Distributed control architecture for powertrains

A distributed control system for controlling an automotive powertrain including an engine, the distributed control system comprising:

• a supervisory powertrain control unit configured to control one or more powertrain subsystems, the supervisory powertrain control unit configured to implement a central optimization algorithm that includes a global cost function or optimization routine for optimizing parameters from multiple powertrain subsystems;
• two or more subsystem control units in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, at least two of the two or more subsystem control units configured to control an operational aspect of the engine, wherein at least two of the at least two subsystem control units that are configured to control an operational aspect of the engine are configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm for performing a local optimization for the corresponding subsystem using command signals and/or feedforward signals outputted from the supervisory powertrain control unit as input;
• and
• wherein the lower-level algorithm outputs one or more set points for controlling one or more components and/or actuators of the corresponding subsystem.

A distributed control system for controlling an automotive powertrain, the distributed control system comprising:

• a supervisory powertrain control unit configured to control an air/EGR control subsystem and at least one additional powertrain subsystem, the powertrain supervisory control unit is configured to implement a central optimization algorithm for performing a global optimization across multiple powertrain subsystems;
• an air/EGR control unit in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, the air/EGR control unit configured to implement an airside optimization algorithm adapted to output one or more airside control signals based on command values and/or feedforward signals sent from the supervisory powertrain control unit;
• and
• at least one additional powertrain subsystem control unit in communication with the supervisory powertrain control unit, the at least one additional powertrain subsystem configured to implement a lower-level optimization algorithm for performing a local optimization for the at least one additional powertrain subsystem using command values and/or feedforward signals of the supervisory powertrain control unit.