A Comprehensive HEV Design Tool for Dual-Use Applications

A very capable team composed of a small business, ThermoAnalytics, with support from a major aerospacecompany, Boeing, and a long time TACOM contractor, MTU/KRC, will develop a Hybrid Electric Vehicle design tool. This team will pursue the research required to develop a practical and useful design tool for the HEV designer. The development of the prototype software will begin in Phase I resulting in a functional code comprised of the required physical equations for modeling the power systems analysis of a hybrid electric vehicle. The primary goal is to produce an engineering software tool that is accessible to all.designers and consistent with manufacturing databases. An innovative approach will be taken that essentially.links a power systems analysis code with a CAD database resulting in an early rapid prototyping capability for hybrid electric vehicles. This tool will have dual-use capability for military vehicles and commercial automotive applications. The virtual prototyping capability will be developed over the potential three phases of this program with Phase I concentrating on the software algorithm, database formats, and mobility aspects of the design code. BENEFITS: The Phase I program will produce a tool tomake effective HEV design decisions on emerging concept programs such as the Future Scout Cavalry System. This SBIR research product will develop into a commercial product through anticipated participation by Ford, Boeing, and ThermoAnalytics.