On the Design of Actuator and Control Systems in Early Development Stages

Vehicle development faces new challenges due to the increasing requirements on vehicle performance, e.g., on ride, comfort and safety. Adding mechatronic systems to the chassis helps to reach more ambitious design goals, however, it also adds to the complexity of the design process. The number of design variables increases significantly: in addition to the mechanical chassis, actuators of mechatronic systems and control logic parameters affect the overall vehicle performance. The complex interaction between many design variables poses a particular challenge. Engineers need to make important design decisions in early development stages, typically about the mechanical chassis, without knowing the final design, in particular the detail parameters of mechatronic systems.