Weekly report 2

Learn from outside resourses

The truck cruise control system is built on the matlab and the majority controller
simulations is done by MATLAB Simulink program. Since several group members took
course related to matlab and coding, it is still not enough for this design project.
In order to gain enough knowledge to meet the need of the project. The group
starts to looking for outside online resource, such as book, papar, and tutoring video,
from this week, and will keeps looking during the rest weeks of this quarter. According to
the conversation with the advisor, the major task for this quarter is to get familiar with
the software provided and try to make several approach concepts to figure out the
assigned problems. It is necessary for the group to get well prepared before initiating
the actual controller design.
The group first uses the Drexel library website to find available eBook about
matlab Simulink function. For example, High performance control of AC drives with
MATLAB written by Abu-Rub, Haithem, doctor of the Electrical Engineering and
Engineering computations and modeling in MATLAB by Yakimenko, Oleg A. These two
books are both available to access during library website, and they are excellent
studying material for all group members.

Figure 1: Drexel library book keyword search

Another efficient method to learn is to watch the specific tutoring video on

YouTube. Since every group member is an International student, the ability to absorb
knowledge from written material is a kind of lack. However, the tutoring video has easyunderstanding language and the most useful examples showed step by step. In

addition, the tutoring video is able to be watched mutable times and easy to access at
everywhere.

Figure 2: Screenshot of the YouTube tutoring video

Possible approach concepts

First, the team need to come up at least two alternative concepts by the end of
fall quarter. One could be designed through our knowledge towards maximizing our cars
fuel efficiency in our daily life. In addition, the team also has to design a controller which
is based on calculations and simulation results.
Then in the winter quarter, test the feasibility of those concepts by Matlab
Simulink. In Spring quarter, make improvements on the concepts and test the controlling
system in lab.
The group is going to think about more concepts during the rest weeks.

Useful information for truck

Automotive
Hybrid vehicle
power plants

Controller for a prototype hybrid vehicle to control six

wheel motors and diesel engine

Engine control
units

Rapid prototyping of new algorithms for next

generation ECU units

Active suspension

In-vehicle rapid prototyping for active suspension for

passenger cars

Wind tunnel testing

Control position and orientation of a test car for

aerodynamic studies

Body electronics

Rapid prototyping to test and validate control logic

Powertrain and
transmission

Prototype of powertrain and transmission controls for

truck designs

Vehicle controls

Prototype algorithms for a wide range of ECUs across

powertrain, chassis, hydraulics

ECU software
testing

Environment to test ECU software together with HIL

plant simulation automatically

Climate control

Full car climate HIL simulator with extensive I/O,

sensors, and actuators

Heavy-duty truck
simulator

HIL system for engine, transmission, dashboard,

ABS/braking, cruise control

Engine controllers

Hardware-in-the-loop verification of engine controllers

Powertrain
simulator

HIL system consisting of 9 nodes (target PCs)

connected via shared memory