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Welcome to the 2012 Winter Workshop

February 2, 2012 in EcoCAR 2 News by ggguestuser | No comments

It was a beautiful 77 degrees and sunny in Texas as students, sponsors, and organizers arrived at Freescale’s headquarters in Austin for the 2012 Winter Workshop!

Co-sponsored by Freescale and dSPACE, Inc. and hosted at Freescale’s Oak Hill campus, EcoCAR 2 teams are participating in detailed sessions from competition organizers from General Motors, the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory. Teams are also taking part in detailed training of sponsor-donated components and software tools from dSPACE, A123 Systems, Freescale, AVL Powertrain Engineering, CD-adapco, Siemens, and Vector.

Over the next few days, EcoCAR 2 teams will be put to the test as they prepare for their first in-person scored presentations, including Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), Outreach, and Business.

Teams had the opportunity to set up their HILs on Wednesday afternoon.

“It was nice to see all of the different HIL set-ups for the teams,” said Whitney Belt, Mechanical Team Member for Purdue University. “We all have the same objective with HIL but each team took it their own unique way.

After a long day of travel, registration, and workshop set-up, teams and sponsors enjoyed a southern feast at Thurman Mansion catered by Salt Lick! As if devouring brisket, BBQ ribs, and southern side dishes weren’t enough, EcoCAR 2 teams heard remarks from co-hosts Freescale and dSPACE, Inc., as well as General Motors and the U.S. Department of Energy.

EcoCAR 2 organizers hope teams and sponsors enjoyed the Welcome Dinner and are excited for the rest of the Winter Workshop in Austin, Texas!

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dSPACE Opportunities at the Winter Workshop

January 30, 2012 in EcoCAR 2 News, Sponsor Post by ggguestuser | No comments

During the 2012 Winter Workshop, students and advisors will have the opportunity to take part in specialized training by Platinum-level competition sponsor and Winter Workshop co-host dSPACE, Inc.

On Saturday, Tobias Eifler of dSPACE will teach teams how to model a parallel hybrid vehicle with dSPACE’s ASM software. Using a demo application and hands-on exercises, EcoCAR 2 teams will use the software for drivetrain modification and battery and E-Drive integration.

During Sunday’s training sessions, teams will be given an introductory workshop on HIL Test Automation with dSPACE’s AutomationDesk from Joe Cassar of dSPACE. This training session will focus on fundamental concepts of test automation projects and how to use AutomationDesk via hands-on exercises and web-based training.

dSPACE, Inc. is just one of many competition-level sponsors that will be providing education presentations and training sessions for students at the Winter Workshop in Austin. Other sponsors offering sessions include General Motors, Freescale, A123 Systems, AVL,  Siemens, CD-adapco, Vector.

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Winter Workshop Training Preview: CD-adapco and A123 Systems

January 19, 2012 in EcoCAR 2 News, Sponsor Post by ggguestuser | No comments

At this year’s Winter Workshop co-hosted by dSPACE, Inc. and Freescale in Austin, Texas, EcoCAR students and faculty advisors will get the chance to attend several days of software and hardware training sessions, including those led by competition-level sponsors CD-adapco and A123 Systems.

Attendees of CD-adapco’s training session will participate in hands-on STAR-CCM+ exercises for external aerodynamics and battery cooling.  For external aerodynamics, STAR-CCM+’s analysis capabilities – including best practices for models and mesh design, boundary conditions and solution control settings – will be presented.  For battery cooling, an introduction to conjugate heat transfer problems and an overview of STAR-CCM+’s Battery Simulation Module (BSM) will be discussed.

Teams will also hear presentations from Joe Salani and Brian Large of A123 Systems, including a brief course on Ground Fault Detection (GFD) that reviews why GFD is important, methods for GFDs and advice for troubleshooting Ground Faults. Teams will also learn about the Energy Storage System (ESS) deliverable for EcoCAR 2 and the process and outlines for design reviews.

