On-board Automotive Applications Research Articles

Adaptive vehicle dynamics state estimator for onboard automotive applications and performance analysis

This work describes the development of a vehicle state estimator, designed to be employed onboard in real-time, based on the data acquisitions already available within the vehicle CAN bus infrastructure. The proposed estimation algorithm, taking into account the suspension elasto-kinematics, the longitudinal, lateral and combined dynamics of the tyres as well as the aligning interaction torques at the ground, represents at the current stage a significantly complete tool, since it also provides an estimation of road slope and banking angles, generalising the adoption of the presented vehicle model even on highly inclined roads. A further advantage of the presented estimator consists of its capability to identify in real-time and with a good level of accuracy the tyre/road interaction physical characteristics in terms of grip and cornering stiffness.

Anhydrous Superprotonic Conductivity of a Uranyl-Based MOF from Ambient Temperature to 110 °C

Developing proton–conducting electrolytes that are usable over a wide temperature range (25–150 °C) is highly desirable to enhance the efficiency of fuel cells for on-board automotive applications. Increasing the stability of water above its boiling point is considered one possible method to maintain the hydrogen bond network in composite materials for fast proton conduction. We herein propose an approach to encapsulate LiBr into a negatively charged metal–organic framework of (H3O)[(UO2)4(2-pmb)3(H2O)3]·0.5H2O (1) [2-pmbH3 = 2-(phosphonomethyl)benzoic acid] to enhance the water stability at high temperatures and inhibit the migration of Li ions by Coulombic interactions induced by anionic skeletons. The resulting composite shows a superprotonic conductivity of over 10–2 S cm–1 and a low activation energy of less than 0.4 eV in an anhydrous N2 atmosphere from ambient temperature to 110 °C. Diffusion coefficient tests confirm that protons, rather than lithium ions, are the main contributor to conductivity.

Traffic scene awareness for intelligent vehicles using ConvNets and stereo vision

In this paper, we propose an efficient approach to perform recognition and 3D localization of dynamic objects on images from a stereo camera, with the goal of gaining insight into traffic scenes in urban and road environments. We rely on a deep learning framework able to simultaneously identify a broad range of entities, such as vehicles, pedestrians or cyclists, with a frame rate compatible with the strict requirements of onboard automotive applications. Stereo information is later introduced to enrich the knowledge about the objects with geometrical information. The results demonstrate the capabilities of the perception system for a wide variety of situations, thus providing valuable information for a higher-level understanding of the traffic situation.

Photonic approach for on‐board and ground radars in automotive applications

While automotive radars are driving the development of high-performance technologies for remote sensing, pushing radiofrequency systems to higher frequencies, photonics is gradually changing the approach to micro- and millimetre wave RF generation and distribution. With its unique features, photonics can extend the potential of radars, in particular for ground-based traffic surveillance and on-board automotive applications, enhancing traffic safety and enabling the deployment of smart driver-less vehicles. In fact, microwave photonics offers unprecedented flexibility and stability, such as −113 dBc/Hz (at 100 kHz offset frequency) at 80 GHz, with the capability of generating an extremely broad range of carrier frequencies. Moreover, it can employ signals which span up to several GHz of bandwidth, thus allowing higher precision in target detection and discrimination. This study compares photonic and electronic technologies, and it demonstrates, through simulation results, the benefits of a multiple input, multiple output photonic radar when applied to automotive case-study scenarios.

Comments on “Efficiency analysis of novel Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier technology and comparison with high pressure storage pathway” [Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 41 (2016) 18062–18071

We present critical comments on a recent article entitled “Efficiency analysis of novel Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier technology and comparison with high pressure storage pathway” (Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 41, 18062, 2016). A careful analysis on the energy efficiency of the hydrogen storage methods based on compressed gas and liquid organic hydrogen carrier technologies is of fundamental importance for making a rational choice of storage techniques to be used for onboard automotive applications.

Hydrogen production by compact combined dimethyl ether reformer/combustor for automotive applications

A computational study of hydrogen production by a dimethyl ether reformer combined with a catalytic combustor is conducted to investigate its feasibility for on-board automotive applications. The combined reactor has a stacked channel structure consisting of alternating reformer monoliths and catalytic combustor monoliths on a heat-conducting substrate. The inner surfaces of the walls of each monolith are coated with reforming and combusting catalysts, respectively. The effects of the feeding flow rate, thermal conductivity of the substrate, and porosity of the catalyst layer on the hydrogen production efficiency of the proposed combined reactor are investigated to determine the optimal design and operating conditions.

Preparation, characterization and hydrogen sorption study of MIL-101(Cr) pellets

The paper discusses the bulk (25 g/batch) synthesis of MIL-101(Cr) using acetic acid and its pelletization as hydrogen storage material for on-board automotive applications. The synthesized material was moulded into a shaped body (a pellet) using binders such as sodium salt of carboxy methyl cellulose (Na-CMC), starch (ST) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as well as a pellet without binder. Pellets were prepared using an hydraulic press by applying different pressures (5, 10 and 15 tonnes; where 1 tonne per square metre = 9.80665 kPa). The research team investigated the effect of compression pressure on the pellet properties and also its hydrogen adsorption capacity. The surface area and micropore volume decreased with the increase of compression pressure. The Dubinin-Radushkevich (DR) equation was used to calculate micropore volume. The maximum hydrogen storage capacity obtained is 2.54 wt.% at temperature of 77 Kelvin (K) using 10% PVA as a binder at 10 tonnes compression pressure. MIL-101(Cr) pellets prepared without binder, compressed at 10 tonnes pressure, showed 3.10 wt.% hydrogen storage capacity at the temperature of 77 K.

Hydrogen storage: the remaining scientific and technological challenges

To ensure future worldwide mobility, hydrogen storage in combination with fuel cells for on-board automotive applications is one of the most challenging issues. Potential solid-state solutions have to fulfil operating requirements defined by the fuel cell propulsion system. Important requirements are also defined by customer demands such as cost, overall fuel capacity, refuelling time and efficiency. It seems that currently none of the different storage solid state materials can reach the required storage densities for a hydrogen-powered vehicle. New strategies for storage systems are necessary to fulfil the requirements for a broad introduction of automotive fuel cell powertrains to the market. The combination of different storage systems may provide a possible solution to store sufficiently high amounts of hydrogen.

Magnetic Field Sensors for Magnetic Position Sensing in Automotive Applications

ABSTRACTMagnetic position sensors are transducers whose output is an electrical signal that is a function of a mechanical motion. They consist of a permanent magnet, a magnetic field sensor, and a moving magnetic circuit. Being contactless, they do not wear out. Unlike optical systems, they are impervious to contamination. With the proliferation of microprocessor control in many on-board automotive applications, magnetic position sensing becomes a crucial function, found e.g. in cam and crankshaft sensors used for ignition timing and engine misfire detection, in brushless electrical motors, in wheel speed sensors and in other applications.This paper first reviews the requirements put on the magnetic field sensors in these applications. Five main types of field sensors are used: Si Hall sensors with integrated amplifiers, GaAs Hall sensors, InSb-based magnetoresistors, anisotropie magnetoresistors (AMR), and metal-multilayer magnetoresistors (GMR). Magnetoresistors are almost always used as differential pairs, either in Wheatstone bridges or with matched constant current sources. The two characteristics of each type of field sensors that matter most are their sensitivity to magnetic field, and the smallest amount of field modulation they can detect, i.e. their resolution, which is mainly limited by the drift of the outputs with temperature. These parameters are measured and reported here on the 5 types of sensors; the work is an update of a 1993 review by the author.