Within the framework of a cooperation project between RUF Automobile GmbH and Siemens AG, a Porsche (model 997) was converted into an electric sports car. Within the scope of the conversion, the vehicle was equipped with two electric machines close to the wheels, each including a gearbox. In this way a TorqueVectoring control (TV control) can be implemented without additional mechanical components.

Motivation 

By equipping vehicles with separate electric machines close to the wheels, a purely software-based implementation of a torque vectoring control is possible. Compared to systems that have a central machine, no additional mechanical components such as special differentials with superimposed gears or clutches are required.
The bandwidth of Torque Vectoring to influence the driving behaviour in the area of high performance sports cars can be shown especially in the vehicle used in this project.

Goal

The goal of the project was to demonstrate the agilising and stabilising effect of Torque Vectoring on the vehicle up to the limits of driving dynamics, based on the existing vehicle setup, both simulatively and in real tests.

Procedure

First of all, relevant physical vehicle parameters were determined by means of various test bench measurements to create a suitable simulation model of the test vehicle. Subsequently, the vehicle's existing vehicle dynamics sensors were tested for use in the control system. A feedforward-control combination was developed, which impresses a defined, more dynamic setpoint behaviour on the vehicle. This was verified by simulation and validated in road tests.