Control method and device of active grille shutter, vehicle, medium and program product

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of electric vehicles, in particular to a control method and device of an active air intake grille, a vehicle, a medium and a program product, wherein the method comprises the following steps: obtaining current environment information and actual working condition information of the vehicle; calculating energy consumption yield of wind resistance reduction and energy consumption increase of a thermal management system according to the current environment information and the actual working condition information; predicting a driving working condition of the vehicle in a preset time length, and generating a target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption yield, the energy consumption increase, actual temperatures of each assembly component of the vehicle and the driving working condition, so that the active air intake grille is controlled to be opened to the target opening degree. Therefore, the control method in the related art cannot exert the maximum energy-saving effect of the active air intake grille, cannot effectively make a better control strategy when facing complex environments and working conditions, is difficult to meet the control requirements of the active air intake grille, and has low precision, low user experience and low stickiness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electric vehicle technology, and in particular to a control method, device, vehicle, medium, and program product for an active grille shutter. Background Technology

[0002] Energy consumption is one of the most important performance parameters of electric vehicles, and it is influenced by many factors, such as curb weight, drag coefficient, rolling resistance, and powertrain efficiency. Among these, the drag coefficient has a significant impact on energy consumption, especially at high speeds. Using an active grille shutter can effectively improve vehicle drag. When the front grille is closed, the air resistance experienced by the vehicle decreases significantly, improving overall energy consumption. However, closing the active grille shutter may lead to insufficient cooling load on the powertrain, causing overheating issues. Furthermore, for vehicles with heat pump air conditioning systems, insufficient cooling capacity may increase the energy consumption of the thermal management system, thus negating the energy-saving effect.

[0003] In related technologies, the control of the opening and closing of the active grille shutter relies on experience or test data, mainly considering the risk of overheating of the vehicle's powertrain: when the cooling load is not high, the grille shutter is closed; when the cooling load of the vehicle's powertrain is high, the grille shutter is kept open, so as to achieve energy saving as much as possible while ensuring that the thermal management system does not overheat.

[0004] However, the control methods in related technologies are mainly aimed at the thermal safety of the power system, which cannot bring out the maximum energy-saving effect of the active air intake grille. Furthermore, they cannot effectively make good control strategies when facing the complex environment and operating conditions during vehicle operation, making it difficult to meet the control requirements of the active air intake grille. In addition, the accuracy is also lacking, resulting in low user experience and stickiness, which urgently need to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This application provides a control method, device, vehicle, medium, and program product for an active air intake grille, in order to solve the problems that the control methods in the related technologies are mainly aimed at the thermal safety of the power system, which cannot achieve the maximum energy-saving effect of the active air intake grille. Furthermore, they cannot effectively make good control strategies when facing the complex environment and operating conditions during vehicle operation, which makes it difficult to meet the control requirements of the active air intake grille. In addition, the accuracy is also lacking, and the user experience and stickiness are not high.

[0006] The first aspect of this application provides a control method for an active air intake grille, comprising the following steps: acquiring current environmental information and actual operating condition information of the vehicle; calculating the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on the current environmental information and the actual operating condition information; predicting the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration, and generating a target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption benefit, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving conditions, so as to control the active air intake grille to open to the target opening degree.

[0007] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system, and generate the target opening degree of the active air intake grille by combining the actual temperature of each component of the vehicle and the predicted driving conditions. Thus, by establishing wind resistance energy consumption influence models and thermal management system energy consumption influence models under different environmental and operating conditions, the optimal energy-saving active air intake grille control strategy can be designed. By comprehensively considering various influencing factors, the accuracy of the active air intake grille control strategy is effectively improved. Furthermore, the driving conditions of future roads can be predicted through a relatively simple prediction method, thereby further improving the energy-saving effect of the control method.

[0008] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the step of calculating the energy consumption benefit of the wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on the current environmental information and the actual operating condition information includes: calculating the energy consumption benefit based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed and corresponding wind resistance coefficient; and calculating the energy consumption increase based on the vehicle's thermal management system, current temperature and actual vehicle speed.

[0009] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of thermal management system based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed and corresponding drag coefficient, thermal management system and current temperature. By comprehensively considering multiple aspects, the accuracy of the calculation results of the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of thermal management system can be effectively improved.

[0010] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, generating the target opening of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption gain, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving condition includes: generating a first target opening of the active air intake grille when the current ambient temperature in the current environmental information is less than a first temperature threshold; and calculating the difference between the energy consumption increase and the energy consumption gain when the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, so as to generate a second target opening of the active air intake grille based on the difference.

[0011] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can comprehensively generate the first target opening degree and the second target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the current ambient temperature, the first and second temperature thresholds, the calculated energy consumption increase and energy consumption benefit and their difference, and other information in the current environmental information of the vehicle, effectively ensuring the accuracy of the generated active air intake grille target opening degree.

