Engine Air Control- Basis of a Vehicular Systems Control Hierarchy

Recent improvements in digital microprocessor hardware have given impetus to synthesizing a consistent set of central-processor engine-system control laws. As an approach to the problem, algorithms for control of airflow, EGR and spark advance were postulated, considering interactions of engine torque, fuel consumption, exhaust emissions, cold-starting and driveability. Development of an analog, real-time driver/vehicle model provided appropriate transient vehicle loads to the experimental engine/transmission/digital controller implementation throughout cold-start vehicular driving cycles. A Transient System Optimization procedure applied continuously over the federal urban driving schedule, including cold start, validated the postulated control laws.