TNO ADVANCE: a modular simulation tool for combined chassis and powertrain analysis

In this paper TNO-Advance is presented. It is built in a modular way, therefore allowing quick assembling of specific vehicle configurations and easy integration of new component models and future evolutions of existing models. Its entensive library is built in Matlab/Simulink, taking advantage of its flexible and open architecture, the effective mathematical libraries and real-time application possibilities. TNO-Advance allows not only to develop, analyze and evaluate both chassis and powertrain systems, but also the interactions between them. All car suspensions can be represented and conventional as well as electric and hybrid electric vehicle powertrains. By applying the fast control options of Matlab/Simulink, chassis and powertrain controllers can be developed, as well as tested on robustness. Even interactions between vehiclesq, i.e. platooning, or new road transport systems, i.e. Intelligent Transport Systems and automatically guided vehicles, can be studied effectively.