[0012] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, generating the target opening of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption gain, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving condition further includes: generating a third target opening of the active air intake grille when the actual temperature is greater than or equal to a second temperature threshold; calculating the difference between the energy consumption increase and the energy consumption gain when the actual temperature is less than a third temperature threshold, and generating a fourth target opening of the active air intake grille based on the difference; and generating a fifth target opening of the active air intake grille based on the driving condition when the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold but greater than the second temperature threshold.

[0013] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can generate a more detailed control target opening of the active air intake grille based on the actual temperature of the vehicle assembly components combined with the second temperature threshold and the third temperature threshold, thereby effectively meeting the control requirements of the active air intake grille while ensuring the heat dissipation requirements and thermal safety of the vehicle assembly components.

[0014] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, predicting the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration includes: obtaining the current navigation information of the vehicle; and predicting the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration based on the current navigation information.

[0015] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can predict the driving conditions of a vehicle in the future, so as to combine the driving conditions of the vehicle in the future with the temperature of the vehicle's assembly components, the energy consumption gain from wind resistance reduction, and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system to jointly generate the target opening of the active air intake grille. By predicting the driving conditions of future roads through a relatively simple prediction method, it helps to improve the accuracy of the active air intake grille control, thereby further improving the energy-saving effect and application scope of the control method.

[0016] A second aspect of this application provides a control device for an active air intake grille, comprising: an acquisition module for acquiring current environmental information and actual operating condition information of a vehicle; a calculation module for calculating the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on the current environmental information and the actual operating condition information; and a control module for predicting the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration, and generating a target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption benefit, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving conditions, so as to control the active air intake grille to open to the target opening degree.

[0017] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system, and generate the target opening degree of the active air intake grille by combining the actual temperature of each component of the vehicle and the predicted driving conditions. Thus, by establishing wind resistance energy consumption influence models and thermal management system energy consumption influence models under different environmental and operating conditions, the optimal energy-saving active air intake grille control strategy can be designed. By comprehensively considering various influencing factors, the accuracy of the active air intake grille control strategy is effectively improved. Furthermore, the driving conditions of future roads can be predicted through a relatively simple prediction method, thereby further improving the energy-saving effect of the control method.

[0018] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the calculation module includes: a first calculation unit, configured to calculate the energy consumption gain based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed, and corresponding drag coefficient; and a second calculation unit, configured to calculate the energy consumption increase based on the vehicle's thermal management system, current temperature, and actual vehicle speed.

[0019] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of thermal management system based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed and corresponding drag coefficient, thermal management system and current temperature. By comprehensively considering multiple aspects, the accuracy of the calculation results of the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of thermal management system can be effectively improved.

[0020] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the control module includes: a first generation unit, configured to generate a first target opening of the active air intake grid when the current ambient temperature in the current environmental information is less than a first temperature threshold; and a second generation unit, configured to calculate the difference between the energy consumption increase and the energy consumption benefit when the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, so as to generate a second target opening of the active air intake grid based on the difference.

[0021] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can comprehensively generate the first target opening degree and the second target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the current ambient temperature, the first and second temperature thresholds, the calculated energy consumption increase and energy consumption benefit and their difference, and other information in the current environmental information of the vehicle, effectively ensuring the accuracy of the generated active air intake grille target opening degree.

[0022] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the control module further includes: a third generation unit, configured to generate a third target opening of the active air intake grille when the actual temperature is greater than or equal to a second temperature threshold; a fourth generation unit, configured to calculate the difference between the energy consumption increase and the energy consumption benefit when the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold, so as to generate a fourth target opening of the active air intake grille based on the difference; and a fifth generation unit, configured to generate a fifth target opening of the active air intake grille based on the driving condition when the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold and greater than the second temperature threshold.

[0023] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can generate a more detailed control target opening of the active air intake grille based on the actual temperature of the vehicle assembly components combined with the second temperature threshold and the third temperature threshold, thereby effectively meeting the control requirements of the active air intake grille while ensuring the heat dissipation requirements and thermal safety of the vehicle assembly components.

[0024] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the control module includes: an acquisition unit for acquiring the current navigation information of the vehicle; and a prediction unit for predicting the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration based on the current navigation information.

[0025] Through the above technical means, the embodiments of this application can predict the driving conditions of a vehicle in the future, so as to combine the driving conditions of the vehicle in the future with the temperature of the vehicle's assembly components, the energy consumption gain from wind resistance reduction, and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system to jointly generate the target opening of the active air intake grille. By predicting the driving conditions of future roads through a relatively simple prediction method, it helps to improve the accuracy of the active air intake grille control, thereby further improving the energy-saving effect and application scope of the control method.

[0026] A third aspect of this application provides a vehicle including: a memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the processor executes the program to implement the active grille control method as described in the above embodiments.

[0027] A fourth aspect of this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described active air intake grille control method.

[0028] A fifth aspect of this application provides a computer program product, including a computer program that, when executed, is used to implement the above-described active grille control method.

