Mechanism of vehicular periodic operation for optimal fuel economy in free‐driving scenarios. Issue 3 (1st April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Shengbo Eben; Hu, Xiaosong; Li, Keqiang; Ahn, Changsun
• Is Part Of: IET intelligent transport systems. Volume 9:Issue 3(2015)
• Page Start: 306
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2015-04-01
• Subjects: optimal control -- fuel economy -- engines -- automobiles; vehicular periodic operation -- optimal fuel economy -- free‐driving scenarios -- eco‐driving technologies -- autonomous vehicles -- optimal control problem -- π‐test -- S‐shaped engine fueling rate -- singular arcs -- Legendre pseudospectral method -- break speciflc fuel consumption point -- engine idling point -- engine periodic operation -- passenger cars; Intelligent transportation systems -- Periodicals; Electronics in transportation -- Periodicals; 388.31205
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-its.2014.0002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-956X

Abstract

Abstract : In addition to the fuel‐efficient design of vehicles, eco‐driving technologies can further reduce the fuel consumption and carbon emissions of road transportation. One of the major issues in eco‐driving technologies is how to determine the fuel savings or fuel‐optimised operating strategies of the power train. We examine the periodic operation of autonomous vehicles in free‐driving scenarios with the purpose of maximising fuel economy. The design of such strategies can be considered to be an optimal control problem, which is proved by π ‐test to have singular arcs because of the S‐shaped engine fueling rate. The optimal operations are solved numerically by using the Legendre pseudospectral method, and many are found to demonstrate periodic behaviours, that is, pulse and gliding. In periodic operation, the engine switches between the minimum break specific fuel consumption point and the idling point, while the vehicle speed oscillates between its upper and lower bounds. The formation of periodic operation, as well as some key properties, is analysed and presented.