This paper presents the application of fuzzy expert system technique as a basis to estimate ignition timing for subsequent
tuning of a Toyota Corolla 4 cylinder, 1.8l hydrogen powered car. Ignition timing prediction is a typical problem to which
decision support fuzzy system can be used. Based on extensive experiments, the basic fuzzy rules on ignition timing have been
constructed, in which the engine speed, throttle position, manifold air pressure, fuel pulse width, engine power, lambda value
were chosen as fuzzy sets of the linguistic input variables, and ignition advance is selected as performance output of the
fuzzy system. The constructed fuzzy system initially mapped 136 basic rules based on physical theories and extensive experimentation.
For all the input parameters various triangular, trapezoidal and generalized bell-shaped membership functions were successfully
applied to best represent the ignition timing output from the expert system. The results have shown that the minimum ignition
advance for maximum torque without detonation was achieved. The estimation of ignition advance achieved from fuzzy expert
system was ± 5% root mean square error.
Keywords Hydrogen powered car - Ignition timing - Ignition advance - Fuzzy expert system - Hydrogen engine tuning