Real-Time Co-optimization of Gear Shifting and Engine Torque for Predictive Cruise Control of Heavy-Duty Trucks

Fuel consumption is one of the main concerns for heavy-duty trucks.Predictive cruise control(PCC)provides an intriguing opportunity to reduce fuel consumption by using the upcoming road information.In this study,a real-time implementable PCC,which simultaneously optimizes engine torque and gear shifting,is proposed for heavy-duty trucks.To minimize fuel consumption,the problem of the PCC is formulated as a nonlinear model predictive control(MPC),in which the upcoming road elevation information is used.Finding the solution of the nonlinear MPC is time consuming;thus,a real-time implementable solver is developed based on Pontryagin’s maximum principle and indirect shooting method.Dynamic programming(DP)algorithm,as a global optimization algorithm,is used as a performance benchmark for the proposed solver.Simulation,hardware-in-the-loop and real-truck experiments are conducted to verify the performance of the proposed controller.The results demonstrate that the MPC-based solution performs nearly as well as the DP-based solution,with less than 1%deviation for testing roads.Moreover,the proposed co-optimization controller is implementable in a real-truck,and the proposed MPC-based PCC algorithm achieves a fuel-saving rate of 7.9%without compromising the truck’s travel time.

A human-sensitive frequency band vibration isolator for heavy-duty truck seats

In this study,a human-sensitive frequency band vibration isolator(HFBVI)with quasi-zero stiffness(QZS)characteristics for heavy-duty truck seats is designed to improve the comfort of heavy-duty truck drivers on uneven roads.First,the analytical expressions for the force and displacement of the HFBVI are derived with the Lagrange equation and d'Alembert's principle,and are validated through the prototype restoring force testing.Second,the harmonic balance method(HBM)is used to obtain the dynamic responses under harmonic excitation,and further the influence of pre-stretching on the dynamic characteristics and transmissibility is discussed.Finally,the experimental prototype of the HFBVI is fabricated,and vibration experiments are conducted under harmonic excitation to verify the vibration isolation performance(VIP)of the proposed vibration isolator.The experimental results indicate that the HFBVI can effectively suppress the frequency band(4-8 Hz)to which the human body is sensitive to vertical vibration.In addition,under real random road spectrum excitation,the HFBVI can achieve low-frequency vibration isolation close to 2 Hz,providing new prospects for ensuring the health of heavy-duty truck drivers.

Numerical simulation of the aerodynamic characteristics of heavy-duty trucks through viaduct in crosswind

In our numerical simulation the hybrid mesh and the SST k-ω turbulence model are adopted to investigate the variations of the aerodynamic loads and the flow field of heavy-duty trucks while crossing a viaduct with 1.1 m high fences in a crosswind at a velocity of 20 m/s. The results show that, with the protection of a fence, the side force is weakened, and the rolling and yaw moments are strengthened while the truck is crossing the viaduct, which relatively reduces the roll-over safety and the driving stability of the truck. Meanwhile, the direction of the side force changes when the truck enters the viaduct, which makes the roll-over safety and the driving stability the lowest during the process.

Route Towards Road Freight Electrification in India:Examining Battery Electric Truck Powertrain and Energy Consumption

Medium-duty/heavy-duty trucks(MD/HDTs)are yet to be included in India’s electric mobility plans.With the improvement of electric vehicle(EV)technologies,there is a growing interest in battery-electric trucks(BETs)from original equipment manufacturers(OEMs).The time is opportune to consider electrification as a future direction for road freight in India.Accordingly,this article presents the results of an energy consumption simulation study of a BET under Indian conditions.This study specifically considered an MDBET over a domestic drive cycle.These energy consumption figures can facilitate future studies that analyze the technical and practical feasibility of BETs in the country.In addition,the article provides the requisite groundwork for BET modeling for a simulation study by reviewing available EV powertrain systems and components.Appropriate powertrain considerations are thereby obtained for a typical medium-duty/heavy-duty battery-electric truck(MD/HDBET)in the Indian context.

MPC-Based Downshift Control of Automated Manual Transmissions

Automated manual transmissions,which usually adopt synchronizers to complete the gear shift process,have many advantageous features.However,the torque interruption and the challenging control objectives during the gear shift process limit its industrial application,especially for the power-on gear downshift.This paper proposes a model predic-tive control(MPC)method to control the clutch engagement process and effectively shorten the torque interruption,consequently enhancing the gear downshift quality.During the control law deduction,the proposed MPC also accounts for time-domain constraints explicitly.After the control law was deduced,it was validated through simulations under two typical power-on gear downshift working scenarios.Both of the simulation results demonstrate that the controller proposed in this paper can shorten the torque interruption time during power-on gear downshifts while minimizing vehicle jerk for overall satisfactory drivability.