Researching and developing solutions for braking systems on Volvo Construction’s future electric soil compactors.
Sponsored by: Volvo Construction
Team Members
Hadley Sager Hamdan Almarzooqi Bailey Pasternak Aidan Cliber Brendan Berton Dimitri Morgan
Instructor: David Cubanski
Project Poster
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Project Video
Project Summary
Overview
Our team was tasked with doing research and possibly implementing an electric braking solution to one or more of Volvo’s soil compactors without changing the patent or drastically changing the schematic of the machine. Our goal was to create a proof-of-concept simulation as well as a physical prototype.
Objectives
• Come up with an electric braking solution that can be implemented to a Volvo compactor without affecting any patents or changing the components of the machine.
• Visit Volvo headquarters in Shippensburg, PA to examine soil compactors and become more familiar with the scope of the project.
• Research electric braking systems of other motor vehicles as well as look into last semester’s work.
• Decide to pursue either phase sequencing of induction motors or eddy currents.
• Research induction motors and three phase inverters.
• Come up with a proof of concept on MATLAB using the Simulink software.
• Order parts to assemble a physical prototype.
• Wire and test the physical prototype.
• Prepare for final presentation.
Approach
• Met with Volvo online and visited their facility in Shippensburg to gather information about the goal of the project.
• Observed existing diesel and hydrohalic systems already installed in the soil compactors.
• Sorted through last semester’s research on electric braking solutions as well as completing our own research.
• We decided to pursue a different idea than the previous group (eddy current) and presented our new proposal (induction motors) to Volvo.
• Dove into theory and research on different braking systems through induction motors and decided to try switching the phase sequence.
• Met with a professor to gain insight and more information on how to prove our theory.
• Started a proof-of-concept simulation in the MATLAB software Simulink.
• Ordered physical components such as three phase induction motor and an inverter along with other miscellaneous materials.
• Assembled the physical prototype and finished the proof-of-concept simulation.
Outcomes
• Constructed an idea and proof of concept for future capstone projects to build on.
• Completed a physical prototype as well as a MATLAB Simulink simulation.