Selected, peer reviewed papers from the 2014 International Conference on Vehicle & Mechanical Engineering and Information Technology (VMEIT 2014), February 19-20, 2014, Beijing, China

Rapid developments in electronics over the past two decades have induced a move from purely mechanical vehicles to mechatronics design. Recent advances in computing, sensors, and information technology are pushing mobile equipment design to incorporate higher levels of automation under the novel concept of intelligent vehicles. Mechatronics and Intelligent Systems for Off-road Vehicles introduces this concept, and provides an overview of recent applications and future approaches within this field. Several case studies present real examples of vehicles designed to navigate in off-road environments typically encountered by agriculture, forestry, and construction machines. The examples analyzed describe and illustrate key features for agricultural robotics, such as automatic steering, safeguarding, mapping, and precision agriculture applications. The eight chapters include numerous figures, each designed to improve the reader’s comprehension of subjects such as: • automatic steering systems; • navigation systems; • vehicle architecture; • image processing and vision; and • three-dimensional perception and localization. Mechatronics and Intelligent Systems for Off-road Vehicles will be of great interest to professional engineers and researchers in vehicle automation, robotics, and the application of artificial intelligence to mobile equipment; as well as to graduate students of mechanical, electrical, and agricultural engineering.

This book presents operational and practical issues of automotive mechatronics with special emphasis on the heterogeneous automotive vehicle systems approach, and is intended as a graduate text as well as a reference for scientists and engineers involved in the design of automotive mechatronic control systems. As the complexity of automotive vehicles increases, so does the dearth of high competence, multi-disciplined automotive scientists and engineers. This book provides a discussion into the type of mechatronic control systems found in modern vehicles and the skills required by automotive scientists and engineers working in this environment. Divided into two volumes and five parts, Automotive Mechatronics aims at improving automotive mechatronics education and emphasises the training of students’ experimental hands-on abilities, stimulating and promoting experience among high education institutes and produce more automotive mechatronics and automation engineers. The main subject that are treated are: VOLUME I: RBW or XBW unibody or chassis-motion mechatronic control hypersystems; DBW AWD propulsion mechatronic control systems; BBW AWB dispulsion mechatronic control systems; VOLUME II: SBW AWS diversion mechatronic control systems; ABW AWA suspension mechatronic control systems. This volume was developed for undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as for professionals involved in all disciplines related to the design or research and development of automotive vehicle dynamics, powertrains, brakes, steering, and shock absorbers (dampers). Basic knowledge of college mathematics, college physics, and knowledge of the functionality of automotive vehicle basic propulsion, dispulsion, conversion and suspension systems is required.

As the complexity of automotive vehicles increases this book presents operational and practical issues of automotive mechatronics. It is a comprehensive introduction to controlled automotive systems and provides detailed information of sensors for travel, angle, engine speed, vehicle speed, acceleration, pressure, temperature, flow, gas concentration etc. The measurement principles of the different sensor groups are explained and examples to show the measurement principles applied in different types.

The motor vehicle technology covered in this book has become in the more than 125 years of its history in many aspects an extremely complex and, in many areas of engineering science . Motor vehicles must remain functional under harsh environmental conditions and extreme continuous loads and must also be reliably brought into a safe state even in the event of a failure by a few trained operators. The automobile is at the same time a mass product, which must be produced in millions of pieces and at extremely low cost. In addition to the fundamentals of current vehicle systems, the book also provides an overview of future developments such as, for example, in the areas of electromobility, alternative drives and driver assistance systems. The basis for the book is a series of lectures on automotive engineering, which has been offered by the first-named author at the University of Duisburg-Essen for many years. Starting from classical systems in the automobile, the reader is given a systemic view of modern motor vehicles. In addition to the pure basic function, the modeling of individual (sub-) systems is also discussed. This gives the reader a deep understanding of the underlying principles. In addition, the book with the given models provides a basis for the practical application in the area of ​​simulation technology and thus achieves a clear added value against books, which merely explain the function of a system without entering into the modeling. On the basis of today's vehicle systems we will continue to look at current and future systems. In addition to the state-of-the-art, the reader is thus taught which topics are currently dominant in research and which developments can be expected for the future. In particular, a large number of practical examples are provided directly from the vehicle industry. Especially for students of vehicle-oriented study courses and lectures, the book thus enables an optimal preparation for possible future fields of activity.

