I-Corps Teams: Virtual torque sensing for transportation applications

这个I-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种低成本和可靠的扭矩传感器，用于汽车和相关应用。由于所提出的扭矩感测方法是基于速度的，因此它可以与大多数发动机/变速器系统一起使用。 然而，这种技术需要修改，使其适合与电动发动机一起使用。 这将增强其在更大范围的车辆应用中的适用性。 汽车制造商还需要比较发动机的输入扭矩和差速器传递到车轮后的扭矩。 这种知识进一步有助于减少可能的扭矩损失，并提高效率。这种扭矩传感方法可以满足汽车工业提高效率、降低成本的要求，同时还可以提供精确的发动机扭矩测量。整个可用市场可能包括中型和重型车辆，非公路车辆和运输部门的其他车辆中的所有汽车发动机和变速器。该项目的长期目标是将该方法扩展到其他领域，其中瞬时扭矩测量可以帮助提高过程效率。该I-Corps项目将有助于研究低成本扭矩传感器在不同发动机/变速器驱动应用中的商业化潜力。 依靠虚拟扭矩感测概念，所提出的方法需要最少的附加硬件，这使得它成为汽车制造商的经济上有吸引力的概念。 目前，汽车发动机和变速器制造商使用扭矩值的估计。 该公司发现，目前发动机ECU扭矩估计的准确度为5- 30%。 市售的扭矩传感器的成本为500美元至10000美元，这使得它们不适用于商业运输车辆。总的来说，该项目的目标是将传感器沿着与现有的机械和电子系统无缝集成。这种传感方法正在商业上可用的测试设施中进行测试。 扭矩传感精度的提高可以提高燃油效率，改善驾驶舒适性，减少齿轮磨损。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is to develop a low cost and reliable torque sensor for use with automotive and related applications. As the proposed torque sensing method is based on the speed, it can be used with most of the engine/transmission systems. However, this technique requires modifications to make it suitable for use with electric engines. This will enhance its applicability over a larger range of vehicle applications. Automotive manufacturers also need the comparison of input torque at the engine and the torque delivered after the differential to the wheels. This knowledge further helps in reducing possible losses in torque, and improving the efficiencies. This torque sensing method can meet automobile industry requirements of improved efficiency, low cost, while also providing accurate engine torque measurements. The total available market could include all automotive engines and transmissions in the medium and heavy duty vehicles, off-high way vehicles and others in the transportation sector. The long-term goal of this project is to expand the use of this method in other sectors, where instantaneous torque measurement can help to improve the process efficiency. This I-Corps Project will help to investigate the commercialization potential of low cost torque sensors in different engine/transmission driven applications. Relying on a virtual torque sensing concept, the proposed method requires minimal additional hardware, which makes it an economically attractive concept for automotive manufacturers. Currently, automotive engine and transmission manufacturers use estimates for torque values. The company found that the current engine ECU torque estimation has an accuracy of 5-30%. Commercially available torque sensors cost $500 to $10000, making them non-viable for commercial transportation vehicles. Overall, the goal of the project is to seamlessly integrate the sensor along with the existing mechanical and electronic systems. This sensing method is being tested in a commercially available test facility. An improvement in the accuracy of torque sensing can result in improved fuel efficiency, better driving comfort and reduced wear of gears.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.