CD-adapco and A123 Systems are just a few of the many competition-level sponsors that will be providing educational presentations and training for EcoCAR students at the  Winter Workshop in Austin, which runs from February 1-5, 2012. Other sponsors offering sessions include General Motors, dSPACE, Inc., Freescale, AVL, Siemens and Vector.

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Introducing the “Engine” Behind UWAFT’s Vehicle Design

December 15, 2011 in EcoCAR 2 News, Team Posts by ggguestuser | No comments

EcoCAR 2 Platinum-level sponsor dSPACE Inc. recently donated a Mid-Size Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) Simulator to the University of Waterloo Alternative Fuels Team (UWAFT) along with each of the other 14 teams competing in EcoCAR 2. dSPACE’s donation is an invaluable tool that helps develop vehicle controllers quickly and safely. UWAFT will use the HIL to test the supervisory controller, which will later be used on the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu.

The dSPACE Mid-Size HIL Simulator in UWAFT’s Garage

An HIL Simulator such as the one donated by dSPACE is used for testing automotive vehicle controllers systematically and automatically. Vehicles sold today typically have a dozen controllers. These include engine, transmission and anti-lock brake controllers, among many others. A tool that allows for systematic and automatic testing can save automakers and part suppliers millions of dollars; hence dSPACE’s HIL is critical to the development process.

So how does dSPACE’s HIL work? A model of a component is first programmed on a computer. For example, UWAFT programs its engine model using MathWorks’ MATLAB and SIMULINK. These models are then run in real-time on the dSPACE HIL. The engine controller is then connected to the HIL and tested. If the computer model of the engine is done correctly the engine controller cannot tell the difference between the HIL engine and the real engine.

The neat part of the engine system is automation. UWAFT can program a series of tests on HIL and see how the engine controller will react. For example, the HIL can simulate an engine overheating or a low oil situation.  If the engine controller is programmed correctly, it should shut down the engine to prevent damage. Using this testing method is much cheaper than breaking an actual engine, and therefore saves companies millions of dollars – and UWAFT a few broken engines!

The other benefit of the HIL is that concepts can be tested before being implemented on the actual vehicle. This allows UWAFT team members to test various cutting-edge ideas without the risk of damaging expensive prototype components. Overall the use of the Mid-Size HIL Simulator will enable UWAFT to safely integrate and implement a vehicle controller, resulting in a quicker and better design than would have been impossible without dSPACE’s invaluable donation!

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EcoCAR 2 Launches Winter Workshop Registration

December 14, 2011 in EcoCAR 2 News by ggguestuser | No comments

Just in time for the holidays, EcoCAR 2 is proud to launch the registration for the Year One Winter Workshop!

Held during February 1-5, 2012 in Austin, Texas, the Winter Workshop will be the first EcoCAR 2 workshop that will feature judged presentations, including Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL), a Business Plan Update, and Youth Education presentations.

Co-hosted by Freescale and dSPACE, Inc., teams will participate in detailed sessions from competition organizers General Motors, the U.S. Department of Energy and Argonne National Laboratory. Teams will also take part in in-depth training of sponsor-donated components and software tools from dSPACE, A123 Systems, Freescale, AVL Powertrain Engineering, CD-Adapco, Siemens, and Vector.

Throughout the workshop, student and advisors will have the opportunity to attend a Welcome Night dinner at Thurman Mansion catered by Salt Lick, an evening event at Maggie Mae’s, and the Sponsor Social Networking and Recruiting event at the historic Driskill Hotel.

So grab your cowboy hat and register for the Year One Winter Workshop! To register, talk to your faculty advisor or team leader for registration details.

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Where Are They Now Wednesdays: Vince Sabatini

November 9, 2011 in EcoCAR 2 News by ggguestuser | No comments

On any given day, Vince Sabatini tests the safety of a car’s controllers with a hardware in-the-loop (HIL) simulator, wires flooding in and out of the complex contraption. But the beginnings of his engineering career started with a far simpler tool: a pen.