[0029] Additional aspects and advantages of this application will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0030] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the following description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0031] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of an active air intake grille control method provided according to an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the control device for the active air intake grille according to an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure label:

[0035] 10-Control device for active air intake grille: 100-Acquisition module, 200-Computation module and 300-Control module; 301-Memory, 302-Processor and 303-Communication interface. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.

[0037] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describes the control method, apparatus, vehicle, medium, and program product of the active grille shutter according to embodiments of this application. The control methods mentioned in the background technology are mainly aimed at the thermal safety of the power system, which cannot achieve the maximum energy-saving effect of the active air intake grille. Furthermore, they cannot effectively implement good control strategies when facing complex environments and operating conditions during vehicle operation, failing to meet the control requirements of the active air intake grille and lacking accuracy, resulting in low user experience and stickiness. This application provides a control method for an active air intake grille. In this method, the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system can be calculated. The target opening degree of the active air intake grille is generated by combining the actual temperature of each component of the vehicle and predicted driving conditions. Thus, by establishing wind resistance energy consumption influence models and thermal management system energy consumption influence models under different environmental and operating conditions, the optimal energy-saving active air intake grille control strategy can be designed. By comprehensively considering various influencing factors, the accuracy of the active air intake grille control strategy is effectively improved. Moreover, a relatively simple prediction method can be used to predict future road driving conditions, thereby further improving the energy-saving effect of the control method. This solves the problems in related technologies where the control methods are mainly aimed at the thermal safety of the power system, which cannot achieve the maximum energy-saving effect of the active air intake grille. Furthermore, the methods cannot effectively implement good control strategies when facing complex environments and operating conditions during vehicle operation, making it difficult to meet the control requirements of the active air intake grille. In addition, the accuracy is also lacking, resulting in low user experience and stickiness.

[0038] Specifically, Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating an active air intake grille control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0039] like Figure 1 As shown, the control method for the active air intake grille includes the following steps:

[0040] In step S101, the vehicle's current environmental information and actual operating condition information are obtained.

[0041] In some embodiments, the vehicle's current environmental information is crucial for controlling the active grille shutter of an electric vehicle. For example, ambient temperature is a key factor affecting engine cooling requirements. In cold environments, to prevent excessive cold air from entering and causing the engine to warm up too slowly, the active grille may choose to close or partially close to reduce airflow and help the engine reach its ideal operating temperature more quickly. Conversely, in hot environments, to ensure the engine doesn't overheat, the grille may need to open more frequently to increase airflow and improve heat dissipation efficiency. Furthermore, changes in wind speed and direction can indirectly affect engine cooling and vehicle aerodynamics. In strong winds, the grille adjustment may need to be more precise to balance air resistance and cooling requirements.

[0042] Furthermore, vehicle operating conditions also significantly impact the control of the active grille shutter in electric vehicles. For example, besides the influence of ambient temperature on engine temperature, which in turn affects the active grille shutter control, the engine's own temperature is also a core parameter for active grille shutter control. By monitoring engine temperature in real time, the system can determine whether to adjust the grille's opening degree to ensure the engine always operates within its optimal temperature range: when the engine temperature is low, the grille may be closed or partially closed to reduce the entry of cold air and accelerate engine warm-up; when the engine temperature is high, the grille may need to be opened to increase heat dissipation. Similarly, changes in vehicle speed directly affect the vehicle's aerodynamic performance and cooling requirements: at low speeds, to reduce wind resistance and improve fuel economy, the grille may be closed or partially closed, while at high speeds, to maintain stable engine operation and reduce the impact of air resistance on vehicle performance, the grille may need to be opened more frequently.

[0043] The embodiments of this application can obtain the current environmental information and actual operating condition information of electric vehicles. By monitoring and analyzing this information, it is helpful to accurately adjust the opening and closing degree of the air intake grille to meet the cooling requirements of the engine and the aerodynamic performance requirements of the vehicle, thereby improving the performance and economy of the vehicle.

[0044] Step S102: Calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on the current environmental information and actual operating condition information.

[0045] It's understandable that the energy gain from reduced wind resistance can be interpreted here as the different airflow energy gains resulting from the active grille being open or closed. The increased energy consumption of the thermal management system can be understood here as the increased thermal management energy consumption caused by closing the active grille, given the higher cooling demands of the vehicle's powertrain in both normal and high-temperature environments.

[0046] In some embodiments, the energy gain from reduced wind resistance may vary, as may the energy increase from the thermal management system. When these two factors differ, it is necessary to combine them for further judgment in order to develop an active grille control strategy that is more suitable for the current vehicle conditions.

[0047] The embodiments of this application can combine the energy consumption gains from wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system to jointly determine the control strategy of the vehicle's active grille shutter, which greatly improves the effectiveness and accuracy of active grille shutter control.

[0048] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the energy consumption benefit from the reduction in wind resistance and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system are calculated based on current environmental information and actual operating condition information, including: calculating the energy consumption benefit based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed and corresponding drag coefficient; and calculating the energy consumption increase based on the vehicle's thermal management system, current temperature and actual vehicle speed.

