Title: Effect of coupling point selection on distortion in internet-distributed hardware-in-the-loop simulation

Authors: Tulga Ersal; R. Brent Gillespie; Mark J. Brudnak; Jeffrey L. Stein; Hosam K. Fathy

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA ' 6501 E. 11 Mile Road, Bldg. 215 (RDTA-RS) Room 45, MS/157,Warren, MI 48397-5000, USA ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA ' The Pennsylvania State University, 157D Hammond Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Abstract: The degree to which an Internet-Distributed Hardware-In-the-Loop (ID-HIL) simulation loses fidelity relative to the single-location alternative is referred to as distortion. This paper shows that, besides delay, the choice of coupling point, i.e., the port at which the system model is integrated across the Internet, also affects distortion. To quantify distortion, a frequency-domain metric is proposed using a linear systems framework. This metric is then used to analyse how the choice of coupling point affects distortion, leading to guidelines for selecting a coupling point that gives minimal distortion. The theory is demonstrated on a quarter-car model.

Keywords: coupling points; internet-distributed hardware-in-the-loop; HiW simulation; ID-HILS; delay systems; distortion; coupling point selection; internet; frequency domain; linear systems; quarter-car models; vehicle design; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2013.050840

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2013 Vol.61 No.1/2/3/4, pp.67 - 85

Received: 17 Jan 2011
Accepted: 12 Oct 2011
Published online: 12 Apr 2013 *

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