Distributed control architecture for powertrains

• US 7,469,177 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc. (Garrett Motion, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Stewart, Gregory E., Lu, Joseph Z., Shahed, Syed M., Samad, Tariq, Ravlena, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith; Jack W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US11/155,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,285 Days
• Field of Search: 701/51, 701/60, 701/61, 701101-109, 701/48, 701/54, 123/406.45, 123/406.47, 123/406.48, 123/445, 12356811-56829, 602/72, 602/76, 602/85, 700/2, 700/3, 700/9, 700/10, 700/28
• 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 that includes an engine, the distributed control system comprising:

a supervisory powertrain control unit configured to control one or more powertrain subsystems, the supervisory powertrain control unit configured to implement a central optimization algorithm that performs a global optimization of powertrain subsystem operation;

two or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, at least two of the two or more subsystem control units are configured to control an operational aspect of the engine, wherein at least two of the subsystem control units that are configured to control an operational aspect of the engine are configured to implement lower-level optimization algorithms that perform a local optimization for the corresponding subsystem using command signals outputted from the supervisory powertrain control unit as input.

2. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said two or more subsystem control units that are configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm include a fuel injection control subsystem, a glow plug control subsystem, an air/EGR control subsystem, a transmission control subsystem, and/or an aftertreatment control subsystem.

3. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein said two or more subsystem control units that are configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm includes an air/EGR control unit.

4. The distributed control system of claim 3, wherein the supervisory powertrain control unit is configured 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 powertrain control unit is in communication with each subsystem control unit via a controller-area network (CAN), a wireless communication network, and/or a dedicated communication link.

9. The distributed control system of claim 1, wherein the supervisory powertrain control unit is further configured to provide one or more feedforward signals to the two or more subsystem control units that are configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm, 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 two or more subsystem control units that are configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm 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 outputs one or more set points for controlling the associated subsystem.

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

17. A distributed control system for controlling an automotive powertrain including an engine, the distributed control system comprising:

a supervisory powertrain control unit configured to control one or more powertrain subsystems, the supervisory powertrain control unit configured to implement a central optimization algorithm that includes a global cost function or optimization routine for optimizing parameters from multiple powertrain subsystems;

two or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, at least two of the two or more subsystem control units configured to control an operational aspect of the engine, wherein at least two of the at least two subsystem control units that are configured to control an operational aspect of the engine are configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm for performing a local optimization for the corresponding subsystem using command signals and/or feedforward signals outputted from the supervisory powertrain control unit as input; and

wherein the lower-level algorithm outputs one or more set points for controlling one or more components and/or actuators of the corresponding subsystem.

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

a supervisory powertrain control unit configured to control an air/EGR control subsystem and at least one additional powertrain subsystem, the powertrain supervisory control unit is configured to implement a central optimization algorithm for performing a global optimization across multiple powertrain subsystems;

an air/EGR control unit in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, the air/EGR control unit configured to implement 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 powertrain control unit; and

at least one additional powertrain subsystem control unit in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, the at least one additional powertrain subsystem configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm for performing a local optimization for the at least one additional powertrain subsystem using command values and/or feedforward signals of the supervisory powertrain control unit.

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

a supervisory powertrain control unit configured to control one or more powertrain subsystems, the supervisory powertrain control unit configured to implement a central optimization algorithm for performing a global optimization of powertrain subsystem operation;

two or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, at least two of the two or more subsystem control units configured to control an operational aspect of the engine, wherein at least two of the at least two or more subsystem control units that are configured to control an operational aspect of the engine are configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm for optimizing one or more engine control parameters and/or engine control signals based at least in part on one or more globally optimized signals received from the supervisory powertrain control unit.

20. The distributed control system of claim 19, wherein the lower-level optimization algorithm optimizes a subsystem-specific cost function using the one or more globally optimized signals as input.