Adaptive nonlinear feedforward control of an electrohydraulic camless valvetrain

Camless engine operation offers potential benefits for making a high-performance engine. Control of the peak value of engine valve lift is a critical step in achieving these benefits. Nonlinearities and parameter variations in the valvetrain dynamics restrict the performance that can be achieved by the traditional PID feedback control approach. An adaptive control algorithm is presented with judicious selection of the model structure, adaptation parameters, and controller configuration. The experimental results demonstrate superior transient and steady state performance.