The Embry-Riddle EcoCAR 3 team is developing a prototype hybrid Chevrolet Camaro utilizing a customized vehicle powertrain controller. This controller is ensuring system safety, vehicle operation, and consumer acceptability while also incorporating advanced driving aids to achieve both the desired performance levels one expects from a Camaro as well as an increased vehicle efficiency. This vehicle must reach the team set vehicle technical specifications of a 4.9 second 0 to 60 time while maintaining a 53 miles per gallon gasoline equivalence rating.
In order to reach the efficiency goal, the team is developing an Active Management Assistance System utilizing computer vision tools to analyze traffic and road conditions to actively change the vehicle through its seven operational states to achieve the highest levels of energy savings. Currently, this project is in the initial testing phase where baseline functionality of the hybrid powertrain controller is being tested in a hardware-in-the-loop simulation environment to ensure operational safety as well as doing vehicle platform integration of systems. At the end of the spring 2016 term, the hybrid Camaro will be road worthy, and the vision systems will have completed basic functionality testing and be ready for system integration. At the end of the 2017 academic year, the system will be integrated into the vehicle platform, and by the end of the 2018 academic year, the system will be fully integrated into the completed hybrid vehicle controller.