Animated Interactive demo of PSD

Ichabod · 08-29-2006, 11:06 AM

I ran across this page yesterday and was fascinated by the inner workings of the Power Split Device (PSD).

I also noticed that there was enough information there for me to put together an animation and working interactive demo of the PSD with controls for input from ICE and MG2, so I spent a couple hours putting it together in Maya and Flash. Here's the result (it's a flash 8 swf, so I can't show directly in the post

):

Power Split Device demo

If anyone has suggestions or technical corrections I'd happily entertain them, and I'd also be glad to hand it off for use on technical info pages like the one linked above. I've just been getting a kick out of playing with the sliders... trying to find pulse, glide, and dead-band settings with the sliders and seeing just when MG1 will change direcitons (as in hard acceleration from a stop or very slow roll).

[edit]
I've created a new version based on input from this thread, and I'm posting the new link here so you don't have to hunt for it

I'll leave the old one up for a short while for comparison, but meanwhile, the new link is:

http://eahart.com/prius/psd

eagle33199 · 08-29-2006, 11:45 AM

I like it!

One thing i would add, though, is a slider for MG1 (i mean, why not?). Also, it would be kinda cool to have buttons you could select that would put the car into different phases (EV mode, regen braking, etc).

Oh, and add a simulated (estimated) MPG bar on the side... so that someone looking at it sees the effet of using the gas engine. this may require you to have some place where they can input the speed they're going, or something to that nature.

Ichabod · 08-29-2006, 11:56 AM

Good suggestions.

I started with a slider for MG1, but realized that because it starts the ice and is used for regen it would be redundant with the ICE slider... seems like it would only add or subtract from the ICE speed, and the resulting animation would be the same as just increasing or decreasing ICE RPMs.

As for modes (EV, regen) and fuel economy, and speed feedback, there's a lot more that goes into making the HSD work than just this part, and I honestly don't know enough about it to realistically represent those things

But I might just add a "fuel consumption" bar that shows when more or less fuel is being used... which would just be the ICE slider position modified by the MG2 slider

**efusco** · 08-29-2006, 11:59 AM

The speeds of MG1, MG2 and the ICE are not 100% independent of one another. If you take a look at Wayne Brown's simulator he's tied them together in a realistic way. Adding that portion of his simulator to your animation would be something really nice. Add to that a mock-up of the Energy display so folks could see what's happening in a arrows-to-battery-only state vs Arrows from battery and ICE to wheels state, etc. that could become a very powerful educational tool.

But I have to say...DANG that's a nice diagram...

Ichabod · 08-29-2006, 12:09 PM

I was just thinking about that Evan. I do like the idea of putting in a realistic representation of the relationship between those pieces, not just completely independent sliders...

I also considered adding a HSD-like display with arrows, but initially rejected that because of [a] lack of technical understanding and [b] I thought it might be nice to keep this very abstract just to show how this one part works.

Now you're all gonna challenge me to make this VERY realistic, but that's what I get for posting here

I'll do my homework and see if I can figure out how to make it work, but if you have links that might help, please post them.

If I listen to you guys I'll probably end up reverse-engineering the entire HSD. Just wait for the version with only a gas and brake pedal instead of sliders!

**efusco** · 08-29-2006, 12:24 PM

Here's the diagram of the simulators Nomogram:
http://privatenrg.com/#Nomograph

There may still be a version of the simulator available out there as freeware or you can e-mail Wayne directly to see if he'll allow you to use a copy or even give you the info on how it works.

eagle33199 · 08-29-2006, 12:42 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Ichabod @ Aug 29 2006, 11:09 AM) [snapback]311152[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

If I listen to you guys I'll probably end up reverse-engineering the entire HSD. Just wait for the version with only a gas and brake pedal instead of sliders!
[/b]

Well, since you asked for it...

Id would be sweet to track everything, including speed, acceleration, and battery SOC levels... give it a real lifelike feel.

LOL

The problem with just gas and brake pedals is that you can't do different amounts of pressure... instead, turn them into sliders!

jbarnhart · 08-29-2006, 03:38 PM

I guess it relies on a version of Flash that I do not have. All I see are the planet gears and backgrounds for two sliders. I do not like having flash on my systems because of all the flashing animated advertisements I get when I have it. It really has become more of a hindrance than a help.

Ichabod · 08-29-2006, 03:58 PM

I guess that means you're SOL, because it is, as we say in Boston, WICKED AESOME!!!

Seriously though, if you have any version of flash, you might as well get the latest version. And I think you can get extensions for Firefox that will selectively block things like SWF files, but allow you to see them when you choose to.

I read up a little on the nomograph, and I'm putting in some of those features now. I'll probably post a new version tomorrow. I'd love for this to be a useful tool for explaining the PSD. Wayne's site is a little too in-depth for the kind of help I want to provide to the average mechanidiot, and the only other demo like this that I've seen was very confusing and under-explained.

eagle33199 · 08-29-2006, 03:59 PM

give http://www.admuncher.com/ a try... it gives you a trial (30 days, i think), and is really a great program... it prevents 90% of popups and banner adds, replacing those with something like "[Ad Muched]". In fact, it prevents those graphics from ever being downloaded by the browser, saving you bandwidth for what you actually want on the site (in the past 18 months since i installed it, it's saved me over 20 gigs of bandwidth) Then you can install flash and all taht without having to worry about silly ads.

