Experimental evaluation of a hybrid MPC strategy for vehicle start-up with an Automated Manual Transmission

In this paper, an experimental evaluation is presented for a Model Predictive Control (MPC) algorithm controlling powertrains dynamics in vehicles with Automated Manual Transmissions (AMTs). This model based control enables online optimization by using sub-optimal solutions directly linked to the accelerator pedal position. Transmission stability constraints are explicitly handled as well as saturations on the control inputs. This MPC control is tested on line during vehicle start-up in a mild hybrid city car demonstrator equipped with a natural gas engine. A comparison with a PI-based control is made to show the convenience of the proposed MPC control.