A Nonlinear Controller Design Method for Fuel-Injected Automotive Engines

Abstract

A nonlinear, “sliding mode” fuel-injection controller is designed based on a physically motivated, mathematical engine model. The designed controller can achieve a commanded air-to-fuel ratio with excellent transient properties, which offers the potential for improving fuel economy, torque transients, and emission levels. The controller is robust to model errors as well as to rapidly changing maneuvers of throttle and spark advance. The sliding mode control method offers a great potential for future engine control problems, since: it results in a relatively simple control structure that requires little on-line computing and no table lookups; it is robust to model errors and disturbances; and it can be easily adapted to a family of engines.