[0049] As one possible approach, this application can establish wind resistance energy consumption impact models and thermal management system energy consumption impact models under different environmental and operating conditions when calculating the energy consumption benefits of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system. These wind resistance energy consumption impact models and thermal management system energy consumption impact models can be combined with the current environmental information and actual operating condition information of the electric vehicle to calculate the energy consumption benefits of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system.

[0050] Specifically, when establishing the wind resistance energy consumption impact model, the embodiments of this application mainly, but are not limited to, based on the air resistance experienced by the vehicle during driving. The vehicle's air resistance is primarily related to the drag coefficient, the vehicle's frontal area, air density, and vehicle speed, and the calculation formula can be expressed as follows:

[0051] Fw=0.5*ρ*A*Cd*v 2 (1)

[0052] Where ρ represents air density, which varies at different temperatures; A represents the vehicle's frontal area, which is related to the vehicle's own parameters; Cd represents the vehicle's drag coefficient; and v represents the vehicle's speed.

[0053] The power consumed by air resistance can be obtained by multiplying the air resistance by the corresponding vehicle speed, as shown in the following formula:

[0054] Pw=Fw*v(2)

[0055] Furthermore, considering that opening and closing the active grille shutters primarily affects the vehicle's drag coefficient, this embodiment can also calculate the impact of different drag coefficients on vehicle energy consumption using the aforementioned formula. The specific calculation process is as follows:

[0056] (1) The drag coefficient of a vehicle under different vehicle speeds v1, v2...vn is calculated by actual wind tunnel testing or by aerodynamic software simulation under the condition that the active air intake grille is always open and closed. For example, the drag coefficients Cd1 and Cd2 under the condition of v1, where Cd1 represents the drag coefficient when the active air intake grille is open at vehicle speed v1, and Cd2 represents the drag coefficient when the active air intake grille is closed at vehicle speed v1; other vehicle speeds are deduced in the same way, and the relevant data can be defined as the first training array.

[0057] (2) Establish air density data at different temperatures and altitudes. Such data can be obtained directly from meteorological departments, but is not limited to temperature data that covers the temperature range where vehicles travel extensively, such as -30°C to 45°C. Define this data as the second training array.

[0058] Finally, a model can be established to assess the impact of wind resistance energy consumption under different environmental and operating conditions, specifically the opening and closing of the active air intake grille. The wind resistance energy consumption model in this embodiment can be implemented, but is not limited to, using a neural network algorithm. The first and second training arrays are used as inputs, and the training result array is used as the output. Specifically, ambient temperature, altitude, and vehicle speed are used as input data, and the corresponding differences in power consumption due to different air resistance (corresponding to the opening and closing of the active air intake grille) are used as output data to establish the training model.

[0059] For example, the first and second training arrays obtained above can be used as independent variables to calculate the power consumed by air resistance at different temperatures and altitudes under different vehicle speeds v1, v2...vn, using the same formula as formula (2). After training, it can be put into practical application.

[0060] In practical applications, relevant information, as well as current vehicle environmental information and actual operating condition information such as the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed, and corresponding drag coefficient, can be input into the drag energy consumption impact model to calculate the power difference under active grille opening and closing conditions. This is the energy consumption benefit of drag reduction brought about by active grille opening and closing conditions (air resistance energy consumption benefit), that is, the power difference of different air resistance consumption corresponding to Cd1 and Cd2 under the same temperature, altitude, and vehicle speed.

[0061] The next step is to establish a model of the energy consumption impact of the thermal management system.

[0062] Because automotive powertrain systems have significant cooling demands under both normal and high-temperature environments, closing the air intake grille may increase the energy consumption of the thermal management system. Therefore, this application embodiment can establish a thermal management system energy consumption impact model based on this factor. The thermal management system includes, but is not limited to, high-voltage and low-voltage electrical components such as air conditioning compressors, cooling fans, and water pumps. The specific process can be represented as follows:

[0063] First, the impact of opening and closing the active grille shutter on the thermal management system can be tested in an environmental chamber at different ambient temperatures and vehicle speeds. The different ambient temperatures are defined in the same way as in the drag energy consumption model, and tests can be conducted at 10°C or 5°C intervals. At a specific ambient temperature, power testing equipment is used to measure the power values ​​of the thermal management system with the active grille shutter open and closed at different vehicle speeds v1, v2…vn, and the difference between the two values ​​is calculated.

[0064] Next, similar to the first part, a model can be established to assess the energy consumption impact of the thermal management system under different environmental and operating conditions, specifically the opening and closing of the active grille shutter. Ambient temperature and vehicle speed can be used as input values, and the corresponding power consumption difference of the thermal management system (corresponding to the opening and closing of the active grille shutter) can be used as output data to train the model. Once trained, the model can be applied.

[0065] After establishing the wind resistance energy consumption model and the thermal management system impact model, the embodiments of this application can calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on the vehicle's environmental information such as the current ambient temperature and current air density, and actual operating condition information such as the vehicle's frontal area, actual vehicle speed, and the vehicle's thermal management system.

