I-Corps Teams: Virtual torque sensing for transportation applications

I-Corps项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是开发一种低成本、可靠的扭矩传感器，用于汽车和相关应用。由于所提出的转矩传感方法是基于转速的，因此可用于大多数发动机/传动系统。然而，这项技术需要修改，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经过差速器传递到车轮的扭矩。这些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对提高效率、降低成本的要求，同时还能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、非公路车辆和其他运输部门的所有汽车发动机和变速器。该项目的长期目标是将这种方法扩展到其他领域，在这些领域，瞬时扭矩测量可以帮助提高工艺效率。I-Corps项目将帮助研究低成本扭矩传感器在不同发动机/变速箱驱动应用中的商业化潜力。基于虚拟扭矩传感概念，所提出的方法需要最少的额外硬件，这使得它对汽车制造商来说是一个具有经济吸引力的概念。目前，汽车发动机和变速器制造商使用估算扭矩值。该公司发现，目前发动机ECU的扭矩估计精度为5-30%。商用扭矩传感器的价格在500美元到10000美元之间，这使得它们在商业运输车辆上不可行。总的来说，该项目的目标是将传感器与现有的机械和电子系统无缝集成。这种传感方法正在商用测试设备中进行测试。提高扭矩传感的精度可以提高燃油效率，更好的驾驶舒适性和减少齿轮磨损。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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.