Delphi Takes 'Building Block' Approach To Provide Advanced Engine Management Systems
23 February 1998
Delphi Takes 'Building Block' Approach To Provide Advanced Engine Management Systems
TROY, Mich., Feb. 23 -- Because no two customers or regions
of the world are alike, Delphi Automotive Systems is developing a modular
building block approach to simplify the task of tailoring engine management
systems to diverse customer and global needs.
Delphi officials discussed the company's strategy and highlighted related
technologies today in Detroit at the 1998 SAE International Congress and
Exposition. Engine management is coordinated by the company's Energy & Engine
Management Systems and Delco Electronics Systems divisions.
Engine management is the science of equipping and calibrating an engine to
achieve the cleanest possible exhaust stream while maintaining top performance
and fuel economy, and continuously diagnosing system faults.
But focus on those priorities often varies around the world, reflecting
differing governmental regulations, customer expectations and driving
conditions, and a host of vehicle types and content levels.
Typically, an engine management system integrates numerous elements,
including: an engine control module (ECM), control and diagnostics software,
an air induction and control subsystem, a fuel handling module, a fuel
injection module, an ignition subsystem, a catalytic converter, a subsystem to
handle evaporative emissions, and a variety of sensors and solenoids.
"The content often varies widely, recognizing that a system, essentially,
is what the customer needs it to be," said Donald L. Runkle, vice president
and general manager of Delphi Energy & Engine Management Systems and champion
of Delphi's Engineering Task Team.
"But we don't start at ground zero with each customer, in each market,
with each vehicle," Runkle said. "We use modular systems architecture, rapid
calibration development tools, and controls based on real world models. We
use off-the-shelf interchangeable hardware whenever possible and software that
will work in most systems and most processors.
"We use 'plug and play' tools, like auto-code generation, so we do not
have to recalibrate the whole system when we modify a piece of it," Runkle
said.
"That way we can save time and money, and fine tune systems for regional
and customer requirements for driveability, performance, fuel economy,
emissions control, noise reduction and other market drivers.
"Nobody has the time or money to waste doing it the old way," he said.
Delphi is the most comprehensive engine management systems supplier in the
world and the only one offering control of both components and systems from
air/fuel intake to exhaust.
Delphi Automotive Systems, with headquarters in Troy, Mich., USA, is the
world's most diversified supplier of automotive components and systems. With
the recent integration of Delphi Delco Electronics Systems, Delphi operates
208 manufacturing facilities, 46 ventures and 27 technical centers in 36
countries. Regional headquarters are located in Paris, Tokyo and Sao Paulo.
Delphi can be found on the Internet at http://www.delphiauto.com.
"NEXT CENTURY WINNERS" FACT SHEET
ADVANCED ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
NEWS
Delphi uses a modular, or "building block," approach to tailor engine
management and emission control systems to regional or customer requirements
anywhere in the world.
OPERATION
Highlighted Advanced Engine Management Systems include:
Modular Systems Architecture
* Delphi's building block approach to engine management selects from sets
of commonized, interchangeable software and electronics in the engine
or powertrain control modules.
* Allows OEMs to custom build systems for widely differing markets.
* Software has expansion/deletion capabilities.
* Systems are designed with a minimum number of basic electronic
controllers, which can be expanded if desired.
* Component hardware is interchangeable among systems.
* Software can be used across a variety of systems.
Rapid Calibration Development Tools (RapidCal)
* Rapid prototyping permits immediate evaluation of the performance of
new systems developments.
* Results can be benchmarked against plant/control models and rapid
prototypes to verify correct implementation.
Model-Based Controls (MBC)
* Control algorithms are redesigned around physically based models, or
mathematical representations of "the real world."
* Piece changes only require changing the calibration data for that
single piece, rather than changing the whole system.
* MBC technologies include pneumatic and thermal estimators, model-based
transient fuel control, and individual cylinder fuel control.
BENEFITS
* Saves development costs.
* Offers flexibility to manufacturers.
* Adapts easily to the needs of a variety of customers, from emerging
markets to high-end applications.
* Allows use of off-the-shelf componentry, with minimal recalibration
after modification.
* Enables compliance with varying emissions regulations over a wide range
of driving conditions, driving habits, customer expectations and
vehicle types.
* Saves fuel, reduces emissions.
* Reduces time-to-market for vehicle manufacturers.
* Delphi is the only automotive supplier in the world offering control of
both components and systems from air/fuel intake to exhaust.
SOURCE Delphi Automotive Systems