[0066] The embodiments of this application can calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed and corresponding drag coefficient, thermal management system and current temperature. Through comprehensive consideration of multiple factors, the accuracy of the calculation results of the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system can be effectively improved.

[0067] Step S103: Predict the vehicle's driving conditions for a preset duration, and generate a target opening degree for the active air intake grille based on energy consumption gain, energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving conditions, so as to control the active air intake grille to open to the target opening degree.

[0068] It is understandable that the preset duration here can be understood as a pre-set duration, such as ten minutes, half an hour, etc.

[0069] In some embodiments, the vehicle's driving route and driving conditions over a period of time may change. Therefore, when generating a certain control strategy to control the active grille, in addition to generating normal decisions under the current circumstances, this application can also generate a predictive control strategy for the active grille based on the predicted driving conditions of the vehicle over a certain period of time in the future, so as to control the active grille to open or close.

[0070] Specifically, the embodiments of this application can comprehensively determine the control strategy and target opening of the active grille by combining the energy consumption benefits of wind resistance reduction, the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system, the temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the predicted driving conditions of the vehicle in the coming period.

[0071] For example, if the energy gain from reduced wind resistance is greater than the energy increase from the thermal management system, then the active grille can be closed. If the energy gain from reduced wind resistance is less than the energy increase from the thermal management system, then the active grille can be opened.

[0072] It should be noted that the target opening degree in this application embodiment refers to the opening degree of the active air intake grille, including fully open, partially open or closed. The specific opening degree can be set or calibrated by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation. This application embodiment is only for illustrative purposes and does not impose any specific limitations.

[0073] This application embodiment can, based on the energy consumption gains from reduced vehicle wind resistance and the increased energy consumption of the thermal management system, further combine the vehicle's driving conditions over a future period and the temperature of each assembly component to generate the target opening of the active air intake grille. It includes both normal and predictive strategies, making it highly practical and effectively meeting user needs in different scenarios, thus maintaining customer loyalty.

[0074] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, predicting the driving conditions of a vehicle for a preset duration includes: obtaining the vehicle's current navigation information; and predicting the vehicle's driving conditions for a preset duration based on the current navigation information.

[0075] Based on the descriptions of other embodiments, it is understood that when generating a control strategy for the active air intake grille to control the active air intake grille, this application can generate a predictive strategy based on the energy consumption gain from the reduction of wind resistance and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system, combined with the predicted driving conditions of the vehicle over a certain period of time in the future, taking into account the vehicle's current needs as well as its needs over a period of time in the future.

[0076] In some embodiments, when predicting the driving conditions of a vehicle over a certain period of time in the future, this application may, but is not limited to, obtain the vehicle's current navigation information, such as destination information, departure information, predicted driving time, temperature of places passed along the way, etc., and use this information to predict the driving conditions of the vehicle over a certain period of time in the future.

[0077] For example, a vehicle can use its installed GPS navigation system to obtain real-time traffic conditions, estimated arrival time, remaining distance, road congestion or average vehicle speed, and traffic light changes. Using fuzzy control methods, it can then make a rough prediction of future operating conditions.

[0078] (1) If the navigation predicts that the vehicle will be driving in the city for a period of time in the future, and there is congestion at intersections and on roads, or the speed of the vehicle is slow on the next section of the route, or the traffic light density on the road is high, or the road is a city branch road (with a small road width), then it can be inferred that the speed of the vehicle will not be too high in the future, and the driving conditions in the future are predicted to be smooth.

[0079] (2) If it is predicted that the vehicle will be driven on urban expressways, highways, or roads with steep inclines in the suburbs in the near future, then the driving conditions will be intense. Correspondingly, it can be predicted that the powertrain of the vehicle will experience a high heat load or that the temperature will continue to rise.

[0080] The embodiments of this application can predict the driving conditions of a vehicle over a future period of time, so as to combine the driving conditions of the vehicle over a future period of time with the temperature of the vehicle's assembly components, the energy consumption gains from wind resistance reduction, and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system to jointly generate the target opening of the active air intake grille. By predicting the driving conditions of future roads through a relatively simple prediction method, it helps to improve the accuracy of the active air intake grille control, thereby further improving the energy-saving effect and application scope of the control method.

[0081] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, generating a target opening of the active air intake grille based on energy consumption gain, energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and driving conditions includes: generating a first target opening of the active air intake grille when the current ambient temperature in the current environmental information is less than a first temperature threshold; and calculating the difference between the energy consumption increase and the energy consumption gain when the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, so as to generate a second target opening of the active air intake grille based on the difference.

[0082] In some embodiments, after the vehicle is started and the control strategy of the active grille, i.e. the target opening, needs to be determined, this application can first determine the current ambient temperature of the vehicle. When the current ambient temperature is less than a certain first temperature threshold, such as 10°C, keeping the active grille closed can play a role in keeping the power system coolant warm and reducing wind resistance, which helps to improve the vehicle's driving range at low temperatures. At this time, the first target opening can be generated.

