Progress in Application of Portable Accelerometer Based Measurement Systems in Powertrain Performance Testing Performed on Road

The paper describes selected problems and progress made by its solution in area of application of accelerometer based measurement systems for powertrain performance evaluation using test executed directly on road. It shows a thematically solid part of data and experience gained after accomplishment of scientific project founded by Polish National Center of Research and Development. The project was devoted to develop of measurement device and corresponding methods and algorithms. The article concentrates on problems in three areas: an indirect measurement of required quantities, road test course influence on measurement and powertrain characteristics calculations algorithms. In first part of this work the discussion of problems in context of powertrain performance characteristics evaluation is shown. The second part describes testing problems solutions and additionally shows how to overcome impediments mainly related to measurement disturbances. In the third part the discussion of investigations results is presented and conclusions are drawn out. Finally measurement system assumptions are presented and discussed according to experience gained by exploitation of second generation of PAAF (Power Acceleration And Force) measurement device.