{"id":7725,"date":"2013-05-06T10:03:09","date_gmt":"2013-05-06T17:03:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/?p=7725"},"modified":"2013-05-06T10:03:09","modified_gmt":"2013-05-06T17:03:09","slug":"a-smart-battery-management-system-and-multiple-sensors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/a-smart-battery-management-system-and-multiple-sensors\/","title":{"rendered":"A Smart Battery Management System and Multiple Sensors"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fraunhofer and the Hochschule Esslingen University of Applied Sciences\u00a0have created an electronic race car<\/a> that they will show at the Sensor + Test Measurement Fair in Nuremberg, Germany from May 14 through 16.\u00a0 Not only electrically driven, the innovative vehicle holds a number of sensor and control systems that might be of interest to electric aircraft designers.<\/p>\n

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EVE, the electric racer from the Hochschule Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, is loaded with sensor and intelligent systems. Photo courtesy E-Rennstall, Hochschule Esslingen<\/p><\/div>\n

EVE, the product of the school and Fraunhofer\u2019s labors, can sprint from 0 to 100 kilometers an hour (62 mph) in 3.6 seconds with its twin 60 kilowatt, 4,500 rpm motors, and reach a top speed of 140 km\/hr (86.8 mph).\u00a0 Its 8 kilowatt-hour lithium polymer batteries allow only a short run of 22 kilometers (13.64 miles) though, not surprising in terms of high power outputs pulling the cells down quickly.<\/p>\n

Electrical engineering students from the e-racing team at the Hochschule designed the 300 kilogram (660 pound) car as an elective project to augment their studies, and ran it at the International Formula Student Electric (FSE) race in Italy.<\/p>\n

Students received high-powered help from the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS in Erlangen, who developed an intricate sensor system along with Seuffer GmbH & Co.KG, an industry partner with whom the institute has been working for over 11 years.\u00a0 Seuffer also sponsors the students of the E.Stall racing team.<\/p>\n

EVE is a test bed and demonstration platform for multiple sensor technologies from Fraunhofer, including those that monitor braking pressure, crashes, temperature and acceleration, accelerator and brake pedals, speed, steering angle, wheel speed and power. \u00a0Fraunhofer explains, \u201cThese last six functions could all be performed by HallinOne\u00ae sensors<\/a> developed by Fraunhofer IIS, 3D magnetic-field sensors that are already a standard feature in washing machines, where they are used to determine the position and orientation of the drum.\u201d\u00a0 The painfully punned sensor name gives a whole new meaning to taking the car out for a spin.\u00a0 (apologies to one and all.)<\/p>\n

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Hallinone sensor performs a multiplicity of tasks in EVE race car<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n

Not content to monitor all the salient functions of the car, the team expanded the normal roles of motor and battery management.\u00a0 Two electronic sensors attached at the sides of the batteries use 3D magnetic-field sensor technology to monitor battery charge.\u00a0 According to Fraunhofer, \u201cWhat\u2019s special about this is that the contactless sensors measure both the current that flows from the battery to the engine and the current that flows back again when the vehicle brakes. The integrated sensor system is able to eliminate disturbances and foreign magnetic fields, thus guaranteeing very precise measurements. A further advantage is that the system is also able to measure other aspects of the battery such as its voltage and temperature. The data is collected and sent to the power control unit (PCU) and the battery management system (BMS), which controls the charging and discharging processes.\u201d\u00a0 This would certainly have an application in aircraft with regenerative capabilities in gliding or descents.<\/p>\n

The video demonstrates many potential applications of Hallinone technology, but comes in for a hard-sell landing at the end.<\/p>\n