[0083] If the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a certain threshold, such as 10℃, further judgment is required. At this point, the vehicle's current environmental information and actual operating condition information, such as the current ambient temperature, actual vehicle speed, and altitude, can be obtained to calculate the energy benefit from reduced wind resistance and the energy increase of the thermal management system. The actual vehicle speed can be, but is not limited to, the average speed from vehicle startup to the current travel distance. When generating the specific second target opening, the difference between the energy benefit from reduced wind resistance and the energy increase of the thermal management system can be used for judgment. Let P1 represent the energy benefit from reduced wind resistance, and P2 represent the energy increase of the thermal management system.

[0084] If P1-P2>0, the active grille should be turned off. At this time, the energy consumption benefit is maximized, and a second target opening can be generated.

[0085] If P1-P2<0, the active air intake grille should be opened. If the air intake grille is closed at this time, the increase in energy consumption of the thermal management system will be greater than the energy benefit of the reduction in wind resistance. At this time, the energy benefit is negative, so the air intake grille should be opened. Then, a second target opening can be generated, and the active air intake grille can be opened according to the specific target opening.

[0086] It should be noted that the first temperature threshold in the embodiments of this application, as well as the actual opening degree of the first target opening degree and the second target opening degree under different conditions, can be set or adjusted by those skilled in the art according to the actual situation. For example, the first temperature threshold can be set to 15°C, the first target opening degree can be set to completely closed or 80% closed and 20% open, and the second temperature threshold can be set to completely closed or 90% closed and 10% open, etc. The embodiments of this application are only illustrative and do not impose specific limitations.

[0087] The embodiments of this application can comprehensively generate the first target opening degree and the second target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the current ambient temperature, the first and second temperature thresholds, the calculated energy consumption increase and energy consumption benefit and their difference, and other information in the current environmental information of the vehicle, effectively ensuring the accuracy of the generated active air intake grille target opening degree.

[0088] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, generating the target opening of the active air intake grille based on energy consumption gain, energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and driving conditions further includes: generating a third target opening of the active air intake grille when the actual temperature is greater than or equal to a second temperature threshold; calculating the difference between energy consumption increase and energy consumption gain when the actual temperature is less than a third temperature threshold, and generating a fourth target opening of the active air intake grille based on the difference; and generating a fifth target opening of the active air intake grille based on driving conditions when the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold but greater than the second temperature threshold.

[0089] In actual implementation, the safety of the vehicle itself is extremely important. Therefore, before generating the first target opening degree and the second target opening degree, the embodiments of this application can first set the safe temperature of the power system based on the temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle.

[0090] For example, when the actual temperature of any assembly component in the vehicle reaches the second temperature threshold corresponding to that assembly component, the active grille must remain open. If it is currently closed, it should be quickly switched to open to ensure the heat dissipation requirements and thermal safety of the assembly component. At this time, a third target opening degree of the active grille can be generated, such as fully open, 90% open, or 80% open.

[0091] If the temperature of all components of the vehicle is lower than the corresponding second temperature threshold, the corresponding active grille control strategy can be determined according to the method for determining the first and second target openings. That is, the control is mainly based on the optimal result determined by comparing the energy consumption gain from wind resistance reduction with the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system. At this time, the target opening of the generated active grille can be called the fourth target opening.

[0092] Furthermore, embodiments of this application can define a third temperature threshold corresponding to each assembly component, and combine it with the second temperature threshold to formulate a more refined control strategy for the opening and closing of the active air intake grille, so as to ensure that maintaining the third temperature threshold for a short period of time or exceeding the third temperature threshold but falling below the second temperature threshold will not cause thermal safety issues for the assembly components. It should be noted that the specific second and third temperature thresholds can be confirmed by those skilled in the art through extensive bench testing of each assembly component. The embodiments of this application are only illustrative and do not impose specific limitations.

[0093] For example, when the temperature of each assembly component is greater than or equal to a third temperature threshold and less than a second temperature threshold, embodiments of this application can further determine whether the active grille shutter should be opened or closed based on the vehicle's driving conditions over a future period of time.

[0094] (1) If the vehicle is driven under intense conditions in the future, it means that the heat dissipation demand of each powertrain component may increase. The assembly temperature may reach the second temperature threshold in the future. At this time, the active air intake grille should be kept open. If it is currently closed, it should be quickly switched to open to ensure the thermal safety of the components. At this time, the third target opening of the active air intake grille can be generated, such as fully open or open 90% or 80%, etc.

[0095] (2) If the driver's driving conditions are relatively calm in the future, it means that the heat dissipation demand of each powertrain component may decrease, and the assembly temperature may remain near the third temperature threshold, or even decrease slightly. In this case, the fifth target opening can be generated according to the generation method of the first and second target openings. It should be noted that if the assembly temperature reaches the second temperature threshold, the active grille shutter should be switched to the open state immediately.

