Enhanced throttle-by-wire for Automobiles

Enhanced Throttle by Wire

Abstract

Modern vehicles use an accelerator pedal to control the engine’s throttle, which regulates power output. Traditionally, this was achieved through complex mechanical linkages. However, relying solely on the accelerator pedal is not the most efficient way to determine engine power, as other factors like fuel injection and combustion also play a critical role.

To address this, modern vehicles use throttle-by-wire systems, where the accelerator pedal sends electronic signals to a vehicle control unit (VCU). The VCU processes these signals along with other engine parameters to optimize power output. While this approach improves efficiency and performance, it introduces concerns such as potential wire disconnections or data transmission errors.

In high-performance applications, like racing, safety mechanisms such as the Brake System Plausibility Device (BSPD) are used to mitigate risks by cutting off engine power if a fault is detected.

This project focuses on designing an enhanced throttle-by-wire system with integrated BSPD functionality. The system is implemented using an STM32 Nucleo board, programmed through MATLAB Simulink, and employs fuzzy logic for intelligent control. A custom-designed PCB shield ensures seamless integration with the hardware for practical implementation.

goto GitHub Repository

Features

  • Engine Safety Cut-Off: Automatically kills the engine when throttle and brake are applied together above a defined threshold.
  • Adjustable Threshold: Allows customization of the threshold for specific applications like off-road driving and drifting.
  • Driving Mode Optimization: Utilizes a fuzzy logic algorithm to optimize throttle response for different driving modes (e.g., eco, sport, or off-road).
  • Enhanced Throttle Response: Provides excellent throttle performance, fine-tuned using curve fitting based on proven peer designs.

Resources

  • MATLAB embedded coder
  • MATLAB code generation
  • KiCAD
  • MATLAB Fuzzy Logic
  • MATLAB Curve Fitting
  • MATLAB Simulink
  • STM32 Nucleo

Contribution

  • PCB Design
  • MATLAB Programming
  • Simulink Model Based Design
  • Prototype System Design

Prototype

Enhanced Throttle by Wire System

Schematic

Enhanced Throttle by Wire Schematic

PCB

Enhanced Throttle by Wire PCB

Simulink

Enhanced Throttle by Wire Simulink