Reducing fuel consumption through modular vehicle architectures

By identifying energy waste streams in vehicles fuel consumption and introducing the concept of lean driving systems, a technological gap for reducing fuel consumption was identified. This paper proposes a solution to overcome this gap, through a modular vehicle architecture aligned with driving patterns. It does not address detailed technological solutions; instead it models the potential effects in fuel consumption through a modular concept of a vehicle and quantifies their dependence on vehicle design parameters (manifesting as the vehicle mass) and user behavior parameters (driving patterns manifesting as the use of a modular car in lighter and heavier mode, in urban and highway cycles). Modularity has been functionally applied in automotive industry as manufacture and assembly management strategies; here it is thought as a product development strategy for flexibility in use, driven by environmental concerns and enabled by social behaviors. The authors argue this concept is a step forward in combining technological solutions and social behavior, of which eco-driving is a vivid example, and potentially evolutionary to a lean, more sustainable, driving culture.

Modelling and aerodynamic simulation of a vehicle and failure analysis of a laminated front fender

Master Thesis in Mechanical Engineering field of Maintenance and Production

Autonomous bathymetry for risk assessment with ROAZ robotic surface vehicle

The use of unmanned marine robotic vehicles in bathymetric surveys is discussed. This paper presents recent results in autonomous bathymetric missions with the ROAZ autonomous surface vehicle. In particular, robotic surface vehicles such as ROAZ provide an efficient tool in risk assessment for shallow water environments and water land interface zones as the near surf zone in marine coast. ROAZ is an ocean capable catamaran for distinct oceanographic missions, and with the goal to fill the gap were other hydrographic surveys vehicles/systems are not compiled to operate, like very shallow water rivers and marine coastline surf zones. Therefore, the use of robotic systems for risk assessment is validated through several missions performed either in river scenario (in a very shallow water conditions) and in marine coastlines.

Vehicle-to-anything application (v2anything app) for electric vehicles

This paper presents a mobile information system denominated as Vehicle-to-Anything Application (V2Anything App), and explains its conceptual aspects. This application is aimed at giving relevant information to Full Electric Vehicle (FEV) drivers, by supporting the integration of several sources of data in a mobile application, thus contributing to the deployment of the electric mobility process. The V2Anything App provides recommendations to the drivers about the FEV range autonomy, location of battery charging stations, information of the electricity market, and also a route planner taking into account public transportations and car or bike sharing systems. The main contributions of this application are related with the creation of an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) platform, recommender systems, data integration systems, driver profile, and personalized range prediction. Thus, it is possible to deliver relevant information to the FEV drivers related with the electric mobility process, electricity market, public transportation, and the FEV performance.

Designing next generation car washing machines with rotary brushes

Tese de Doutoramento - Leaders for Technical Industries (LTI) - MIT Portugal

Development of a thermoelectric generator for the exhaust of a vehicle

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Mecânica

Assessment and analysis of mechanical allodynia-like behavior induced by spared nerve injury (SNI) in the mouse

