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Engine Monitoring System (EMOS) plays a crucial role towards engine safety and monitoring for low cost commercial vehicles not equipped with a full-fledged Engine Management System (EMS). The EMOS system mainly focuses on monitoring of coolant temperature, alternator belt failure, and lubrication oil pressure and coolant level indication This paper describes various engineering design considerations for balancing the application requirements with implementation costs. It also highlights some common pit-falls in detecting alternator failures leading to nuisance trips as well as system design considerations involved in matching the gauge indication accuracy with the coolant high temperature trip point. The system designer needs to take into account, difference between alternator belt slippage versus total belt failure condition and implement different control strategies accordingly.

The conception of new engines as well as the further development of those already existing, is influenced to an ever accelerating extent by the aspects of cost, besides the need for driveability, fuel economy and ecological conservation. For an independent engine manufacturer it is especially important to be able to offer products that, considering the competition in terms of performance, fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and noise levels, have favourable price ranges. The growing need for environmental preservation, in particular, has forced the introduction of normaly more expensive technology such as new injection and turbocharging systems. In relation to the criteria involved in minimising the production costs, this results in a conflict of objectives.

A low cost fault tolerant and redundant multiplex wiring system specifically designed for automotive applications is described in this paper. Although there are many multiplex wiring systems are being used to simplify the car wiring harness, but very few are low cost, fault tolerant and redundant at the same time. Most of the system address mainly the protocol and software issues and neglected the reliability of the multiplex wiring system. This paper addresses the fault tolerant and redundancy of the system and use hardware based integrated circuit to convert from parallel to serial at the transmitter side and serial to parallel at the receiver side.

Power-supply forms a key hardware block for every automotive ECU. Apart from delivering robust and reliable logic supply voltages it is also burdened with many auxiliary tasks like transient protection, good EMI/EMC performance, Power-hold function, Analog Sensor supply voltage etc. It also needs to meet all automotive norms including short to battery/ground etc. This paper discusses low cost implementation techniques which maximize the value delivered to the vehicle application at minimal cost. Innovative techniques are described for combining sensor and logic supplies wherever applicable. Hurdles faced during such circuit optimization are clearly explained along with the solutions adopted to overcome hurdles yet meeting automotive test norms. A novel low cost concept which combines transient protection as well as power-hold function (without using the conventional relay based technique) further adds value to the end application.

The application of hybridization technology is now widely regarded as a significant step forward to reduce fuel consumption and hence CO₂ emissions for ground vehicles. Many programs and much research has been done on these technologies in the automotive market, however little work has been done in the very cost sensitive market sector of the small motorcycle. This paper introduces and discusses the application of a low-cost hybrid technology to small motorcycles and scooters, and reviews some of the initial trade-offs through the use of a new hybrid simulation model developed at Cranfield University. The study being presented assessed the existing Energy Storage Systems (ESS) in the market. This list was reduced, omitting options which posed a clear safety or cost risk, or solutions which would disproportionally increased the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). Also omitted were storage options which could not be production ready in the near term, 3 - 5 years.

Integration of vehicle system components provides important cost and weight reductions, valuable space savings, etc. while maintaining reliability and performance. Clear Vision Safety is enhanced by combining the major components and functions of a vehicle windshield washer system. This new system integrates hot fluid windshield cleaning with the wiper motor and washer pump, which is adapted to the wiper linkage assembly. The components of the hot fluid windshield cleaning system (heating elements and advanced electronics) are combined with a unique motor with gearing capable of both 1) high torque output for driving the windshield wiper linkage, and 2) high speed output for pumping hot fluid onto the windshield. Motor and pump drive requirements and features are efficiently integrated into one electronic circuit for improved reliability and significant cost reduction.

A production calibrated GTDI 1.6L Ford Fusion was used to demonstrate low HC, CO, NOx, PM (particulate mass), and PN (particulate number) emissions using advanced catalyst technologies with newly developed high porosity substrates and coated GPFs (gasoline particulate filters). The exhaust system consisted of 1.2 liters of TWC (three way catalyst) in the close-coupled position, and 1.6L of coated GPF in the underfloor position. The catalysts were engine-aged on a dynamometer to simulate 150K miles of road aging. Results indicate that ULEV70 emissions can be achieved at ∼$40 of PGM, while also demonstrating PM tailpipe performance far below the proposed California Air Resources Board (CARB) LEV III limit of 1 mg/mi. Along with PM and PN analysis, exhaust system backpressure is also presented with various GPF designs.

Since its inception, beam forming has become one of the most popular techniques in the acoustics society. Today acoustics engineers use this measurement technique for sound pressure visualization, noise source identification at mid and high frequencies. With the plentiful possibilities, many acoustics professionals want to use this technique but it could be very costly and time consuming at times. The beam forming method complements near field acoustic holography method and can be used for mid to high frequencies (1000-10kHz). Since there are many ways to arrange the microphone positions in a sensor array, we introduced some reasoning and estimation as how to design an array with minimal sensors. In addition, in a stationary operating condition, the array could be rotated to gain more resolution and accuracy. In this paper, we described the regular fixed position array designs with circular 8, cross 8 and circular 9 sensor arrays.

Feedforward artificial neural networks are universal function approximators and inherently parallel computing structures. Because of the lack of appropriate hardware realisations, applications of neural networks are predominantly implemented as sequential programs on digital processors. In this paper we describe an analogue integrated circuit realisation of a local response neural network (LCNN) that achieves a high degree of parallel computation in a small size, low cost and low power consumption. Because it can directly receive analog inputs from sensors and output analog control signals to actuators it is well suited as a building block for real-time control systems.

