93.66% of the torque required for braking.

Failure study as a physical component in mechanical suspensions of two automobile models of an automotive company

Car suspensions are a key element for the good behavior of cars. There are many types with their advantages and disadvantages, but among them, the most used and known today is the MacPherson strut suspension. The MacPherson strut is a system devised by Earle S. MacPherson in the 40s and patented by Ford in 1953, which today is used for the front axle of most cars. This type of suspension is very versatile because it can be used on the rear as well as front axles, and because of its low cost. These types of vehicles present many breakdowns on these pieces in the municipality of “Ocaña, Norte de Santander, Colombia” since the type of terrain is very complex (steep slopes, poor condition of the roads, among others), which leads to breakdowns on the pieces due to shear stresses, which could cause a traffic accident and high repair costs. This work seeks to show the identification of the vehicles that use the MacPherson strut and its possible failures. Subsequently, the analysis of the stresses on the lower arm system of the MacPherson strut is carried out in compact cars using simulation software. to perform the physical analysis behavior.