Rrésumé: La première description dans une publication médicale des douleurs neuropathiques remonte à 1872, le Dr S.W. Mitchell les résumant ainsi [...]" la causalgie est la plus terrible des tortures qu'une lésion nerveuse puisse entraîner "[...]. Par définition, la douleur neuropathique est une douleur chronique faisant suite à une lésion ou dysfonction du système nerveux. Malgré les progrès faits dans la compréhension de ce syndrome, le détail des mécanismes impliqués nous échappe encore et son traitement reste insuffisant car moins de 50% des patients sont soulagés par les thérapies actuelles. Différents modèles expérimentaux ont été élaborés chez l'animal de laboratoire, en particulier des modèles de lésion de nerfs périphériques chez le rat, permettant des investigations tant moléculaires que fonctionnelles des mécanismes impliqués dans le développement de ces douleurs. En revanche, peu de modèles existent chez la souris, alors que cet animal, grâce à la transgénèse, est très fréquemment utilisé pour l'approche fonctionnelle ciblée sur un gène. Dans l'étude présentée ici, nous avons évalué chez la souris C57BL/6 l'adaptation d'un modèle neuropathique, proposé une nouvelle modalité de mesure de la sensibilité douloureuse adaptée à la souris et défini une méthode d'analyse performante des résultats. Ce modèle, dit de lésion avec épargne nerveuse (spared Werve injury, SNI), consiste en la lésion de deux des trois branches du nerf sciatique, soit les nerfs peronier commun et tibial. La troisième branche, le nerf sural est laissé intact et c'est dans le territoire cutané de ce dernier que la sensibilité douloureuse à des stimulations mécaniques est enregistrée. Des filaments calibrés de force croissante sont appliqués sur la surface de la patte impliquée et la fréquence relative de retrait de la patte a été modélisée mathématiquement et analysée par un modèle statistique intégrant tous les paramètres de l'expérience (mixed-effects model). Des variantes chirurgicales lésant séquentiellement les trois branches du nerf sciatique ainsi que la réponse en fonction du sexe de l'animal ont également été évaluées. La lésion SNI entraîne une hypersensibilité mécanique marquée comparativement aux souris avec chirurgie contrôle; cet effet est constant entre les animaux et persiste durant les quatre semaines de l'étude. De subtiles différences entre les variables, y compris une divergence de sensibilité mécanique entre les sexes, ont été démontrées. La nécessité de léser le nerf tibial pour le développement des symptômes a également été documentée par notre méthode d'évaluation et d'analyse. En conclusion, nous avons validé le modèle SNI chez la souris par l'apparition d'un symptôme reproductible et apparenté à l'allodynie mécanique décrite par les patients souffrant de douleurs neuropathiques. Nous avons développé des méthodes d'enregistrement et d'analyse de la sensibilité douloureuse sensibles qui permettent la mise en évidence de facteurs intrinsèques et extrinsèques de variation de la réponse. Le modèle SNI utilisé chez des souris génétiquement modifiées, de par sa précision et reproductibilité, pourra permettre la discrimination de facteurs génétiques et épigénétiques contribuant au développement et à la persistance de douleurs neuropathiques.

Justifying Institutional Investment in OER Development : OERs as Marketing Vehicle

The higher education sector has become increasingly competitive and prospective students are adopting a consumerist approach to institution and programme choice. In response, higher education marketing has become more complex, market-oriented and business-like. Financial sustainability of open education resource (OER) projects is a widespread concern. This paper explores the extent to which a classical product placement framework can be applied to OERs to justify institutional funding in OER projects as a marketing investment. It is argued that OERs designed on this premise can increase cognitive, affective and conative brand outcomes while providing the traditional educational and societal benefits associated with OERs. A series of propositions are presented that may form the basis of a future research agenda.

Where is my car?

L'objectiu del projecte és dissenyar i desenvolupar un petit APP o aplicatiu per tal de trobar la ubicació del vehicle aparcat.

Toxic effects of brake wear particles on epithelial lung cells in vitro

Background: Fine particulate matter originating from traffic correlates with increased morbidity and mortality. An important source of traffic particles is brake wear of cars which contributes up to 20% of the total traffic emissions. The aim of this study was to evaluate potential toxicological effects of human epithelial lung cells exposed to freshly generated brake wear particles. Results: An exposure box was mounted around a car's braking system. Lung cells cultured at the air-liquid interface were then exposed to particles emitted from two typical braking behaviours ("full stop" and "normal deceleration"). The particle size distribution as well as the brake emission components like metals and carbons was measured on-line, and the particles deposited on grids for transmission electron microscopy were counted. The tight junction arrangement was observed by laser scanning microscopy. Cellular responses were assessed by measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (cytotoxicity), by investigating the production of reactive oxidative species and the release of the pro-inflammatory mediator interleukin-8. The tight junction protein occludin density decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing concentrations of metals on the particles (iron, copper and manganese, which were all strongly correlated with each other). Occludin was also negatively correlated with the intensity of reactive oxidative species. The concentrations of interleukin-8 were significantly correlated with increasing organic carbon concentrations. No correlation was observed between occludin and interleukin-8, nor between reactive oxidative species and interleukin-8. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the metals on brake wear particles damage tight junctions with a mechanism involving oxidative stress. Brake wear particles also increase pro-inflammatory responses. However, this might be due to another mechanism than via oxidative stress. [Authors]

Electric propulsion system in a modern sports car

In this thesis an electric propulsion system is designed on a device level using Cadence ORCAD. The vehicle belongs to the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sci-ences and it is to compete in the Automotive X-Prize competition held in the USA. In this thesis the electric propulsion system and related electric safety measures are designed. Also electro-magnetic compatibility and interferences present in the system are examined by examining the birth mechanisms and transmission paths of interference. Per device effects of interference and solutions to minimize them were examined and proposed. Suitability of permanent magnet synchronous machines for passenger vehicle use was examined by examining the torque production capability of the motor and the torque requirements of the vehicle. Also a short overview of history of electric vehicles is given.

