Thesis work 30hp - Stability of vehicle configurations

Background:

The transition towards emission free transports may include the use of e-trailers for certain use cases. E-trailers are towed units in a vehicle combination with a traction battery and a propulsion unit that allows the trailer to propel the vehicle combination as well as the regeneration of energy.

There are a number of controller strategies thinkable, where in some cases the control of trailer is centralized or decentralized. In a centralized controller the towing unit controls the traction and braking forces in the trailer based on a holistic situation assessment. In a decentralized controller the trailer controls the traction forces based on internal signals autonomously from the towing vehicle, e.g. based on maintaining a certain degree of pull in the coupling unit.

The stability of the total combination can be influenced by the different controller strategies and potentially lead to incidents like trailer swing or jack-knifing. Therefore it is important to define criteria for the safe use of e-trailers in vehicle combinations.

Project goal:

Define test methods and criteria for the evaluation of vehicle combination stability with e-trailers. The methods and criteria should validated by quantifying the influence of different controller principles.

The project will mainly focus on simulations but will also contain testing activities for validation purposes.

The project is connected to the e-trailer collaboration project with Scania and LiU, called “e-charge2”.

 

 Assignment:

• Literature study on the topic
• Definition of e-trailer use cases for stability analysis
• Modelling of e-trailer use cases using the simulation models developed by LiU in the e-charge2 project
• Definition of suitable test methods, including manoeuvres, excitations and loading conditions
• Participate in the winter test of an e-trailer in the e-charge2 project
• Verification of the simulation models using the test data
• Proposal of criteria for stability, preferably using stability envelopes of some sort
• Implementation several relevant controller strategies in the simulation models
• Benchmark of controller strategies with respect to stability
• Validate the criteria with benchmark results

 

Number of students: 1

Time: 20 weeks, full time 40 hours per week

Start: January 2026

Credits: 30hp

Contact person:

EDTP, Jolle Ijkema, jolle.ijkema@scania.com

Application:
Your application must include a CV, personal letter, and transcript of grades.

A background check might be conducted for this position. We are conducting interviews continuously and may close the recruitment earlier than the date specified.

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