Parametric Analysis of the Ride Comfort of Indian Railway Vehicle

This paper focuses to the parametric analysis of Indian Railway Rajdhani (LHB) coach. A suitable mathematical model of 40 degrees of freedom (DOF) is formulated by Lagrangian method. The mathematical model of rail-vehicle is modelled by considering eleven mass system containing of backseat support (without cushion), a seat, a car body, two (front and Rear) bolsters, two (front and Rear) bogie frame and four wheelaxles (front bogie front and rear wheel axles and rear bogie front and rear wheel axles. The vehicle is simulated to travel at speed of 100 km/hr on a tangent track. The results from the simulation are validated by comparing the same with the results from experimental data which is acquired from research designs and standards organization (RDSO), Lucknow (India). The parametric analysis is performed to estimate the effect of different parameters of rail-vehicle on the ride behaviour.

Torque Vectoring Control of RWID Electric Vehicle for Reducing Driving-Wheel Slippage Energy Dissipation in Cornering

The anxiety of driving range and inconvenience of battery recharging has placed high requirements on the energy efficiency of electric vehicles. To reduce driving-wheel slip energy consumption while cornering, a torque vectoring control strategy for a rear-wheel independent-drive (RWID) electric vehicle is proposed. First, the longitudinal linear stiffness of each driving wheel is estimated by using the approach of recursive least squares. Then, an initial differential torque is calculated for reducing their overall tire slippage energy dissipation. However, before the differential torque is applied to the two side of driving wheels, an acceleration slip regulation (ASR) is introduced into the overall control strategy to avoid entering into the tire adhesion saturation region resulting in excessive slip. Finally, the simulations of typical manoeuvring conditions are performed to verify the veracity of the estimated tire longitudinal linear stiffness and effectiveness of the torque vectoring control strategy. As a result, the proposed torque vectoring control leads to the largest reduction of around 17% slip power consumption for the situations carried out above.

Designing and performance investigation of permanent magnet motor prototype for UTV electric drive train application

<span lang="EN-US">The dynamic design specifications of a vehicle are used to define the required torque and speed of a permanent magnet motor. This is due to providing clear instructions on the intent, performance, and construction of a vehicle. Therefore, this study aims to determine an engineering design and prototyping process of a Permanent Magnet Motor, to be used as an electric powertrain in a Utility Vehicle. Based on being used in severe road condition (steep inclination and off road), the vehicle should be able to handle a 45° inclination with total payload of approximately 250 kg. Using a rear-wheel-drive traction, its weight should also be less than 1000 kg. Furthermore, the motor should be operated at a maximum battery voltage of 100 V. According to the requirements, the electric powertrain should further have the ability to deliver a torque of approximately 1600 Nm on both rear wheels. Using a finite element method to simulate performances, transmission was coupled to the motor in providing the required torque. In addition, the motor prototype was subsequently manufactured and tested using a dynamometer. The results showed that the motor produced 19.6 kW, 5600 RPM, and 75 Nm at 96 V. Therefore, the design and prototyping process of the motor satisfied all the required specification.</span>

Integrated Chassis Control and Control Allocation for All Wheel Drive Electric Cars with Rear Wheel Steering

This study investigates a control strategy for torque vectoring (TV) and active rear wheel steering (RWS) using feedforward and feedback control schemes for different circumstances. A comprehensive vehicle and combined slip tire model are used to determine the secondary effect and to generate desired yaw acceleration and side slip angle rate. A model-based feedforward controller is designed to improve handling but not to track an ideal response. A feedback controller based on close loop observation is used to ensure its cornering stability. The fusion of two controllers is used to stabilize a vehicle’s lateral motion. To increase lateral performance, an optimization-based control allocation distributes the wheel torques according to the remaining tire force potential. The simulation results show that a vehicle with the proposed controller exhibits more responsive lateral dynamic behavior and greater maximum lateral acceleration. The cornering safety is also demonstrated using a standard stability test. The driving performance and stability are improved simultaneously by the proposed control strategy and the optimal control allocation scheme.

Shrimp Robot Mechanism

The Shrimp rover is highly suitable for planetary exploration missions because of its unconventional wheel order, in-built passive adaptability and good ability to climb obstacles. It is a spatial multi-body system and a multi-variable, multi-parameter coupled non-linear system. Thus, kinematic and dynamic analyses for such systems are complex and time consuming. Long-range robotic missions for Martian exploration imply a high degree of autonomy. The most advanced locomotion concepts are based on wheels or caterpillars (e.g. Sojourner, NASA or Nanokhod, ESA). These rovers have clear advantages regarding power efficiency and complexity if compared with walking robots. However, they still have quite limited climbing abilities. Typically they can only overcome obstacle smaller than their wheel size. In this paper we present Shrimp, an innovative long range rover architecture with 6 motorized wheels. Using a rhombus configuration, the rover has a steering wheel in both, the front and the rear, and two wheels arranged on a bogie on each side. The front wheel has a spring suspension to guarantee optimal ground contact of all wheels at any time. The steering of the rover is realized by synchronizing the steering of the front and rear wheel and the speed difference of the bogie wheels. This allows for high precision maneuvers and even turning on the spot with minimum slip. The use of parallel articulations for the front wheel and the bogies enables to set a virtual centre of rotation at the level of the wheel axis while maintaining a high ground clearance. This insures maximum stability and climbing abilities even for relatively low friction coefficients between the wheel and the ground. This rover is able to passively overcome unstructured obstacles of up to two times its wheel diameter. With this high mobility, this architecture is the perfect candidate for long range planetary missions.

