Thesis: Real time and onboard optimized quadratic solver for automotive applications i Göteborg

At Research and Development you will be a key contributor to the next generation outstanding luxury cars from Volvo. Together with other engineers around the world, you and your team will create innovative human-centric car technology that makes life less complicated and more enjoyable for people. Are you interested in design and connected car technology? Do you share our passion for people, the environment and our urge to create a superior driving experience? Research and Development is the place for you to prosper.

Background

As the applications and functions in commercial vehicles getting more advanced, the need for more advanced algorithms in the Electric Controls Units (ECU) is growing. However, these units are constrained in RAM, ROM, and CPU. Further, the computations are made in real time, which means that each functionality need to be executed within a certain time slot. Hence the algorithms must be effective and reliable.

Scope

The aim of this master thesis is to develop a customized algorithm for solving quadratic programs in the ECU for linear and/or quadratic constraints. Problem sizes to be considered are up to 100 variables and 50 constraints. Beside RAM, ROM and CPU restrictions, also stability and accuracy of the methods should be evaluated.

In the first step, implementation, verification and testing of methods is tentatively made in MATLAB. The second step is to program the algorithms into the ECU. This is done by c programming. However, this can effectively be done by embedded coder. Hence, no c programming expertise is needed, but it is of course meritorious. The testing of the algorithms implemented in the ECU is done in the Hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) lab.

Profile

• Engineering physics/mathematics, M.Sc., or similar.
• Fundamental understanding for mathematical optimization and programming.
• Knowledge in MATLAB. Knowledge in c and Python programming is meritorious.
• Analytical and independent.
• Driver’s license (B).

Duration

• 20 weeks / 30 ECTS
• Starting date: November-February (Flexible)
• Estimated end date: Summer 2017
• Number of students: 1 or 2 students.
• The work will be performed at dept. 97520 “Vehicle Propulsion, Strategy & Concept”, Volvo Cars Corporation, Göteborg.

Application

• Please include a CV and cover letter with your application as soon as possible but no later than 2017-11-15.
• Selection will be ongoing during the application period.