Intelligent control system for improving the efficiency of a series hybrid for the EcoCAR 2 challenge

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) is participating in EcoCAR 2: Plugging in to the Future [1], an advanced vehicle competition run by Argonne National Labs and sponsored by General Motors and the United States Department of Energy. The competition challenges 15 schools from the United States and Canada to design and implement the most efficient hybrid vehicle architecture. As part of the EcoCar Challenge, ERAU has been developing the Intelligent Driver Efficiency Assistant (IDEA), an advanced predictive supplementary control system for the university's EcoCAR 2 competition vehicle. The goal of the IDEA system is to minimize the emissions and energy consumption of ERAU's hybrid-electric vehicle through the application of artificially intelligent, and adaptive and predictive control system theory. These predictions allow IDEA to place its control system in the best possible mode of operation to minimize overall vehicle emissions and energy consumption. This paper discusses the EcoCAR 2 competition, IDEA's architecture and role within the competition, and ERAU's future work to complete, validate, and demonstrate the IDEA system.