Title: Control allocation strategies for an electric vehicle with a wheel hub motor failure

Authors: Daniel Wanner; Oskar Wallmark; Mats Jonasson; Lars Drugge; Annika Stensson Trigell

Addresses: Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Electrical Energy Conversion, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden; Volvo Car Corporation, SE-405 31 Göteborg, Sweden ' Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: Three fault-tolerant control strategies for electric vehicles with wheel hub motors are presented and compared, which are all based on the control allocation principle. The main objective is to maintain the directional stability of the vehicle in case of a component failure during high speed manoeuvres. Two simplified strategies that are suited for on-board implementation are derived and compared to an optimal control allocation strategy and a reference vehicle with a basic electronic stability control system. The occurring faults are considered to be in the electric high-voltage system that can arise in wheel hub motors. All three control allocation strategies show improved re-allocation of traction forces after a severe fault, and hence an improved directional stability. However, the performance of both simplified algorithms shows limitations in case of force demands outside the capabilities of the respective actuator. This work shows that vehicle safety is increased by the proposed fault-tolerant control strategies.

Keywords: fault tolerant control; fault accommodation; fault handling; integrated chassis control; control allocation; vehicle dynamics; electric vehicles; inverter shutdown; wheel hub motor failure; fault tolerance; wheel hub motors; directional stability; vehicle stability; component failure; high speed manoeuvres; optimal control; traction forces; vehicle safety.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVSMT.2015.070164

International Journal of Vehicle Systems Modelling and Testing, 2015 Vol.10 No.3, pp.263 - 287

Received: 30 Jul 2014
Accepted: 16 Dec 2014

Published online: 28 Jun 2015 *

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