Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - August 2022 - 34

ALLISON TRANSMISSION
Q&
A
Allison advances commercial-vehicle electronic controls
Allison Transmission continues to invest in and accelerate its
electric-vehicle propulsion solutions, but it also remains committed
to its conventional-product portfolio, which the company
expects to remain relevant for decades. Boosting the
capabilities of both technology pathways is Allison's nextgeneration
electronic controls platform, which features advanced
communications, functional safety, cybersecurity and
over-the-air (OTA) programming capability.
Allison partnered with multiple OEMs to build the first commercial
vehicles equipped with the next-gen platform, which
combines state-of-the-art microprocessor and software operating
system technology. Freightliner Custom
Chassis Corp. has begun producing the first
walk-in vans equipped with the enhanced
electronic controls. Other OEMs using the
new system include Mack Trucks in its medium-duty
trucks, Prevost and MAN. Allison
expects all OEM partners to transition to
this controls platform by February 2023.
" Many of the advanced technologies and
capabilities offered through Allison's nextgeneration
electronic controls platform are
at the forefront of commercial vehicle industry
adoption, " said Ryan Milburn, VP of
Product Engineering at Allison
Transmission, who also is serving as the
2022 Executive Chair for the SAE COMVEC
event this September in Indianapolis.
COMVEC's theme, " Powering Future
Innovation " (www.sae.org/attend/comvec/
program), embodies the technology advances
Allison and other companies are
making in the propulsion domain.
" The capabilities require integration at a
Can you expand upon the new platform's key features?
We've implemented an AUTOSAR [AUTomotive Open System
Architecture] real-time operating system - it's kind of becoming
an industry standard. [AUTOSAR seeks to standardize
basic system functions and functional interfaces to enable
development partners to more easily integrate, exchange, reuse
and transfer functions within a vehicle network.]
Obviously, new microprocessors that support all the cybersecurity
and functional safety - we made a number of functional
safety enhancements as required to segregate the various
applications on the controller. And we continue to add
feature capabilities.
Ryan Milburn,
VP of Product Engineering
at Allison Transmission.
vehicle system level, " Milburn continued.
" System and vehicle level integration expertise
is a core competency and differentiator
for Allison, and we are proud to deliver these next-generation
capabilities in partnership with our global OEM customers. "
Hardware and software enhancements to support the advanced
capabilities include: a new control module and pushbutton shift
selector, as well as a new software operating system, controls
and calibration software and cybersecurity infrastructure.
The new platform initially supports Allison's 1000 through
4000 Series product portfolio, as well as its eGen Power electrified-propulsion
solutions. The company plans to introduce a
new fully integrated eGen Power e-axle this fall at IAA
Transportation in Germany; it will complement existing products
such as the twin-motor eGen Power 100D, which powers
Hino Trucks' XL Class 7 and 8 battery-electric trucks, providing
a continuous output of 454 kW and a peak output of 652 kW.
Milburn shared additional insights with TOHE following a
recent press conference:
34 August 2022
" The capabilities
[offered by the nextgen
platform] require
integration at a vehicle
system level. "
Why was the move to this next-gen platform
necessary?
It enables functional safety, which is
emerging as a requirement in the commercial
vehicle industry, cybersecurity and
it also enables over-the-air programming.
So through the vehicle telematics solution
you'll be able to actually provide new software
updates, whether that be turn on
new FuelSense features or address any
issues that arise. [FuelSense uses a 'learning
algorithm' to support key features
such as DynActive Shifting to determine
the optimal shift point; Neutral at Stop,
which reduces the load on the engine
when the vehicle is stopped; and
Acceleration Rate Management to mitigate
aggressive driving by automatically
controlling engine torque.]
Allison recently expanded its Vehicle
Electrification + Environmental Test
Center (VE+ET) in Indianapolis?
Allison has made significant investments in
facilities as part of our commitment to innovation. As the demand
to test and validate larger and higher-capacity battery and
hydrogen-fuel-cell electric vehicles increase, Allison expanded
the test center's battery emulation capabilities. This capability
uniquely positions Allison to test and validate around the clock,
eliminating the need to stop to recharge onboard batteries.
We also added bulk hydrogen supply to support validation
of fuel cell electric vehicles, eliminating the reliance on the
vehicle's onboard hydrogen tanks. The VE+ET provides Allison
engineers, customers and industry partners with enhanced
capabilities to conduct testing in one centralized location
where we're able to replicate extreme environments. This facility
moves us beyond [just] powertrain innovation, enabling
Allison and our partners to bring new, innovative technology
and vehicle systems to market faster and more efficiently.
Ryan Gehm
TRUCK & OFF-HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
http://www.sae.org/attend/comvec/program
Truck & Off-Highway Engineering - August 2022

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