Polaris Pillager
Hybrid UTV Demonstrator
Problem statement
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.” Unfortunately for the environment, engines are the heart of most modern vehicles, so advances in engine technology directly shape transportation efficiency, emissions, and adaptability. Our client, the Army Research Lab (ARL), wants a ground vehicle to demonstrate an advanced hybrid-engine technology that the UW Madison Engine Research Lab is working on (for military aircraft application, but also because it could prove useful on the consumer market). Under the guidance of Professor David Rothamer, our team will develop a test platform for an engine system capable of running on multiple fuel types under demanding conditions. Making a reliable test bed may lead to broader hybrid-engine application in larger vehicles. These vehicles would also save more fuel and emit less pollutants, according to the Department of Energy, because a typical hybrid vehicle is 43% more efficient than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Therefore, creating a more robust hybrid system would be more economic and environmentally friendly. While our goal is designing a reliable test bed for our ground vehicle, the Polaris Kinetic XP, it introduces a significant engineering challenge: power management and system organization. According to the Engine Research Lab (not the ARL!), the generator currently planned to be used with this engine-generator system is rated for a maximum torque of around 45 N-m, which our 1.6L engine may exceed when running at its most efficient speed. Additionally, hybrid engine systems require batteries, electronic controllers, and our particular engine will require data acquisition tools and possibly a heavy cooling system to be mounted with it. This can introduce critical design trade-offs related to mass, packaging, weather-proofing, and weight distribution. Improper weight balance can negatively affect vehicle performance, durability, and vehicle safety, making system-level optimization essential rather than optional. This project enables experimental capability in a practical application. Solving this problem supports not only the military, but the whole transportation industry towards a more versatile and efficient engine system.