08-29-2006, 11:06 AM	#1
Ichabod Artist In Residence Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 1,793 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 7	I ran across this page yesterday and was fascinated by the inner workings of the Power Split Device (PSD). I also noticed that there was enough information there for me to put together an animation and working interactive demo of the PSD with controls for input from ICE and MG2, so I spent a couple hours putting it together in Maya and Flash. Here's the result (it's a flash 8 swf, so I can't show directly in the post ): Power Split Device demo If anyone has suggestions or technical corrections I'd happily entertain them, and I'd also be glad to hand it off for use on technical info pages like the one linked above. I've just been getting a kick out of playing with the sliders... trying to find pulse, glide, and dead-band settings with the sliders and seeing just when MG1 will change direcitons (as in hard acceleration from a stop or very slow roll). [edit] I've created a new version based on input from this thread, and I'm posting the new link here so you don't have to hunt for it I'll leave the old one up for a short while for comparison, but meanwhile, the new link is: http://eahart.com/prius/psd __________________ 2006 Barcelona Red Metallic - a.k.a. "The Professor" :: Accessories/Mods :: BT Tech Stiffening Plate - Engine Block Heater - OEM EV button - OEM Mud guards - Rear Bumper Protector :: Near-future :: ScangaugeII

08-29-2006, 11:59 AM	#4
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,253 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 50 Thanked 262 Times in 157 Posts Friends: 37	The speeds of MG1, MG2 and the ICE are not 100% independent of one another. If you take a look at Wayne Brown's simulator he's tied them together in a realistic way. Adding that portion of his simulator to your animation would be something really nice. Add to that a mock-up of the Energy display so folks could see what's happening in a arrows-to-battery-only state vs Arrows from battery and ICE to wheels state, etc. that could become a very powerful educational tool. But I have to say...DANG that's a nice diagram... __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD "It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." -Andrew Jackson

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08-29-2006, 11:45 AM	#2
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,283 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 35 Thanked 70 Times in 40 Posts Friends: 3	I like it! One thing i would add, though, is a slider for MG1 (i mean, why not?). Also, it would be kinda cool to have buttons you could select that would put the car into different phases (EV mode, regen braking, etc). Oh, and add a simulated (estimated) MPG bar on the side... so that someone looking at it sees the effet of using the gas engine. this may require you to have some place where they can input the speed they're going, or something to that nature.

08-29-2006, 11:56 AM	#3
Ichabod Artist In Residence Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 1,793 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 7	Good suggestions. I started with a slider for MG1, but realized that because it starts the ice and is used for regen it would be redundant with the ICE slider... seems like it would only add or subtract from the ICE speed, and the resulting animation would be the same as just increasing or decreasing ICE RPMs. As for modes (EV, regen) and fuel economy, and speed feedback, there's a lot more that goes into making the HSD work than just this part, and I honestly don't know enough about it to realistically represent those things But I might just add a "fuel consumption" bar that shows when more or less fuel is being used... which would just be the ICE slider position modified by the MG2 slider

08-29-2006, 12:09 PM	#5
Ichabod Artist In Residence Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 1,793 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 7	I was just thinking about that Evan. I do like the idea of putting in a realistic representation of the relationship between those pieces, not just completely independent sliders... I also considered adding a HSD-like display with arrows, but initially rejected that because of [a] lack of technical understanding and [b] I thought it might be nice to keep this very abstract just to show how this one part works. Now you're all gonna challenge me to make this VERY realistic, but that's what I get for posting here I'll do my homework and see if I can figure out how to make it work, but if you have links that might help, please post them. If I listen to you guys I'll probably end up reverse-engineering the entire HSD. Just wait for the version with only a gas and brake pedal instead of sliders!

08-29-2006, 12:24 PM	#6
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 17,253 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 50 Thanked 262 Times in 157 Posts Friends: 37	Here's the diagram of the simulators Nomogram: http://privatenrg.com/#Nomograph There may still be a version of the simulator available out there as freeware or you can e-mail Wayne directly to see if he'll allow you to use a copy or even give you the info on how it works.

08-29-2006, 03:38 PM	#8
jbarnhart Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Santa Clara, CA Posts: 629 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 1	I guess it relies on a version of Flash that I do not have. All I see are the planet gears and backgrounds for two sliders. I do not like having flash on my systems because of all the flashing animated advertisements I get when I have it. It really has become more of a hindrance than a help.

08-29-2006, 03:58 PM	#9
Ichabod Artist In Residence Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newton, MA Posts: 1,793 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 7	I guess that means you're SOL, because it is, as we say in Boston, WICKED AESOME!!! Seriously though, if you have any version of flash, you might as well get the latest version. And I think you can get extensions for Firefox that will selectively block things like SWF files, but allow you to see them when you choose to. I read up a little on the nomograph, and I'm putting in some of those features now. I'll probably post a new version tomorrow. I'd love for this to be a useful tool for explaining the PSD. Wayne's site is a little too in-depth for the kind of help I want to provide to the average mechanidiot, and the only other demo like this that I've seen was very confusing and under-explained.

08-29-2006, 03:59 PM	#10
eagle33199 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 4,283 My Car: 2006 Prius Model: Package: #7 Thanks: 35 Thanked 70 Times in 40 Posts Friends: 3	give http://www.admuncher.com/ a try... it gives you a trial (30 days, i think), and is really a great program... it prevents 90% of popups and banner adds, replacing those with something like "[Ad Muched]". In fact, it prevents those graphics from ever being downloaded by the browser, saving you bandwidth for what you actually want on the site (in the past 18 months since i installed it, it's saved me over 20 gigs of bandwidth) Then you can install flash and all taht without having to worry about silly ads.