Vince Sabatini at the SAE Congress Announcement of EcoCAR 2

Vince, a technical support engineer at dSPACE, Inc., wrote the proposal for Embry-Riddle University, his alma mater, to qualify for EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge. It was Embry-Riddle’s first ever attempt to become involved with Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions (AVTC).

For Vince, this proposal – along with his team’s fourth place win in Year One – was one of his greatest EcoCAR accomplishments. Embry-Riddle’s engineering program was only five years old when the team applied, which meant they had to operate with limited resources and experience.

Beyond earning real-world engineering experience from EcoCAR, Vince gained lifelong friends. “Teams in EcoCAR are a family,” he says. To this day, he still stays in touch with many of those he met during the competition.  With EcoCAR 2 recently beginning, he offers some advice for new participants.

“Don’t underestimate anyone or anything. Even a task that seems simple can end up becoming very complicated very fast,” Vince says.

But Vince isn’t complaining. He jokes that his post-EcoCAR career offers much better pay with much better hours.

Since EcoCAR, he’s worked for the Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition, broadening his communications background and establishing a stronger social media presence for the organization. Today, while working for dSPACE, he spends most of his work days on site at GM’s Milford Proving Ground. He also serves as a dSPACE mentor for the Embry Riddle and University of Washington EcoCAR 2 teams.

Vince is very excited to be involved with EcoCAR 2 for several reasons, including being an AVTC and Embry-Riddle alumnus. But the program’s largest draw for him is the ability to bring dSPACE’s hardware and software to the students.

“Since the biggest benefit of the competition for students is hands-on engineering with industry standard tools and equipment, it is very appropriate that the students will work with dSPACE simulators and rapid prototype controllers. dSPACE has been a leading supplier of simulation tools for over twenty years, and our products are used by all of the major automakers, including General Motors, so it only makes sense that we would sponsor and mentor the next generation of automotive engineers with our equipment,” he said.

Check out the video below to see Vince’s interview about EcoCAR 2 and his explanation of HILs!

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How dSPACE Tools Kept OSU EcoCAR on Track

July 26, 2011 in Sponsor Post, Team Posts by ggguestuser | No comments

The Ohio State University (OSU) EcoCAR team developed an Electric Range Extending Vehicle (EREV) that employs a dedicated E85 engine. Honda donated two identical 1.8L 4-cylinder compressed natural gas (CNG) engines to the team, which the team converted to run on E85 ethanol.  E85 has a higher octane rating than gasoline and is one of the approved fuels of the EcoCAR competition. The high octane rating of E85 allows it to run in the compressed natural gas engine, which is built for higher compression ratios that allow the engine to achieve higher efficiencies than a regular gasoline engine. One engine was set up in a dynamometer test cell with the other one in the vehicle. The two identical engines allowed the team to perform development in the dynamometer test cell and in the vehicle simultaneously in order to optimize the efficiency and emissions of the vehicle. Using the OSU-designed control system, the engine reaches peak diesel like efficiencies of 40% and a peak power of 100 kW.

As part of the competition, emissions testing took place at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory (NVFEL) from March 7-14, 2011. However, a mechanical failure of the engine in the dynamometer test cell left the team without a much-needed test platform for engine tuning before emissions testing took place.  The test data was needed to calibrate engine software for testing at the EPA.

Thanks to sponsor support from dSPACE and the chosen design architecture for the OSU vehicle, the team was able to quickly set up and perform the required engine testing in the vehicle. The OSU vehicle can couple its engine to the 82-kw Remy front electric machine without connecting the front powertrain to the wheels. The dSPACE ControlDesk software provides the calibration interfaces needed to perform engine tuning tests safely in the vehicle.  The team developed an experiment for in-vehicle dynamometer testing in dSPACE’s ControlDesk that allowed the tests to be conducted in the vehicle.  ControlDesk even allowed the dynamometer tools from ETAS, Vector, and Woodward that are usually used in the dynamometer test cell to still be connected to the system, thus making the transition to the temporary in-vehicle testing seamless.