[0096] The embodiments of this application can generate a more detailed control target opening of the active air intake grille based on the actual temperature of the vehicle assembly components, combined with a second temperature threshold and a third temperature threshold. This effectively meets the control requirements of the active air intake grille while ensuring the heat dissipation requirements and thermal safety of the vehicle assembly components.

[0097] The active grille control method proposed in this application calculates the energy savings from reduced wind resistance and the energy increase of the thermal management system. It then generates the target opening degree of the active grille by combining the actual temperature of each vehicle assembly component with predicted driving conditions. This allows for the design of an optimal energy-saving active grille control strategy by establishing wind resistance and thermal management system energy consumption impact models under different environmental and operating conditions. By comprehensively considering various influencing factors, the accuracy of the active grille control strategy is effectively improved. Furthermore, a relatively simple prediction method can be used to forecast future road conditions, further enhancing the energy-saving effect of the control method. This solves the problems of related technologies where control methods primarily focus on powertrain thermal safety, failing to maximize the energy-saving effect of active grilles, and being unable to effectively implement control strategies in complex driving environments and conditions, thus failing to meet the control requirements of active grilles, lacking accuracy, and resulting in low user experience and stickiness.

[0098] Next, the control device for the active air intake grille according to an embodiment of this application is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0099] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the control device for the active air intake grille according to an embodiment of this application.

[0100] like Figure 2 As shown, the control device 10 for the active air intake grille includes: an acquisition module 100, a calculation module 200, and a control module 300.

[0101] The acquisition module 100 is used to acquire the vehicle's current environmental information and actual operating condition information.

[0102] The calculation module 200 is used to calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on current environmental information and actual operating condition information.

[0103] The control module 300 is used to predict the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration, and generate the target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption gain, the increase in energy consumption, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle and the driving conditions, so as to control the active air intake grille to open to the target opening degree.

[0104] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the computing module 200 includes: a first computing unit and a second computing unit.

[0105] The first calculation unit is used to calculate energy consumption revenue based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed, and corresponding drag coefficient.

[0106] The second calculation unit is used to calculate the increase in energy consumption based on the vehicle's thermal management system, current temperature, and actual vehicle speed.

[0107] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the control module 300 includes: a first generation unit and a second generation unit.

[0108] The first generation unit is used to generate the first target opening of the active air intake grid when the current ambient temperature in the current environmental information is less than the first temperature threshold.

[0109] The second generation unit is used to calculate the difference between the increase in energy consumption and the amount of energy consumption benefit when the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, so as to generate the second target opening of the active air intake grid based on the difference.

[0110] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the control module 300 further includes: a third generation unit, a fourth generation unit, and a fifth generation unit.

[0111] The third generation unit is used to generate the third target opening of the active air intake grid when the actual temperature is greater than or equal to the second temperature threshold.

[0112] The fourth generation unit is used to calculate the difference between the increase in energy consumption and the amount of energy consumption benefit when the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold, so as to generate the fourth target opening of the active air intake grid based on the difference.

[0113] The fifth generation unit is used to generate the fifth target opening of the active air intake grid based on the driving conditions when the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold and greater than the second temperature threshold.

[0114] Optionally, in one embodiment of this application, the control module 300 includes: an acquisition unit and a prediction unit.

[0115] The acquisition unit is used to acquire the vehicle's current navigation information.

[0116] The prediction unit is used to predict the vehicle's driving conditions for a preset period of time based on the current navigation information.

[0117] It should be noted that the foregoing explanation of the control method embodiment for the active air intake grille also applies to the control device for the active air intake grille in this embodiment, and will not be repeated here.

[0118] The active grille control device proposed in this application can calculate the energy gain from reduced wind resistance and the increase in energy consumption of the thermal management system. It then generates the target opening degree of the active grille by combining the actual temperature of each vehicle assembly component and predicted driving conditions. This allows for the design of an optimal energy-saving active grille control strategy by establishing wind resistance energy consumption impact models and thermal management system energy consumption impact models under different environmental and operating conditions. By comprehensively considering various influencing factors, the accuracy of the active grille control strategy is effectively improved. Furthermore, a relatively simple prediction method can be used to predict future road driving conditions, further enhancing the energy-saving effect of the control method. Therefore, this addresses the problems in related technologies where control methods primarily focus on powertrain thermal safety, failing to maximize the energy-saving effect of the active grille, and being unable to effectively implement good control strategies in complex environments and operating conditions during vehicle operation. These methods also suffer from insufficient accuracy, resulting in low user experience and stickiness.

[0119] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of this application. The vehicle may include:

[0120] The memory 301, the processor 302, and the computer program stored on the memory 301 and capable of running on the processor 302.

[0121] When the processor 302 executes the program, it implements the active air intake grille control method provided in the above embodiments.

[0122] Furthermore, the vehicle also includes:

[0123] Communication interface 303 is used for communication between memory 301 and processor 302.

[0124] The memory 301 is used to store computer programs that can run on the processor 302.

[0125] The memory 301 may include high-speed RAM memory, and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device.

