Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Battery (REVB) - design and integration of novel state estimation/control algorithms & system optimisation techniques

The latest draft of the main application form (submitted by OXIS Energy on behalf of all collaborators) is attached. This
gives a fuller picture of the project, including detailed work package descriptions.
Cranfield's research is divided into six work packages:
WP CF1: High-Level Requirements Gathering
WP CF2: Architectural Design
WP CF3: Modelling and Estimation
WP CF4: Control and Optimization
WP CF5: Integration
WP CF6: Development of Reusable Software Tools
Detailed descriptions of each follow.
WP CF1: High-Level Requirements Gathering
In this work package, we will work with the other consortium members to determine the exact requirements that the
automotive battery pack needs to meet. We will understand the power requirements and other demands on the battery
system.
The ultimate end use of the technology would be in an electric vehicle. For the purpose of this project, the consortium is
planning to produce a hardware-in-the-loop 'technology demonstrator'. This will be developed by Lotus Engineering, and
Cranfield will use it to integrate and test state estimators and control algorithms. (The requirements for the hardware-in-the-loop simulator are directly analogous to those for a real electric vehicle, so we can be confident that our work has realworld
relevance.)
WP CF 2: Architectural Design
In this work package, we will work with one collaborator in particular (Lotus Engineering) to design the structure of the
demonstrator's Battery Energy Manager. (This is a computer control system that can be embedded in a vehicle, and we
will be using it to control the behaviour of the powertrain components.) We will first seek to understand Lotus's existing
controller in detail. After this, we will be able to produce detailed requirements for our controller and estimator, and then
design an architecture for it.
WP CF3: Modelling and Estimation
In this work package, we will develop low-order models of the battery suitable for embedding in the Battery Energy
Manager, and we will use these to design a novel state estimator that will give 'virtual measurements' for quantities that are
hard to measure directly. We will prepare an initial version of these in time to support Lotus's parallel software design
activities. We will then refine the algorithms, taking into account development in our collaborators' research activities.
The low-order models will also be used to design controllers in WP CP4.
WP CF4: Control and Optimization
In this work package, we will apply multi-objective system optimization techniques to the driveline as a whole. We will also
use advanced control techniques to develop a novel control algorithm for the Battery Energy Manager. We will prepare
initial versions of these in time to support Lotus's parallel software design activities. We will then refine the algorithms,
taking into account development in our collaborators' research activities.
WP CF5: Integration
In this work package, we will support Lotus as they integrate our estimation and control algorithms into their Battery Energy
Manager and hardware-in-the-loop technology demonstrator. We will simulate the behaviour in a virtual environment,
modify the algorithms if needed, and then support integration on the hardware-in-the-loop technology demonstrator itself.
WP CF6: Development of Reusable Software Tools
In this work package, we will take the software tools we develop in earlier work packages, and develop them to make them
robust enough to be useful to others who wish to apply similar techniques. (We will distribute our tools over the WWW.)

The UK battery industry will benefit from the availability of the new technologies since it will be able to license the new
battery chemistry, and purchase cells manufactured using it. These are expected to be better value than current
technology, which will make UK suppliers more competitive. Given short development times in the industry, this will be
possible immediately.

The UK automotive sector will benefit from the knowledge gained during this exercise. The new technologies will make
electric vehicles more practicable. Having a knowledge-base in the UK will make it easy for UK automotive suppliers to
exploit these technologies, and therefore make them more competitive. Given short development times in the industry, this
will be possible immediately.
The technologies will contribute to the UK's commitments to transition to clean technologies: good automotive batteries are
a vital enabling technology for clean vehicles. The project will make clean vehicles more affordable, and therefore support
the UK's efforts to reduce CO2 emissions from motoring. This will begin to have an effect within a few years.