Multipurpose Educational Modules to Teach Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle Technologies

Principal Investigators

Dr. Mohammad Elahinia
University of Toledo

Co-Investigators

Dr. Walter Olson
University of Toledo
Dr. Mark Vonderembse
University of Toledo
Dr. Mark Schumack
University of Detroit Mercy

Project Dates:

11/22/2006 to 03/31/2009

Project year: Year 2

MIOH-UTC Project Identifier: AF 1; Projects 1, 2, and 3

Focus Area:

Educational: Alternative Fuels

Abstract:

Hydraulic Hybrid Instructional Materials

Developed under the grant “Multipurpose Educational Modules to Teach Hydraulic Hybrid Vehicle Technologies,” these materials include two simulations and associated student handouts. More

The Michigan-Ohio University Transportation Center has identified alternative fuels as one of the three focal areas of focus and impact. Research, technology transfer, education, and outreach to support the design and development of hybrid vehicles are among primary areas of research and education. The activities of this educational educational project are directed towards the hybrid vehicles, which are closely related to the alternative fuels focus area. This project forms around an experimental setup that is currently being developed at the University of Toledo. This test stand makes it possible to evaluate the performance of dual-function hydraulic mump/motors as the main components of the hydraulic hybrid vehicles. The investigating group from the University of Toledo and University of Detroit Mercy will collaborate over a period of two years to develop several education modules as well as educational simulations around this test stand. To this end, experiments and simulations will be designed in the form of complete modules to teach Engineering students the fundamental concept of the hydraulic hybrid vehicle technology. These modules will have elements from the core courses of the Mechanical Engineering curriculum. As such, these modules will be used to enhance the students’ learning in fluid dynamics, hydraulics, energy systems, vibrations, mechatronics, and controls. The educational modules and computer simulation software developed throughout this project period will become available on the internet for other universities. Additionally, the investigators will present and publish their educational finding at the national and international conferences and in the educational journals.

The proposed educational modules will support the MIOH-UTC mission in the area of alternative fuels. To this end, a hydraulic test stand is currently being built, which will be used to evaluate the components of hydraulic hybrid vehicles. This experimental setup will enable faculty at The University of Toledo and the University of Detroit Mercy to teach concepts related to hybrid vehicles in a hands-on environment.

Background:

The Michigan – Ohio (MIOH) University Transportation Center (UTC) was created through a grant from the United States Department of Transportation to improve transportation efficiency, safety, and security in Michigan and Ohio and across the nation by increasing the effective capacity of existing transportation infrastructure, reducing transportation energy dependence through alternative fuels, and enhancing supply chain performance. The MIOH UTC has selected alternative fuels as one of the three focal areas for its efforts and impact. Research, technology transfer, education, and outreach to support the design and development of hybrid vehicles are among primary areas of research and education.

The University of Toledo (UT) has been involved in many research activities in the area of alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles. As an example of the existing efforts in this area, UT is the lead organization on a Wright Center of Innovation proposal entitled Center for Advanced Drive Technologies that was submitted to the Ohio Department of Development. The overarching goal of the Center for Advanced Drive Technologies is to put vehicles and component technology on the roads and railroads of our nation that efficiently use energy and use less energy than current technology vehicles.