Short course/CPD
Chassis Control Systems
Course date: 20 Jun 2012 - 22 Jun 2012
Course overview
To review the fundamentals of vehicle ride and handling, to describe the principles of controlled systems for chassis dynamics and to link this understanding to the practical implications for vehicle and chassis design.
Location
Cranfield University is located at the very heart of the UK – within the innovation triangle between London and the cities of Oxford and Cambridge.
Our central location provides easy access from the M1, excellent main line rail service as well as proximity to key international airports. Set in rolling countryside, Cranfield offers a rich, rural landscape complemented by thriving towns and picturesque villages.
- Road: We are just 10 minutes from Junctions 13 & 14 of the M1 motorway. There is free parking on campus.
- Rail: Milton Keynes or Bedford
- Air: London Luton (22 miles), Heathrow (50 miles) or Birmingham (70 miles).
Course fee:
£990
Accommodation fee:
£267
Accommodation is on a full-board basis from the evening before the course commences until the afternoon of the last day. The course fee may include a course dinner for all participants. Refreshments and lunch during the day are included. Full details will be circulated with the joining instructions. The accommodation fee includes all other meals. Details of arrangements will be in the delegate information pack.
Speakers
Course Director:
How to register
Further information
For more information on this course or booking details please contact:
Academic Operations Unit
T: + 44 (0) 1234 754192
E: shortcourse@cranfield.ac.uk
Course description
A 3 day short course at the Cranfield University main campus intended for those practising engineers and technologists who already have a general understanding of vehicle dynamics and who now wish to develop their knowledge in particular to the design and development of chassis control systems for steering, suspensions, driveline, and braking. The course will consist of a mix of lectures from both academic and industrial specialists in chassis control technology, ride and drive activities on a test track and a hands-on session of the use of modelling and simulation tools for case studies.
Delegates on the course will receive:
- A revision session of the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics and control
- Control system design – review of control techniques using automotive case studies
- Steering – active front and rear steer, steer-by-wire
- Suspensions – controllable dampers, roll control, semi-active systems, active systems
- Driveline – traction control, controlled differentials, torque vectoring, effect on handling
- Braking – ABS, yaw stability control, actuator developments, brake-by-wire
- Integration – electrical architecture, networks, function allocation and functional safety, future challenges
- Case studies – introduction to modelling and simulation software and discussion of practical case studies
- Practical ride and drive work at the Millbrook test track.
Pre-requisites
A pre-requisite for attending the Chassis Control course is completion of the Introduction to Vehicle Dynamics course or familiarity with the content.
Subjects covered
Vehicle dynamics and control
- Fundamentals of ride vibration
- Limitations of passive suspension design
- Fundamentals of handling
- Understeer, oversteer
- Fundamentals of braking behaviour
- Limitations of passive vehicle dynamics
- Tyre force and moments properties
Control system design
- Control system basics
- System transfer functions
- Closed loop control
- Modern design techniques
- State estimation
- Sampled data systems
- Automotive case studies
Steering
- Power assistance systems
- Hydraulic and electrical systems
- Steering feel
- Active front and rear steering
- Steer by wire
- Control strategies
- Steering actuation devices
- Driver feedback actuation
Suspension
- Controlled dampers
- Switchable devices
- Continuously variable damping
- MR/ER fluid devices
- Cost vs. benefit issues
- Controlled suspensions
- Switchable spring stiffness
- Active roll control
- Fully active systems, e.g. Mercedes ABC
- Variable geometry approach
Driveline
- Traction control
- Controlled differentials
- F/R torque split
- Torque vectoring, L/R split
- Review of current hardware devices
- Handling performance benefits
- Energy consumption
- Individual wheel control
Braking
- Review of current ABS systems
- Brake assistance schemes
- Brake proportioning
- Electrohydraulic schemes
- Electromechanical schemes
- Individual wheel brake control
- Review of current ESP systems
- Potential for improvement
- Cost vs benefit issues
Systems Integration
- System integration
- Choice of systems
- Integration strategy
- Electrical architecture
- Networks
- Function allocation
- Functional safety
Case studies
- Introduction to IPG CarMaker software
Practical studies
- Ride and drive activities at Millbrook test track
Course partners
IPG Automotive GmbH, Millbrook Proving Ground
Like this course?
You might be interested in our related course, Advanced Controls with Mechatronics Applications.
