Application of Boost-Rate Control in Automotive Systems

Although the PI control strategies are well established in the engineering world it comes always the need to further improve its control characteristics. This need is also demanded by the automotive industry where good control performances at low cost play a very important role. A step towards this goal is achieved by the so called boost-rate control. The boost-rate control implements a variable proportional gain depending on the rate of change of a modified version of the system error (system set-point minus system output). A set of parameters that are easy to tune define the domain of action for the boost-rate control. When integrated in a PI controller the boost-rate control allows for a control behaviour that varies between proportional-integral conventional properties and the one similar to a switching controller. Benchmark and automotive applications (EGR control) will give more detailed knowledge on this type of control.