Design of solar powered electric vehicle

With the increased trends of industrialization and global economic growth leading to the everchanging petrol prices and other price hikes, private transport system has become a costly affair. All these problems can be addressed with innovation. One of the most feasible solutions is turning towards renewable energies to solve the issues i.e., increasing the use of renewable energies like solar power in the place of fossil fuels. Everyone’s dream of owning a commercially viable solar vehicle is slowly becoming a reality. Electric vehicles are now available at an affordable price. This opportunity is taken towards the design of a Solar powered two-wheeler. Designing a solar vehicle is a multidisciplinary subject that covers the broad and complex aspects from various subjects. In the designed vehicle, solar panel is used as the power source and developed voltage, stored in the battery, is used to the drive the permanent magnet DC motor which drives the rear wheel of the vehicle.

Design and fabrication of solar powered bicycle

The paper focuses on the design of an electric driven bicycle that can stimulate power using solar energy and the rear wheel is provided with motor. The vehicle is being designed to house one driver; essentially, there would be need for additional space for other passengers and materials In India, the pollution rate caused by fuel-consuming vehicles is very high. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of fuel/use of fuel consumption vehicle and its hazardous emissions. The sunny weather in India lasts around 9 months, hence solar powered bicycle seems to be appropriate in India. Solar powered bicycle can become an alternative to the fuel consuming bikes and scooters.

Design and Fabrication of Chainless Bicycle

Today's life we meet number of difficulties in transportation. There are number of drives to transmit the power. We have concentrated on bicycle where the efforts while peddling is not efficiently turned to work. In bicycle chain drive is used. Due to the chain drive there is loss of power in transmission. So our idea is to replace chain drive by kinematic links for higher transmission. This project is developed for the users to rotate the back wheel of a bicycle using kinematic links. Power transmission through chain drive is the oldest and widest used method in case of bicycle. In this paper we implemented the chain less transmission to the bicycle to overcome the various disadvantages of chain drive. Recently, due to advancements in kinematic link technology, a small number of modern link-driven bicycles have been introduced. Usually in bicycle, chain and sprocket method is used to drive the back wheel. The link drive only needs in small amount of lubrication using a grease to keep the links running quiet and smooth. A link drive bicycle is a bicycle that uses a link drive instead of a chain which contain four set of link at both the ends to make a new kind of transmission system for bicycle for getting high reliability system, and more safe system. Link-driven bicycle have used four bar mechanism where a conventional bicycle connected in one end pedal link and another connected in wheel. This pedal link actuate to drive a wheel. The use pedals to be actuate in 45 degrees wheels can rotating at 180 degrees. According to the direction of motion of pedal, the wheel will be moved forward. This avoids the usage of chain and sprocket method. This “chinless” drive system provides smooth quite and efficient transfer of energy from the pedals to the rear wheel. It is attractive in look compare with chain driven bicycle. Keywords: Chainless bicycle, four bar mechanism, kinematic link technology.

Electric Vehicle Modelling and Simulation of a Light Commercial Vehicle Using PMSM Propulsion

Even though the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) used in conventional vehicles is one of the major causes of global warming and air pollution, the emission of toxic gases is also harmful to living organisms. Electric propulsion has been developed in modern electric vehicles to replace the ICE.The aim of this research is to use both the Simulink and Simscape toolboxes in MATLAB to model the dynamics of a light commercial vehicle powered by electric propulsion. This research focuses on a Volkswagen Crafter with a diesel propulsion engine manufactured in 2020. A rear-wheel driven electric powertrain based on a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor was designed to replace its front-wheel driven diesel engine in an urban environment at low average speeds.In this research, a Nissan Leaf battery with a nominal voltage of 360 V and a capacity of 24 kWh was modelled to serve as the energy source of the electric drivetrain. The New European Driving Cycle was used in this research to evaluate the electric propulsion. Another test input such as a speed ramp was also used to test the vehicle under different road conditions. A Proportional Integral controller was applied to control the speed of both the vehicle and synchronous motor. Different driving cycles were used to test the vehicle. The vehicle demonstrated a good tracking capability in each type of test. In addition, this research determined that the fuel economy of electric vehicles is approximately 19% better than that of conventional vehicles.

Alternative Models for Calculation of Static Overturning Angle and Lateral Stability Analysis of Subcompact and Universal Tractors

Vehicle lateral stability is evaluated using the static overturning angle. The correct value of this parameter depends on the calculation method. The aim of this study was to compare the latest standard with previously published methodology, to propose two alternative methodologies (Models 1 and 2) and to analyze the influence of various levels of rear wheel ballast weights and overall tire widths on the stability of universal and subcompact tractors. The results showed a significant regression effect of the rear wheel ballast weight on static overturning angle. The influence of the rear wheel ballast weight was higher in the subcompact tractor than in the universal tractor due to a larger distance between the height of the center of gravity and the center of the rear axle. Comparing the latest standard with the previously published methodology, the highest difference values were 13.82% and 7.30%. Both models are based on the previously published methodology and differ from each other in rolling and slope lines. The methodology proposed in Model 2 differed from the standard similarly to the previously published methodology; therefore, it is irrelevant. Model 1 reached differences of only −1.81% and −1.63%, representing a minimal difference from the standard.