Vantage Power wins National Instruments Award for Transportation
On 4th August 2015 Balazs Pal and Toby Schulz were presented with 1st place in the transportation category at the National Instruments Engineering Impact Awards 2015.
Vantage Power have been using National Instruments hardware and software tools for the development of their B320 retrofit hybrid system for buses. The unique combination of integrated software and hardware has allowed the seamless transition from control algorithm design and stand-alone testing to full prototype vehicle deployment.
Developing a hybrid powertrain that can be retrofitted into existing double-decker buses and can demonstrate a 40% fuel savings in real-world operating conditions. Vantage Power needed to develop a completely new electronic controller to interface with more than 32 different inputs and outputs, and control more than 13 other devices, to make it the most energy-efficient hybrid bus on the road.
The award winning solution came by using CompactRIO and LabVIEW system-design software to create an onboard embedded controller for a hybrid vehicle. The system constantly calculates the optimal power split between engine and battery, whilst translating driver commands to provide a smooth running vehicle, and ensuring all components are running within safe limits.
Link to National Instruments Engineering Impact Awards 2015.