Self Tuning of Nonlinear Robust Controls for Automotive Valves with Repetitive Actuations 2009-01-1016

Among various applications of the automotive engine and chassis controls, PWM driven actuators and valves are commonly used, such as an electronic throttle control in both gasoline and diesel engines, variable valve timing control, EGR control, proportional valve regulating pressures, and etc. Many of such valves are used under the conditions of uncertainties, disturbances, frictions, wear and tear, system aging, and sensor noises as well. Maintaining system functions with high performance under such tough environments and through out the full useful life cycle, is highly desirable but very challenging for control designs. Additional component issues such as electronic signal drifting, mechanical hysteresis, frictions will just add another level of difficulties.

In this paper, we proposed a unique and practical control strategy which is relatively easy to implement, however still able to provide us with advantages in handling robustness. And particularly for many periodic actuations, the controller can adapt and retune for reducing the system errors and improving the control performance. Beside theoretical analysis and illustration of the approach which can be applied to many different applications, we also discuss a real application case, a repetitive throttle control for Diesel aftertreatment regeneration. Comparison between the experimental results with or without our new design feature shows the advantage of our design.