In-vehicle engine test setup designed using dSPACE tools

The OSU team was able to ship their vehicle to the EPA facility for emissions testing. The dSPACE ControlDesk dynamometer set-up allowed the team to get back on schedule and fully prepare for emissions testing at the EPA, despite the hardware setback with the dynamometer engine.  The dSPACE ControlDesk tool is one of many software tools that helped the team remain on schedule to perform well in the final competition events in June 2011. OSU did so well in Finals that the team earned a 2nd Place Overall Finish!

The Ohio State EcoCAR team would like to say thank you to dSPACE Inc. for all their help throughout the three year EcoCAR competition. The team also focused their “Sponsor Series” on dSPACE Inc., where they interviewed Santhosh Jogi, Director of Engineering at dSPACE about his experience with EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge. You can watch the interview below!

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dSPACE Helping Advance Technology Across the Board

July 15, 2011 in Sponsor Post, Video Blogs by ggguestuser | No comments

Check out this cool new video from EcoCAR Platinum sponsor dSPACE! The clip shows how General Motors, Honda Aircraft, and of course, EcoCAR students use dSPACE’s hardware-in-the-loop systems to design and test advanced technologies.

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UVic EcoCAR Stays in the Loop

January 28, 2011 in Team Posts, Video Blogs by ggguest | No comments

Two of the major focuses of the EcoCAR Challenge have been Model-Based Design and Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulation. These techniques allow teams to test everything from failures to fuel economy using a virtual vehicle model. They also help to ensure that a robust, reliable and safe control system makes its way into the car.

Throughout the past semester, several members of the University of Victoria EcoCAR Controls Team worked diligently to improve their HIL system, taking advantage of EcoCAR sponsor dSPACE’s advanced Automotive Simulation Models. The team’s upgraded model accurately represents the real vehicle from the ignition and body roll, right down to the frictional forces between the tires and the road. This work has already paid dividends, allowing the team to accurately test their real-time optimization strategy before making any updates to the vehicle. The new model and preliminary on-road testing also confirmed that UVic’s EcoCAR will be capable of 0-100 km/h (0-60 mph) in about 7.5 seconds, as predicted back in Year One!

Check out the video below to see the UVic team’s model running a 0-100 km/h test on dSPACE MotionDesk Software. Don’t let the default car body in the video fool you, ‘under the hood’ is UVic’s model and just like the real car, it is fast

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MSU EcoCAR Gets Ready to Optimize

December 13, 2010 in Team Posts by ggguest | No comments

With the first semester of the third and final year of EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge under their belt, Mississippi State University’s EcoCAR controls team has been hard at work applying what they learned from the Winter Workshop at The Mathworks headquarters in Boston, MA, to their vehicle control systems.  Not only has the controls team updated their Hardware-in-the-Loop simulator to match their championship competition vehicle, but will soon begin the optimization process using super-computers.

Super-computing allows for iterative simulations to deterimine how systems and components will behave under varioius conditions (image from http://www.HPC.msstate.edu)

MSU is part of the High Performance Computing Collaboratory.  As such, the MSU EcoCAR team is excited to leverage these resources to produce a controller strategy that is optimized for energy management.  Thanks to the support of dSPACE and The Mathworks, the MSU controls team will be optimizing using the latest versions of MATLAB® & Simulink®, which will help keep MSU on top of the competition.

“We are very fortunate to have access to some incredible resources here at Mississippi State University, and as a competition team, we are very excited to use super-computing to push the boundaries of our control systems,” said team leader Matt Doude. “We like having a competitive edge, and we like that edge to be sharp.”

As the team moves forward in the competition, they will also be utilizing other cutting-edge technologies, including a four-wheel chassis dynamometer and 3D virtual environment simulations.

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