Artificial output reference for model predictive control

• US 9,388,754 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Cygan, Gary Robert Jr., Verdejo, Julian R., Whitney, Christopher E., Bemporad, Alberto, Bernardini, Daniele
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Hieu T
• Application Number:
  US14/225,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20150275789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1412 using a predictive controller
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/1433 using a model or simulation of the system
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/1004 Estimation of the output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/18 Control of the engine output torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2250/22 by keeping a torque reserve, i.e. with temporarily reduced drive train or engine efficiency
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 37/02 one of the functions being ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1401 characterised by the control or regulation method F02D41/1473, F02D41/1477 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/2006 using prediction of future conditions

Abstract

A control system includes a control module that receives a first request corresponding to a control value for at least one of a plurality of actuators, selectively receives a second request associated with a predicted future control value for at least one of the plurality of actuators, determines a target value for the actuator based on the first request if the second request was not received, and generates a reference signal representing the second request if the second request was received. The reference signal indicates at least one of a predicted increase in the control value and a predicted decrease in the control value. A model predictive control module receives the reference signal and adjusts one of the plurality of actuators associated with the predicted future control value based on the reference signal.

Claims

1. A control system, comprising:

a control module that

receives a first request corresponding to a control value for at least one of a plurality of actuators,

selectively receives a second request associated with a predicted future control value for at least one of the plurality of actuators,

if the second request was not received, determines a target value for the actuator based on the first request, and

if the second request was received, generates a reference signal representing the second request, wherein the reference signal indicates at least one of a predicted increase in the control value and a predicted decrease in the control value; and

a model predictive control module that receives the reference signal and adjusts one of the plurality of actuators associated with the predicted future control value based on the reference signal.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the reference signal corresponds to the first request plus or minus an offset indicated by the second request.

3. The control system of claim 1, wherein control module determines the reference signal based on the first request and the second request.

4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the reference signal includes an increase at a second time subsequent to a first time that the reference signal is provided to the model predictive control module.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the model predictive control module adjusts the one of the plurality of actuators associated with the predicted future control value prior to the second time.

6. An engine control system for a vehicle, the engine control system comprising:

a torque requesting module that

receives at least one torque request and selectively receives a predicted torque reserve request,

if the predicted torque reserve request was not received, determines an air torque request based on the at least one torque request, and

if the predicted torque reserve request was received, generates a torque reference signal indicating the predicted torque reserve request, wherein the torque reference signal indicates at least one of a predicted torque request increase and a predicted torque request decrease; and

a model predictive control module that receives the torque reference signal and adjusts a torque reserve based on the torque reference signal.

7. The engine control system of claim 6, wherein the torque reference signal corresponds to the air torque request plus or minus an offset indicated by the predicted torque reserve request.

8. The engine control system of claim 6, wherein the torque requesting module determines the torque reference signal based on the at least one torque request and the predicted torque reserve request.

9. The engine control system of claim 6, wherein the torque reference signal includes an increase at a second time subsequent to a first time that the torque reference signal is provided to the model predictive control module.

10. The engine control system of claim 9, wherein the model predictive control module increases the torque reserve prior to the second time.

11. The engine control system of claim 10, wherein the model predictive control module increases the torque reserve until the torque reserve is approximately equal to an amount of torque corresponding to the predicted torque reserve request.

12. The engine control system of claim 11, wherein the torque reference signal includes the increase at a third time subsequent to the first time when the torque reserve is approximately equal to an amount of torque corresponding to the predicted torque reserve request, and wherein the third time is subsequent to the first time and prior to the second time.

13. A method of operating an engine control system for a vehicle, the method comprising:

receiving at least one torque request,

selectively receiving a predicted torque reserve request;

determining an air torque request based on the at least one torque request if the predicted torque reserve request was not received;

determining a torque reference signal indicating the predicted torque reserve request if the predicted torque reserve request was received, wherein the torque reference signal indicates at least one of a predicted torque request increase and a predicted torque request decrease; and

adjusting a torque reserve based on the torque reference signal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the torque reference signal corresponds to the air torque request plus or minus an offset indicated by the predicted torque reserve request.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising determining the torque reference signal based on the at least one torque request and the predicted torque reserve request.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the torque reference signal includes an increase at a second time subsequent to a first time that the torque reference signal is determined.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising increasing the torque reserve prior to the second time.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising increasing the torque reserve until the torque reserve is approximately equal to an amount of torque corresponding to the predicted torque reserve request.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the torque reference signal includes the increase at a third time subsequent to the first time when the torque reserve is approximately equal to an amount of torque corresponding to the predicted torque reserve request, and wherein the third time is subsequent to the first time and prior to the second time.