STUDY OF AUTOMOTIVE POWERTRAIN CONTROL SYSTEMS

PERFORMANCE

___________________________

A Thesis Proposal

___________________________

Presented to

the faculty of Senior High School

Abra State Institute of Sciences and Technology

Bangued Campus, Bangued Abra

___________________________

In partial fulfillment

of the Requirements for the Practical Research 2

___________________________

Tuscano, Jhonlei

2021

1
 CERTIFICATION

This thesis entitled “STUDY OF AUTOMOTIVE POWERTRAIN CONTROL

SYSTEMS PERFORMANCE”, prepared by, Jhonlei Tuscano, in partial fulfillment for

the Practical Research 2, has been examined and hereby recommended for acceptance for

oral defense.

____________________________

Adviser

______________________________

Critic

2
 APPROVAL SHEET

Approved by the panel of examiners on Oral Defense with a grade of

________________________.

_____________________ _______________________
Panel Member Panel Member

________________________________
Panel Chairman

Accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of requirements for the Practical

Research 2

3
 Acknowledgement

First and foremost, I am extremely grateful to my teacher, Ms. Kate Beronilla , for her

invaluable advice, continuous support, and patience during my study. Their immense

knowledge and plentiful experience have encouraged me in all the time of my academic

research and daily life. I would like to thank all the members in the REKTA FAMILY. It is

their kind help and support that have made my study and life in ASIST a wonderful time.

Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to my parents, my sibling, and girlfriend,

Darlyn. Without their tremendous understanding and encouragement in the past few years, it

would be impossible for me to complete my study.

4
 Abstract

The car industry has huge hurdles in finding a cost-effective balance between drivability and

energy economy, driven by stringent laws for CO2 and other pollution emissions. Closed-

loop combustion control is required to improve the engine's transient performance when

innovative fuel-efficient low-emission engine ideas are introduced. In the end, this research

will lead to integrated powertrain control, which will fully integrate the energy and

emissions management of the entire powertrain.

The goal of this thesis is to assess the impact of rotational speed and engine load on the

Degree of Irregularity and how it propagates across the powertrain using a model-based

approach. Also, to do study and determine any differences between manual and automated

speed gearboxes, as well as Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) (CVT).

• An overview of the system and components, such as Designed and manufactured to ensure

maintenance-free lifetime operation, equipped with manual or automated transmission

systems. Also, check into ways to upgrade a vehicle's total gear ratio computation for each

forward gear.

5
 Table of Contents

Preliminaries Page

Title Page ………………………………………………………………………….. 1

Certification………………………………………………………………………... 2

Approval Sheet…………………………………………………………………….. 3

Acknowledgement……………………………………………………………….. 4

Abstract…………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Table of Contents…………………………………………………………………... 6-7

CHAPTER

1. THE PROBLEM

Background of the Study…………………………………………………... 8

Theoretical Framework……………………………………………………. 9

Conceptual Framework……………………………………………………. 10

Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………... 11

Hypothesis………………………………………………………………….. 12

2. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

Research Design……………………………………………………………. 13

Population and Locale of the Study………………………………………… 14

Data Gathering Instrument………………………………………………… 14-15

Data Gathering Procedure…………………………………………………… 15

Statistical Treatment of Data………………………………………………… 16

3. PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

4. SUMMARY, FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENTIONS

6
 Summary……………………………………………………………………...

Findings……………………………………………………………………….

Conclusions……………………………………………………………………

Recommendations…………………………………………………………….

REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………….

APPENDICES………………………………………………………………………...

DOCUMENTATIONS……………………………………………………………….

CURRICULUM VITAE…………………………………………………………….

7
CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM

1.1 Background of the Study

Today's automotive powertrain control systems must meet a wide range of performance

requirements, ranging from boosting inherent vehicle performance to meeting expectations

for reduced fuel consumption, cleaner exhaust emissions, and increased safety. As a result,

control system specifications have gotten highly complicated. The article gives a description

of a development support environment for powertrain control systems that was built to make

the development of optimal control systems more efficient.

A common approach for developing an automotive powertrain control system involves

identifying and fixing problems based on actual car tests until the required performance is

achieved.

Today's standards for a powertrain control system must meet a growing number of

performance requirements due to global environmental concerns and other issues. As a result,

control standards have become more sophisticated, requiring significantly more time and

money to create. However, as global rivalry intensifies, vehicle development lead times must

be shortened.

As a result, improving the efficiency of powertrain control systems is a top goal.

8
1.2 Theoretical Framework

A power-train control module, or PCM, is an automotive component and control unit found

in automobiles. The engine control unit (ECU) and the transmission control unit (TCU) are

usually merged into one controller (TCU). There are three computers on some cars, such as

many Chryslers: the PCM, the TCU, and the Body Control Module (BCM), for a total of

three computers. These automobile computers are, on the whole, quite dependable. In most

cars and trucks, the PCM is in charge of more than 100 variables. There are hundreds of error

codes that can appear and signal that a component of the vehicle is malfunctioning. When one

of these issues occurs, the "check engine" light on the dashboard will normally illuminate.

The PCM, or "brain" of the engine control system, is one of numerous on-board computers

that may be present.

