Abstract
Connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) applications focusing on energy optimization have attracted a lot of attention recently. However, it is challenging to evaluate various optimizations and controls in real-world traffic scenarios due to safety and technical concerns. In light of this, our previous work has developed a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testbed with a laboratory powertrain research platform to evaluate CAV applications. An actual engine is loaded by a hydrostatic dynamometer whose loading torque is controlled in real-time by the simulated vehicle dynamics. The HIL testbed mimics the performance of a target vehicle and the dynamometer generates the same load as the target vehicle. In this work, the HIL testbed is further enhanced to match the performance of actual testing vehicles at the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and a living lab is developed to incorporate real traffic information. The same engine as the actual testing vehicles at the FHWA was installed and the vehicle models were calibrated using testing data from actual vehicles. The same roadway conditions (speed limit, the degree of road slope, etc.) were input into the testbed and the dynamometer generates the same load as an actual vehicle's engine is getting. The HIL testbed emulates the performance of an actual vehicle and both fuel consumption and emissions are measured by precise instruments in the lab. In eight testing scenarios, the results have shown that the performance of the HIL testbed matches very well with the actual testing vehicles with about 1% error. In addition, the living lab has enabled the HIL testbed to interact with real traffic and extended the testing capabilities of the HIL testbed. Two new testing capabilities have been demonstrated through two CAV applications. This is an exciting result since the HIL testbed could provide an effective and economical way for the testing of fuel consumption and emissions on various roadway conditions for CAVs and other types of vehicles.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 121-135 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Transportation Research Part C: Emerging Technologies |
| Volume | 102 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 2019 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Funding
This work is supported by the US Federal Highway Administration under contract DTFH6117P00009. The actual vehicle tests were conducted by the Leidos team using the vehicle fleet and connected vehicle facility at the Federal Highway Administration's Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center. The authors would like to thank Dr. Jianfeng Zheng, Dr. Yiheng Feng and Dr. Henry Liu of the University of Michigan for providing the SMART-signal system for the living lab. The authors would also like to thank Ron Christopherson, Ray Starr and Mike Fairbanks of the Minnesota Department of Transportation for their support for the field implementation of the living lab. This work is supported by the US Federal Highway Administration under contract DTFH6117P00009 . The actual vehicle tests were conducted by the Leidos team using the vehicle fleet and connected vehicle facility at the Federal Highway Administration’s Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center. The authors would like to thank Dr. Jianfeng Zheng, Dr. Yiheng Feng and Dr. Henry Liu of the University of Michigan for providing the SMART-signal system for the living lab. The authors would also like to thank Ron Christopherson, Ray Starr and Mike Fairbanks of the Minnesota Department of Transportation for their support for the field implementation of the living lab.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Minnesota Department of Transportation | |
| Federal Highway Administration | DTFH6117P00009 |
| University of Michigan |
Keywords
- Autonomous Vehicle Evaluation
- Connected vehicle
- Emissions measurement
- Engine testbed
- Fuel measurement
- Hardware-in-the-loop test