1- Development of powertrain testing systems.
The research aims at the model-based development of powertrain test systems such as hydraulic or elctro-hydraulic brakes. The approach is grounded on a control-oriented model of the components, allowing the simulation of the whole plant and the development of the control system.
2- Development of combustion sensing systems.
The research amis at developing sensors and methodologies for cylinder pressure sensing. The system under development features a piezo-electric ring working as a washer: the piezoelectric washer is stressed by cylinder pressure, which allows sensing the combustion event.
3- Development of testing equimpent (hardware and software) for Internal Combustion Engines.
The Group of research designed and continues the development of testing equipment for internal combustion engines: the equipment is already used in four test benches in the Department of Industrial Engineering, where they allow managing engines testing conditions, acquiring and analizing in real time signals from the engine or the test cells. The project lead to the development of a combustion analyzer (indicating system), a test bench controller, and several software tools for the data post-processing.
4- Development of knock diagnosisi algorithms for control and calibration. The downsizing and the increase of compression ratio of gasoline engines makes knock diagnosis a crucial task to improve the engines efficiency. The objective is to process the cylinder pressure signal in order to define a robust knock index, allowing to keep the engine on the knock limit, while avoiding excessive knock intensity. The knock index is developed for calibration, but also for real-time combustion management: in the latter case it is used in the implementation of a knock-predictive control algorithm.
5- Development of rapid Control Prototyping Systems. An open source software platform (implemented in LabVIEW/Simulink) is being developed to manage complex engine control system layouts, such as those required for HCCI, RCCI, SACI combustion control.