[0126] If the memory 301, processor 302, and communication interface 303 are implemented independently, then the communication interface 303, memory 301, and processor 302 can be interconnected via a bus to complete communication between them. The bus can be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Buses can be categorized as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of representation, Figure 3 The bus is represented by a single thick line, but this does not mean that there is only one bus or one type of bus.

[0127] Optionally, in a specific implementation, if the memory 301, processor 302, and communication interface 303 are integrated on a single chip, then the memory 301, processor 302, and communication interface 303 can communicate with each other through an internal interface.

[0128] Processor 302 may be a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits configured to implement the embodiments of this application.

[0129] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described active air intake grille control method.

[0130] This application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program that can run computer instructions. When the computer instructions are executed by a processor, they implement the active air intake grille control method provided in this application.

[0131] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0132] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "N" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0133] Any process or method described in the flowchart or otherwise herein can be understood as representing a module, segment, or portion of code comprising one or N executable instructions for implementing custom logic functions or processes, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of this application includes additional implementations in which functions may be performed not in the order shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneously or in reverse order depending on the functions involved, as should be understood by those skilled in the art to which embodiments of this application pertain.

[0134] The logic and / or steps represented in the flowchart or otherwise described herein, for example, can be considered as a sequenced list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer-based system, a processor-included system, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions from, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device). For the purposes of this specification, "computer-readable medium" can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit programs for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media include: an electrical connection having one or more wires (electronic device), a portable computer disk drive (magnetic device), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable and editable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and portable optical disc read-only memory (CDROM). Alternatively, the computer-readable medium may be paper or other suitable media on which the program can be printed, since the program can be obtained electronically by optically scanning the paper or other medium, followed by editing, interpreting, or otherwise processing as necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0135] It should be understood that the various parts of this application can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, the N steps or methods can be implemented using software or firmware stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. If implemented in hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented using any one or more of the following techniques known in the art: discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing logical functions on data signals, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having suitable combinational logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0136] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the methods in the above embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, the program includes one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiments.

[0137] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into a processing module, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into a module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0138] The storage medium mentioned above can be a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk, etc. Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an active air intake grille, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Obtain the vehicle's current environmental information and actual operating condition information; The energy savings from the reduction in wind resistance and the energy increase of the thermal management system are calculated based on the current environmental information and the actual operating condition information. Predict the vehicle's driving conditions for a preset duration, and generate a target opening degree for the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption gain, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving conditions, so as to control the active air intake grille to open to the target opening degree. The process of generating the target opening of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption gain, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving conditions includes: When the current ambient temperature in the current environment information is less than a first temperature threshold, a first target opening of the active air intake grille is generated; When the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the difference between the increase in energy consumption and the amount of energy consumption gain is calculated, so as to generate the second target opening of the active air intake grille based on the difference; The method of generating the target opening of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption gain, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle, and the driving conditions further includes: When the actual temperature is greater than or equal to the second temperature threshold, a third target opening of the active air intake grille is generated; When the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold, the difference between the increase in energy consumption and the amount of energy consumption gain is calculated, so as to generate the fourth target opening of the active air intake grid based on the difference; When the actual temperature is less than the third temperature threshold and greater than the second temperature threshold, a fifth target opening of the active air intake grille is generated based on the driving conditions.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The calculation of the energy gain from the reduction in wind resistance and the increase in energy consumption of the thermal management system based on the current environmental information and the actual operating condition information includes: The energy consumption benefit is calculated based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed, and corresponding drag coefficient. The increase in energy consumption is calculated based on the vehicle's thermal management system, the current temperature, and the actual vehicle speed.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The prediction of the vehicle's driving conditions for a preset duration includes: Obtain the current navigation information of the vehicle; Based on the current navigation information, predict the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration.

4. A control device for an active air intake grille, characterized in that, A control method for implementing the active air intake grille as described in any one of claims 1-3 includes: The acquisition module is used to acquire the vehicle's current environmental information and actual operating condition information; The calculation module is used to calculate the energy consumption benefit of wind resistance reduction and the energy consumption increase of the thermal management system based on the current environmental information and the actual operating condition information. The control module is used to predict the driving conditions of the vehicle for a preset duration, and generate a target opening degree of the active air intake grille based on the energy consumption gain, the energy consumption increase, the actual temperature of each assembly component of the vehicle and the driving conditions, so as to control the active air intake grille to open to the target opening degree.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The computing module includes: The first calculation unit is used to calculate the energy consumption benefit based on the vehicle's frontal area, current air density, actual vehicle speed and corresponding drag coefficient. The second calculation unit is used to calculate the increase in energy consumption based on the vehicle's thermal management system, the current temperature, and the actual vehicle speed.

6. A vehicle, characterized in that, include: A memory, a processor, and a computer program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the processor executing the program to implement the active grille control method as described in any one of claims 1-3.

7. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, The program is executed by the processor to implement the control method for the active air intake grille as described in any one of claims 1-3.

8. A computer program product, comprising a computer program, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed, it is used to implement the control method for the active air intake grille as described in any one of claims 1-3.

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