The PCM receives its principal inputs from a variety of sensors located throughout the

vehicle. The vast majority of them are concerned with engine management and performance.

The failure rate of these sensors is substantially higher than that of the computers.

A PCM from a 1996 Chevrolet Beretta.

9
1.3 Conceptual Framework

The outline of the study starts with engines, continues with generators and controllers to the

motors and transmission.

The first ones treat engines with regard to basics, thermodynamics, models, control, and

advanced concepts. All the major control systems and their designs are treated. The

thermodynamic models deal with parameters that vary under one cycle and the resolution

interest is typically one crank angle degree, whereas the time scales of mean value models are

in order of 1 to several engine cycles, and the variation in variables that are considered are

also averaged over one or several cycles. These models form the basis for understanding

emissions. They also serve the purpose of describing the properties influencing control design

and performance.

1.4 Statement of the Problem

10
Dealing with motor vehicle problems are most times handled by mechanics. There are times

when urgent help is needed and they might not be readily available or might cost time and

expense to get them around; this is where this expert system bridges the gap. This expert

system will serve as a first aid guide to enable users handle issues that may arise with their

automobiles, thereby saving time and cost that would've been procured.

The overall demands on a vehicle are that it should provide safe and comfortable

transportation together with a goo environmental protection and good fuel economy. This

means that there are three main objectives for automotive control systems:

 Efficiency, which leads to lower fuel consumption.

 Emissions should be low to protect the environment.

 Safety is of course a key issue.

There are a number of additional issues like comfort, drivability, low wear, availability,

and long-term functionality.

1.5 Hypothesis

11
Many of the technologies that today are considered advanced, sometimes even new, have

been around for a long time. It is therefore interesting to ask ourselves why these

technologies are surfacing now as commercial products. Powertrain control system is one

example. These concepts are not new, even if sometimes presented so, but the novelty is

instead that they now with proper control can achieve competitive functionality and

performance.

It is thus the breakthrough of computer control that is a driving factor.

12
CHAPTER II

METHODOLOGY

2.1 Research Design

A phenomenological method was taken in this qualitative investigation. Its goal was to look

at the performance of automotive powertrain control systems. A qualitative study is a type of

research that relies on open-ended and conversational communication to collect data.

Furthermore, qualitative research allows the researcher to interact with their participants and

see the world through their eyes. This method was deemed to be the most appropriate for

providing a detailed examination of car owners' lived experiences by the researcher.

13
2.2 Population and Locale of the Study

Participants of the study were identified using purposive sampling. Using purposive

sampling, the researchers choose their participants who will fit the study. Five (5) car owners

participate in the study. Participants met the description of a car owner:

1) A legitimate owner of a car;

2) Licensed driver

3) Complete car documents and registered to the LTO, and

5) Willing to participate in the study.

2.3 Data Gathering Instrument

The form of data collection method to be used will be as follows:

 Several interview sessions with automobile engineers, conventional motor

mechanics, automobile electrician,

 Studying of automobile manual and

documentation for Toyota, Nissan, and Honda.

Through the period of data collections, we shall collecting information relating to

powertrain control systems performance.

In gathering the pertinent data for the study, a semi-structured interview was used in

collecting data. This type of interview was the most familiar strategy in collecting data

for qualitative data, which helped the researchers to obtain all the necessary information

needed and to allow the researchers to asked follow-up questions for clarifications.

Eight items set of questionnaires will be given to the participants for them to answer

and also follow-up questions from the interviewees will be asked. The researchers also

provided an agreement that included obtaining informed consent, ensured

14
confidentiality, time and place commitments, permission to record and publish,

delineating the ethical principles of research. As to data storing methods, the

researchers will use the note-taking and dialogic form of an interview to extract deeper

responses from the respondents.

2.4 Data Gathering Procedure

Automakers are investing heavily in new EV powertrain technologies and power electronics,

or "e-mobility" solutions, as a result of a convergence of pollution legislation, core

technology advancements, and competitive pressures. Different architectures are competing

for market share in diverse categories. Hybrids, plug-in hybrid electric cars (PHEVs), battery

electric vehicles (BEVs), and fuel cell electric vehicles are all in the works. Test teams are

being challenged by an increase of test cases and no historical precedence to help them solve

new and varied types of characterisation and durability tests as they hurry to bring

increasingly complicated power electronics products to market.

Components and systems for electric vehicle (EV) powertrains are rapidly changing.

Platform-based test solutions can be scaled to match your specific requirements.

The following tests are performed:

- HIL inverter signal-level test

- Battery pack/module test for electric vehicles

- Test of the battery management system (BMS)

15
2.5 Statistical Treatment

The market for automotive powertrain control modules (PCMs) is benefiting from rising

demand for commercial and industrial vehicles. Due to the ongoing depletion of fossil

resources, stricter restrictions for operating autos in the most efficient manner have gained

traction. A PCM is one of the most crucial components of a car. According to the European

Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), 98.9 million automobiles were produced

worldwide in 2017. 1st In 2018, the PCM market was worth $29.53 billion, and it is expected

to increase at a compound yearly growth rate of 6.19 percent from 2019 to 2025.

16