Distributed control architecture for powertrains

• US 20060287795A1
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc. (Garrett Motion, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Shahed, Syed M., Stewart, Gregory E., Lu, Joseph Z., Samad, Tariq, Ravlena, Vladimir
• Granted Patent: US 7,469,177 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/54
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/141 using a feed-forward control element
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1433 using a model or simulation of the system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1436 Hybrid model
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0007 for control of turbo-charged or super-charged engines control of the pumps per se F02B37/12
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0047 Controlling exhaust gas recirculation [EGR] temperature control with cooler in recirculation circuit F02M26/33
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0215 in relation with elements of the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0235 in relation with the state of the exhaust gas treating apparatus control of exhaust gas treating apparatus per se F01N
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1406 with use of a optimisation method, e.g. iteration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/30 Controlling fuel injection F02D41/182, F02D41/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/024 in which a parameter or coefficient is automatically adjusted to optimise the performance

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling automotive powertrains using a distributed control architecture are disclosed. A distributed control system may include a supervisory control unit for controlling one or more powertrain subsystems, and one or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory control unit. The supervisory control unit can be configured to execute a central optimization algorithm that computes variables from across multiple powertrain subsystems, and then outputs a number of globally approximated command values to each associated subsystem control unit. In some embodiments, the central optimization algorithm can be configured to solve a global cost function or optimization routine. One or more of the subsystem control units can be configured to execute a lower-level algorithm or routine, which can comprise a higher-fidelity model than that used by the central optimization algorithm.

Claims

1. A distributed control system for controlling an automotive powertrain, the distributed control system comprising:

a supervisory control unit for controlling one or more powertrain subsystems, the supervisory control unit adapted to execute a central optimization algorithm;

one or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory control unit, at least one of said one or more subsystem control units adapted to execute a lower-level algorithm using command signals outputted from the supervisory control unit as input.

2. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said one or more powertrain subsystems includes a fuel injection control subsystem, a glow plug control subsystem, an air/EGR control subsystem, a transmission control subsystem, and an aftertreatment control subsystem.

3. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said one or more subsystem control units includes an air/EGR control unit.

4. The distributed control system of claim 3, wherein the supervisory control unit is adapted to provide one or more airside commands to the air/EGR control unit.

5. The distribution control system of claim 4, wherein said one or more airside commands to the air/EGR control unit includes a boost pressure command.

6. The distribution control system of claim 4, wherein said one or more airside commands to the air/EGR control unit includes an EGR flow rate command.

7. The distribution control system of claim 4, wherein said one or more airside commands to the air/EGR control unit includes an exhaust temperature command.

8. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the supervisory control unit is in communication with each subsystem control unit via a controller-area network (CAN) network, a wireless communication network, and/or a dedicated communication link.

9. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the supervisory control unit is further configured to provide one or more feedforward signals to the one or more subsystem control units, the feedforward signals including one or more parameters from another subsystem control unit.

10. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said one or more subsystem control units is adapted to provide commands to one or more lower-level control algorithms.

11. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the central optimization algorithm and/or lower-level algorithms include a number of constraint variables.

12. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the central optimization algorithm includes a global cost function or optimization routine.

13. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the central optimization algorithm includes a coarse-grained model of the powertrain system.

14. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the central optimization algorithm includes a steady-state model of the powertrain system.

15. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the lower-level algorithm is adapted to output one or more set points for controlling the associated subsystem.

16. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said lower-level algorithm is an optimization algorithm.

17. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein each lower-level algorithm includes a higher-fidelity model of the associated subsystem than the central optimization algorithm.

18. A distributed control system for controlling an automotive powertrain, the distributed control system comprising:

a supervisory control unit for controlling one or more powertrain subsystems, the supervisory control unit adapted to execute a central optimization algorithm including a global cost function or optimization routine for optimizing parameters from multiple powertrain subsystems;

one or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory control unit, at least one of said one or more subsystem control units adapted to execute a lower-level algorithm using command signals and/or feedforward signals outputted from the supervisory control unit as input; and

wherein the lower-level algorithm is adapted to output one or more set points for controlling one or more subsystem components and/or actuators associated with the subsystem.

19. A distributed control system for controlling an automotive powertrain, the distributed control system comprising:

a supervisory control unit for controlling an air/EGR control subsystem and at least one additional powertrain subsystem, the supervisory control unit adapted to execute a central optimization algorithm;

an air/EGR control unit in communication with the supervisory control unit, the air/EGR control unit adapted to execute an airside optimization algorithm adapted to output one or more airside control signals based on command values and/or feedforward signals sent from the supervisory control unit; and

at least one additional control unit in communication with the supervisory control unit.

20. A method of controlling an automotive powertrain, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a supervisory control unit in communication with a plurality of powertrain subsystems, the supervisory control unit adapted to execute a central optimization algorithm or routine for coordinating the control of each of the associated powertrain subsystems;

computing one or more parameters using the central optimization algorithm and outputting one or more globally optimized command values to one or more subsystem control units associated with said plurality of powertrain subsystem;

computing one or more control set point values using at least one subsystem control unit; and

outputting the one or more control set point values to a subsystem component and/or actuator.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the supervisory control unit is adapted to transmit various feedforward signals to one or more of the associated subsystem control units, said feedforward signals including a fuel command signal.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of computing one or more parameters using the central optimization algorithm includes the step of minimizing a global cost function of the powertrain.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of computing one or more control signals is performed using a lower-level optimization algorithm or routine of the subsystem control unit.

24. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of returning one or more locally-optimized control signals back to the central optimization algorithm after said step of computing one or more control signals using the at least one subsystem control unit.