Design and Control of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine for Hybrid Electric Vehicle

This master’s thesis mainly focuses on the design requirements of an Electric drive for Hybrid car application and its control strategy to achieve a wide speed range. It also emphasises how the control and performance requirements are transformed into its design variables. A parallel hybrid topology is considered where an IC engine and an electric drive share a common crank shaft. A permanent magnet synchronous machine (PMSM) is used as an electric drive machine. Performance requirements are converted into Machine design variables using the vector model of PMSM. Main dimensions of the machine are arrived using analytical approach and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used to verify the design and performance. Vector control algorithm was used to control the machine. The control algorithm was tested in a low power PMSM using an embedded controller. A prototype of 10 kW PMSM was built according to the design values. The prototype was tested in the laboratory using a high power converter. Tests were carried out to verify different operating modes. The results were in agreement with the calculations.

Taloudelliset autojen hallintaratkaisut etelä-kymenlaakson ammattiopistossa

Työn tavoitteena oli selvittää Etelä-Kymenlaakson Ammattiopiston autokannan kokonaistila, ongelmat, taloudellisuus ja esittää selvitettyjen tietojen perusteella parannusehdotuksia. Tietojen kerääminen tapahtui pääosin haastattelemalla organisaation henkilöitä sekä tukeutumalla saatavilla olevaan teoria-aineistoon. Työn tuloksena saatiin selville autokannan karkea euromääräinen vuotuinen kokonaiskuormitus, nykytilan ongelmat ja autokaluston uudelleenmitoituksen tarve. Tulosten perusteella tehtiin kehittämisehdotukset, joissa ehdotettiin yksikkökohtaisia ajojärjestelijöitä sekä pääajojärjestelijää Etelä- Kymenlaakson ammattiopistolle. Yksikkökohtaisen ajojärjestelijän vastuualueeksi määriteltiin sekä kaikki oman yksikön autot että osastojen autot. Pääajojärjestelijälle määriteltiin kaikkien yksiköiden ajojen seuranta, organisointi sekä autokaluston huollosta vastaaminen. Työssä otettiin myös kantaa Leasing- kaluston kannattavuuteen ja suunnitteilla olevaan GPS- järjestelmään. Nykyisten sopimusten ja ajomäärien valossa leasingkalusto todettiin kannattamattomaksi. GPS- paikannusjärjestelmästä ehdotettiin sen asentamista vain osaan autoista kustannusten säästämiseksi.

Design of salient pole PM synchronous machines for a vehicle traction application – Analysis and

This doctoral thesis presents a study on the development of a liquid-cooled frame salient pole permanent-magnet-exited traction machine for a four-wheel-driven electric car. The emphasis of the thesis is put on a radial flux machine design in order to achieve a light-weight machine structure for traction applications. The design features combine electromagnetic and thermal design methods, because traction machine operation does not have a strict operating point. Arbitrary load cycles and the flexible supply require special attention in the design process. It is shown that accurate modelling of the machine magnetic state is essential for high-performance operation. The saturation effect related to the cross-saturation has to be taken carefully into account in order to achieve the desired operation. Two prototype machines have been designed and built for testing: one totally enclosed machine with a special magnet module pole arrangement and another through-ventilated machine with a more traditional embedded magnet structure. Both structures are built with magnetically salient structures in order to increase the torque production capability with the reluctance torque component. Both machine structures show potential for traction usage. However, the traditional embedded magnet design turns out to be mechanically the more secure one of these two machine options.

Advances in modelling of mechatronic systems: the toolset FASIM_C++ for the simulation of vehicle dynamics

The increasing complexity of controller systems, applied in modern passenger cars, requires adequate simulation tools. The toolset FASIM_C++, described in the following, uses complex vehicle models in three-dimensional vehicle dynamics simulation. The structure of the implemented dynamic models and the generation of the equations of motion applying the method of kinematic differentials is explained briefly. After a short introduction in methods of event handling, several vehicle models and applications like controller development, roll-over simulation and real-time-simulation are explained. Finally some simulation results are presented.