Development of ECU Strategies for Engine Start Quality Improvement in a 90-Degree V2 Engine

This thesis deals with the development of Engine Control Unit (ECU) strategies aimed at improving the start quality of an internal combustion engine, with specific reference to a 90- degree V2 Ducati engine. The work was carried out during an internship at Ducati and was developed within an industrial transition phase between two different starter motor architectures, a context that made the analysis and optimisation of the starting process particularly relevant. The activity initially focused on the experimental investigation of engine start behaviour, to identify the main factors affecting start quality in terms of promptness, regularity, and repeatability. Particular attention was devoted to the influence of the crankshaft position at engine shutdown on the quality of the subsequent restart, with the aim of correlating the engine initial condition with the dynamic evolution of the starting sequence. Based on the experimental results, the thesis addressed the development of a strategy for shut- down crankshaft angle recognition and its implementation in the ECU environment through Simulink. The proposed methodology also exploits the starter motor in counter-rotation to estimate crankshaft position at engine stop. This information can then be used to reposition the engine in a more favourable region before the next start, thereby enabling a more controlled and synchronised cranking phase. The proposed approach contributes to improving the overall repeatability and quality of the engine start event.