Nonlinear robust control of torque converter clutch slip system for passenger vehicles using advanced torque estimation algorithms

In this paper, a torque-estimation-based robust controller for passenger car torque converter clutch slip system is presented. The proposed robust controller uses only the measurements available from inexpensive sensors that are installed in current passenger vehicles for torque estimation and feedback control. A conventional full state observer along with a neural-network-based open-loop hydraulic actuator observer is designed to estimate the unknown driving load, and a neural-network-based turbine torque estimator considering the temperature of oil circulating the torque converter is developed for improved turbine torque estimation accuracy. The stability of the internal dynamics is also investigated, and the performance and robustness of the robust controller is validated by simulation studies.