This document presents a methodology for obtaining the vehicle performance curves and values by means of the OBD2 port for a specific vehicle. In particular the Torque - Power engine curves and acceleration performance following SAE guidelines. Additionally we obtain the wheel dynamic rolling radius to get a more realistic performance. The results obtained are compared to a chassis dynamometer test performed on the same vehicle to prove feasibility for a low cost implementation when there is no access to said testing tools.

The energy crisis coupled with depleting fuel reserves and rising emission levels has encouraged research in the fields of performance enhancement, emission reduction technologies and engineering designs. The present paper aims primarily to offset the problem of high emissions and low efficiencies in low cost CI engines used as temporary power solutions on a large scale. The investigation relates to the low cost optimization of an intake runner having the ability to vary the swirl ratio within the runner. Test runs reveal that NOx and CO2 follow a relatively smaller gradient of rise and fall in their values depending on the configuration; whereas UHC and CO have a rapid changes in values with larger gradients. However, in a relative analysis, no configuration was able to simultaneously reduce all emission parameters and thus, there exists a necessity to find an optimized configuration as a negotiation between the improved and deteriorated parameters.

Until recently, it was necessary to spend tens of thousands of dollars on hardware and software to produce computer generated accident reconstruction animations. Several software companies have now developed powerful 3-D animation for the PC, Mac, and Amiga machines. This paper compares several such systems and describes a method to produce animations using the PC-compatible platform.

Powertrain system duplication for hybrid electric vehicles and range-extenders presents serious cost challenges. Cost increase can be mitigated by reducing the number of cylinders but this usually has a negative impact on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) of the vehicle system. This paper considers a novel form of two-stroke cycle engine offering potential for low emissions, reduced production cost and high potential vehicle efficiency. The engine uses segregated pump charging via the use of stepped pistons offering potential for low emissions. Installation as a power plant for automotive hybrid electric vehicles or as a range-extender for electric vehicles could present a low mass solution addressing the drive for vehicle fleet CO2 reduction. Operation on the two-stroke cycle enables NVH advantages over comparable four-stroke cycle units, however the durability of conventional crankcase scavenged engines can present significant challenges.

Electric driving is generally limited to short distances in an emission sensible urban environment. In the present situation with high cost electric storage and long charging duration hybridization is the key to enable electric driving. In comparison to the passenger car segment, where numerous manufacturers are already producing and offering different hybrid configurations for their premium class models, the two wheeler sector is not yet affected by this trend. The main reason for the retarded implementation of this new hybrid technology is its high system costs, as they cannot be covered by a reasonable product price. Especially for the two wheeler class L1e, with a maximum speed of 45 km/h and an engine displacement of less than 50 cm₃, the cost factor is highly important and decisive for its market acceptance, because the majority of vehicles are still low-cost products equipped with simple carbureted 2-stroke engines.

This paper reports the studies, design and developments of an electronic electro-actuated gearshifter installed on the DP7, which is Politecnico di Milano car that took part at Formula SAE 2015 competitions in Hockenheim and Varano dè Melegari. The original idea was born to replace the hydraulic gearshift system used until 2011 because of its high weight and cost. After many evaluations about the kind of technology to use, made by previous team members in the electronic department, the final project was a fully electric shifter. This system has proven its qualities among which are lightness and low cost.

This paper presents a low-cost switched diversity receiver system utilizing a single tuner, simple remote antenna unit and one RF cable. The switched diversity algorithm is implemented in the receiver using digital signal processing. The remote unit contains RF switches that select from multiple antenna elements in response to a control signal from the receiver. The control signal is sent from the receiver to the remote unit via the RF cable. Simple logic in the remote unit provides decoding for switch control.

In addition to supporting the full repertoire of bus controller functions required for the protocol portion of the R.T. Production Test Plan, the latest generation of low cost 1553 protocol testers provides versatile capabilities for remote terminal simulation and real-time monitoring. When used in conjunction with a very low cost “Noise” (Word Error Rate) tester, such a protocol tester is capable of performing the “Bus Switching” test for dual redundancy. This class of noise tester provides all the necessary hardware and firmware required to perform the Word Error Rate Test of the R.T. Validation (SEAFAC) test, including the noise source. Both instruments are fully controllable by means of the IEEE-488 (GPIB) interface, including DMA capability for the protocol tester.

Pressure sensors in automobiles are used in connexion with electronic systems intended to control carburation. The pressure range to be measured is around the atmospheric pressure, a tolerance in the order of ±2% is required in the temperature range from 0 to 80°C good reproducibility and reliability, especially as for low infant mortality, together with low prices are mandatory. A new type of pressure sensor aiming to fit the above mentioned characteristics has been developed taking advantage from the piezoresistive effect of thick-film resistors screened-and-fired on ceramic diaphragms. The device consists of a ceramic diagphram bound around the edge, where in proper positions four resistors electrically connected according to Weathstone bridge configuration are screened-and-fired. The deformation of the diaphragm because of an applied pressure causes bridge unbalancing and output signal proportional to the pressure itself.

Today some semiconductor chips can be replaced with software. The time of day implementation presented in this paper now costs only pennies instead of dollars more then a non clock radio. This is possible because the need for external clock chips has been eliminated in many applications. All of this and even more is possible with todays selection of CMOS microprocessors.

Increasing number of ECU's (Electronic Control Units) being used in modern vehicles have given rise to HIL (hardware in the loop) testing, and model based design approach to design/test ECU's even before the proto-type vehicle is ready. However, it is not uncommon to discover surprising system design lapses during actual vehicle operation reported after vehicle launch. Major cause behind such lapses are found to be the gap between actual field performance/robustness of various vehicle sub-systems interfaced with ECU's and those modeled as ideal cases during HIL testing in the lab. This creates a need to evolve effective vehicle-level validation strategies to expose such performance deficiencies of real life sub-systems provided by the vendors. This paper describes a new approach to validate ECU in real time.