Automotive Mechatronics

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The engineering principles of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
• Control and advanced driver-assistance systems in modern vehicles.
• Understanding the contexts in which engineering knowledge can be applied: the characteristics and working principles of sensors, actuators, and electronic control units of modern vehicles.
• Power and data flow in a vehicle electronic system.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify, classify and describe the performance of systems and components of automotive electronic systems
• Apply quantitative and computational methods to design and improve vehicle control systems, using advanced problem solving skills to establish rigorous and creative solutions, that are fit for purpose for all aspects of the problems, including production, operation, maintenance and disposal
• Use fundamental knowledge to investigate new and emerging technologies of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles
• Work with information that may be incomplete or uncertain and quantify the effect of this on design, ability to work with technical uncertainty
• Understanding of, and an ability to apply, an integrated or systems approach to solving automotive mechatronics problems

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Listening, identifying learning needs, evaluating sources and data, interpretation of data, problem solving, problem analysis

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• C1/M1 Apply knowledge of linear algebra, vehicle dynamics and control theory in solving problems related to vehicle dynamics control design and analysis. C2/M2 Analysing differential equations and state-space models of closed loop vehicle dynamics to understand whether the vehicle’s lateral dynamics will be stable or unstable, and whether it meets any design criteria. C3/M3 Deriving differential equations and state-space models of lateral vehicle dynamics in open and closed loop, and discussing limitations of the model due to the modelling assumptions. C6/M6 Apply systems approach to design and evaluate longitudinal collision avoidance system.

An introduction to automotive mechatronics, including:

• Sensors for automotive applications (e.g. temperature, acceleration, pressure, etc.)
• Electric and hydraulic actuators for automotive applications.
• Wiring architectures, information bus & power bus, Control Area Network (CAN)
• Safety systems, e.g. Antilock Brake Systems, Traction and Stability Control systems.
• Driving automation, e.g. steer-by-wire, torque vectoring.
• Advanced driver-assistance systems, (e.g. Intelligent Speed Adaptation, Collision Warning, Lane change assistance, or others)
• Introduction to Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

Teaching methods include

• Lectures including examples and guest lectures
• Demonstrations and video material when appropriate
• Solutions to assigned problems

Learning activities include

• Individual reading of background material and course texts.
• Coursework: Virtual prototyping of a control system simulation (e.g. development of a vehicle stability control system in Simulink)
• Lab: test of a control system with Hardware in the Loop (HIL) technology

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.