This unique and up-to-date work surveys the use of mechatronics in rail vehicles, notably traction, braking, communications, data sharing, and control. The results include improved safety, comfort, and fuel efficiency. Mechatronic systems are a key element in modern rail vehicle design and operation. Starting with an overview of mechatronic theory, the book covers such topics as modeling of mechanical and electrical systems for rail vehicles, open and closed loop control systems, sensors, actuators, and microprocessors. Modern simulation techniques and examples are included throughout the book. Numerical experiments and developed models for railway application are presented and explained. Case studies are used, alongside practical examples, to ensure that the reader can apply mechatronic theory to real world conditions. These case studies include modeling of a hybrid locomotive and simplified models of railway vehicle lateral dynamics for suspension control studies. Rail Vehicle Mechatronics provides current and in-depth content for design engineers, operations managers, systems engineers, and technical consultants working with freight, passenger, and urban transit railway systems worldwide.

An advanced level introductory book covering fundamental aspects, design and dynamics of electric and hybrid electric vehicles There is significant demand for an understanding of the fundamentals, technologies, and design of electric and hybrid electric vehicles and their components from researchers, engineers, and graduate students. Although there is a good body of work in the literature, there is still a great need for electric and hybrid vehicle teaching materials. Electric and Hybrid Vehicles: Technologies, Modeling and Control – A Mechatronic Approach is based on the authors’ current research in vehicle systems and will include chapters on vehicle propulsion systems, the fundamentals of vehicle dynamics, EV and HEV technologies, chassis systems, steering control systems, and state, parameter and force estimations. The book is highly illustrated, and examples will be given throughout the book based on real applications and challenges in the automotive industry. Designed to help a new generation of engineers needing to master the principles of and further advances in hybrid vehicle technology Includes examples of real applications and challenges in the automotive industry with problems and solutions Takes a mechatronics approach to the study of electric and hybrid electric vehicles, appealing to mechanical and electrical engineering interests Responds to the increase in demand of universities offering courses in newer electric vehicle technologies

The motor vehicle technology covered in this book has become in the more than 125 years of its history in many aspects an extremely complex and, in many areas of engineering science . Motor vehicles must remain functional under harsh environmental conditions and extreme continuous loads and must also be reliably brought into a safe state even in the event of a failure by a few trained operators. The automobile is at the same time a mass product, which must be produced in millions of pieces and at extremely low cost. In addition to the fundamentals of current vehicle systems, the book also provides an overview of future developments such as, for example, in the areas of electromobility, alternative drives and driver assistance systems. The basis for the book is a series of lectures on automotive engineering, which has been offered by the first-named author at the University of Duisburg-Essen for many years. Starting from classical systems in the automobile, the reader is given a systemic view of modern motor vehicles. In addition to the pure basic function, the modeling of individual (sub-) systems is also discussed. This gives the reader a deep understanding of the underlying principles. In addition, the book with the given models provides a basis for the practical application in the area of ​​simulation technology and thus achieves a clear added value against books, which merely explain the function of a system without entering into the modeling. On the basis of today's vehicle systems we will continue to look at current and future systems. In addition to the state-of-the-art, the reader is thus taught which topics are currently dominant in research and which developments can be expected for the future. In particular, a large number of practical examples are provided directly from the vehicle industry. Especially for students of vehicle-oriented study courses and lectures, the book thus enables an optimal preparation for possible future fields of activity.

The annual series Global Conferences on Sustainable Manufacturing (GCSM) sponsored by the International Academy for Production Engineering (CIRP) is committed to excellence in the creation of sustainable products and processes that conserve energy and natural resources, have minimal negative impacts upon the natural environment and society, and adhere to the core principle of sustainability by considering the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To promote this noble goal, there is a great need for increased awareness in education and training, including the dissemination of new findings on principles and practices of sustainability applied to manufacturing. The series Global Conferences on Sustainable Manufacturing offers international colleagues the opportunity to network, expand their knowledge, and improve practice globally.

This is a complete reference guide to automotive electrics and electronics. This new edition of the definitive reference for automotive engineers, compiled by one of the world's largest automotive equipment suppliers, includes new and updated material. As in previous editions different topics are covered in a concise but descriptive way backed up by diagrams, graphs, photographs and tables enabling the reader to better comprehend the subject. This fifth edition revises the classical topics of the vehicle electrical systems such as system architecture, control, components and sensors. There is now greater detail on electronics and their application in the motor vehicle, including electrical energy management (EEM) and discusses the topic of inter system networking within the vehicle. It also includes a description of the concept of hybrid drive a topic that is particularly current due to its ability to reduce fuel consumption and therefore CO2 emissions.This book will benefit automotive engineers and design engineers, automotive technicians in training and mechanics and technicians in garages. It may also be of interest to teachers/ lecturers and students at vocational colleges, and enthusiasts.​