Configuration design and control of hybrid tracked vehicle with three planetary gear sets

The hybrid tracked vehicles(HTV)usually adopt series hybrid powertrain with extra steering mechanism,which has relatively low transmission efficiency and reduces the flexibility of structural arrangement.To overcome the disadvantages,a new kind of single-mode powertrain has been proposed.The power-split hybrid powertrain is composed of three planetary gear(PG)sets connected to one engine,left and right track outputs,and three motors.The proposed powertrain can realize steering while going forward by controlling the output torque on each side without extra steering mechanism or steering shaft.Due to the diversity of the connection way between components and planetary gear sets,a rapid configuration design approach is proposed for the design selection of HTV.The automated dynamic modelling method can show the one-to-one correspondence with the selected feasible groups by establishing two characteristic matrices,which is more simple than other researches.The analytically-based method is proposed to classify all possible connection designs into several groups to decrease the searching scope with improved design efficiency.Finally,the optimal control strategy is used to find the design with optimal fuel economy under typical condition of HTV.The case study is implemented by the proposed design approach which demonstrates better design performances compared with the existing series-hybrid HTV.