Robust Design Evolution and Impact of In-Cylinder Pressure Sensors to Combustion Control and Optimization: A Systems and Strategy Perspective. by

In-Cylinder Pressure Sensors (ICPS) today are close to satisfying the robustness, performance and cost requirements for application to closed loop control and monitoring of production automotive engines. Using the Robust Design framework as a compass, this thesis first checks the evidence for emergence followed by tracking the evolution of the sensor component itself and its application to robust closed loop control of the combustion process in internal combustion engines. After identifying the potential system level impact of the emerging ICPS technology, System Dynamic and Technology Strategy frameworks are used to find spillover triggers and to recommend a number of strategic options to generate and capture value for integrated system solution providers so that they can beat the very stable status quo that persists in the slow and mature prime mover industries. In addition, Chapter 2 gives a data driven method for identifying the Skills needed for suppliers to realize the above recommendations. This method is based on collective intelligence of 690 experienced professionals with 20 years of work experience on average from 40 targeted companies, representing a large body of engineering and managerial experience in battling complex engineering system hurdles. This approach is more effective than blindly copying the prominent integrated system solution providers or OEM’s, because a side effect of long term incremental innovation in the mature prime mover industry is that the underlying reasons for their success is ingrained in their ”tacit knowledge” and ”organizational furniture” and hence not explicitly understood. Thesis Supervisor: Dan Frey Title: Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Systems, MIT Thesis Supervisor: Michael A. M. Davies Title: Professor of Technology Strategy, MIT