Research

The proportion of electrics and electronics in motor vehicles is growing disproportionately. More and more previously purely mechanical actuators are being replaced by mechatronics and completely new functions, e.g. in infotainment or driver assistance systems, are being added. However, the major change, almost a paradigm shift, is the increasing electrification of the powertrain in hybrid to purely electric form. This leads to new possibilities for mobility, but also to new tasks at both component and system level.

The Department of Vehicle Systems and Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering deals with problems of electrical engineering, electronics and mechatronics in vehicles with a focus on energy in research and teaching. It is a founding member of both the Vehicle Systems Research Network (FAST) and the Institute of Powertrain and Vehicle Technology (IAF) at the University of Kassel and has been headed by Prof. Ludwig Brabetz since 2007. Close cooperation with industry and other specialist areas is emphasized when carrying out research projects. In addition to theoretical work in the areas of tools, test methods and simulation, the focus is on the experimental validation and parameterization of the models, so that various test benches and test vehicles are available. These include an on-board electrical system test bench with complete actuator and sensor technology, component, storage and generator test benches, highly dynamic test benches for electrical machines and measuring equipment for thermal and acoustic tests.

Center of gravity

• The optimization, modelling and validation of vehicle electrical system architectures, which include the application of generators, storage units, converters and power consumers as well as the virtual test environment in addition to the line topology,
• The development of efficient and effective HiL-supported test methods,
• Diagnostic, analysis and optimization methods for electric traction, which are essentially based on electrical, thermal and acoustic approaches, modelling and simulation as well as measurements on both the electrical machine and the overall system, and
• Measurement and calculation methods for the electrical and thermal properties of electrical system components as well as measurement and diagnostic methods for contact systems.

The projects are largely in the field of vehicle technology, but occasionally also in other areas with technically related tasks. Within the framework of the Vehicle Systems Research Network (FAST) or the Institute for Powertrain and Vehicle Technology (IAF) at the University of Kassel, which includes departments from both electrical engineering and mechanical engineering, interdisciplinary projects are also carried out in collaborations that go beyond the competencies of the individual departments.