Whether it is an engine, battery or gearbox, engineers are constantly trying to quantify the performance of components using metrics such as power, energy, speed, efficiency and range. In reality, these performance figures can only be achieved if parts are effectively controlled to operate at their maximum potential, and this is where the subjects of this feature come in.
‘Control systems are the basis of what makes a car run nowadays. You wouldn’t be able to run an engine or an electric powertrain without a control system operating in the background,’ highlights Rui Lopes, principal software engineer at Prodrive.
‘A control system essentially harnesses all the raw capabilities of a vehicle and synchronises them together to achieve the maximum performance possible of the vehicle as a whole. We use control systems for controlling simple things such as a headlamp, to more complex systems such as the chassis, engine and traction control,’ Lopes continues.
‘A control system essentially harnesses all the raw capabilities of a vehicle and synchronises them together to achieve the maximum performance possible of the vehicle as a whole’
Rui Lopes, principal software engineer at Prodrive
‘Ideally, you want to be operating at the limiting factor at all times. For example, if tyre grip is the limiting factor, you want to develop a vehicle to be on that limit under all conditions. However, to get to that point, you need to make sure all the other systems are operating at their maximum potential first.’
Defining control
A control system is a combination of control software embedded within a control unit, mechanical components and electronic devices that regulates the behaviour of a system to perform a specific function. This is achieved through control loops that consist of data acquisition, control logic and final actuation.
The data acquisition system, typically comprising a variety of sensing devices, or sensors, converts a physical measurement into an electrical signal, which can then be interpreted by the controller, also known as an
