Hardware-in-Loop Simulation Platform for Stop-Start Control of Construction Machines

Construction machines show a high potential for implementation of micro hybrid technology with engine stop-start control (SSC) due to a high proportion of their lifetime in idle, especially when they are doing the cycle working loads. In this paper, a hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) simulation platform has been proposed based on demands for developing micro hybridization algorithms for this kind of machines. Powertrain of a generic machine is firstly modelled. Parameters from a real excavator have been used to investigate the model. Next, the SSC control logic is implemented in order to minimize the fuel consumption of the machine during idle. A software-in-loop (SiL) simulation model is then developed to investigate the system functionalities. Next, the HiL simulation platform using dSPACE machines is properly setup to support rapid prototyping and validation of the engine control system. Real-time experiments on the HiL platform have been carried out to prove the energy saving ability of the proposed SSC method as well as to confirm the capability of the simulation platform through the good agreement between the SiL and HiL results.