Switchable MPC-based multi-objective regenerative brake control via flow regulation for electric vehicles.

Area of Science:

• Automotive Engineering
• Control Systems
• Hydraulic Systems

Background:

• Electric braking boosters (E-Boosters) are crucial for enhancing brake energy regeneration in vehicles.
• Vehicle hydraulic systems integrate E-Boosters with electric stability control for precise master and wheel cylinder management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an independent closed-loop control strategy for position and pressure in E-Booster systems.
• To maintain consistent and reliable pedal feel during braking operations.

Main Methods:

• An explicit model predictive control (MPC) approach was developed using a novel flow model.
• The system was divided into three switchable subsystems with distributed MPCs and a state machine.
• A non-linear extended Kalman filter was employed for state variable estimation.

Main Results:

• The explicit MPC controller demonstrated improved performance in regenerative and dead-zone conditions compared to a single MPC.
• Latency was reduced by 85 milliseconds, and accuracy improved by 22.6%.
• Consistent pedal feel was maintained despite hydraulic system characteristics.

Conclusions:

• The proposed explicit MPC offers a significant advancement in E-Booster control for improved braking performance and energy regeneration.
• The controller effectively manages position and pressure independently while ensuring driver comfort through consistent pedal feel.