Program control system

Abstract

To provide a spats controller making it possible to upgrade drivability.SOLUTION: A controller includes: an acquisition unit that acquires a shape of a travel road ahead of a vehicle; and a control unit that controls a right drive unit and a left drive unit so as to adjust a deployment quantity of a right spat and a deployment quantity of a left spat. When the travel road whose shape is acquired by the acquisition unit includes a curve, the control unit implements adjustment processing of making a deployment quantity of one the spats corresponding to an outer wheel larger than a deployment quantity of the other one of the spats corresponding to an inner wheel (S14 to S17).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a spats control device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a spats device including spats, a drive unit that drives the spats, and a link mechanism that transmits power from the drive unit to the spats. When a vehicle travels at high speed, the spats device improves the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle by deploying the spats in front of the wheels.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] It is desired that the vehicle as described above not only improves aerodynamic performance during high-speed traveling, but also improves drivability.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0005] Means for solving the above problem and the operational effects thereof will be described below. [Aspect 1] A spats control device for solving the above problem is a spats control device for controlling a spats device comprising: a right spats that operates between a position deployed in front of the right wheel of the vehicle and a position retracted from in front of the right wheel; a left spats that operates between a position deployed in front of the left wheel of the vehicle and a position retracted from in front of the left wheel; a right drive unit that drives the right spats; and a left drive unit that drives the left spats, the control device for controlling a spats device comprising: an acquisition unit that acquires the shape of the track in front of the vehicle; and a control unit that adjusts the deployment amount of the right spats and the left spats, respectively, by controlling the right drive unit and the left drive unit, wherein when the vehicle is traveling on a curve, the wheel on the inside of the turn is designated as the inner wheel and the wheel on the outside of the turn is designated as the outer wheel, the control unit performs an adjustment process to make the deployment amount of the spats corresponding to the outer wheel greater than the deployment amount of the spats corresponding to the inner wheel, if the track acquired by the acquisition unit includes the curve.

[0006] The wheel spats control system adjusts the deployment amount of the spats corresponding to the outer wheels to be greater than that of the spats corresponding to the inner wheels when the road ahead of the vehicle includes a curve. As a result, when the vehicle travels through a curve, the yawing moment generated in the direction of the vehicle's turn is greater compared to when no adjustment is made. Therefore, the steering force required to keep the vehicle along the curve is reduced. In this way, the wheel spats control system can improve drivability.

[0007] [Aspect 2] The spats control device described in Aspect 1 is preferably equipped with a storage unit that stores a driving mode selected by the user from among a plurality of driving modes in which the vehicle behavior in response to steering is different, and the control unit adjusts the amount of spats deployed for the outer wheel and the amount of spats deployed for the inner wheel according to the driving mode stored in the storage unit during the adjustment process.

[0008] The wheel spats control system can increase or decrease the tendency towards oversteer when cornering, depending on the driving mode selected by the user. Therefore, the wheel spats control system can bring the vehicle's behavior when cornering closer to the user's desired behavior.

[0009] [Aspect 3] In the spats control device described in Aspect 1 or Aspect 2, the control unit preferably, in the adjustment process, makes the difference between the amount of spats deployed corresponding to the outer ring and the amount of spats deployed corresponding to the inner ring larger when the radius of the curve is small than when the radius of the curve is large.

[0010] The spats control system can increase the tendency towards oversteer as the curve radius decreases. Therefore, the spats control system can reduce steering effort even when the curve radius is small.

[0011] [Aspect 4] In the spats control device described in any of aspects 1 to 3, it is preferable that the control unit completes the adjustment process before the curve. The spats control system can complete the adjustment of the deployment amount of the left and right spats before the vehicle enters a curve. As a result, the spats control system can reduce steering effort from the very beginning of the curve. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] Spatz control devices can improve drivability. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view of the vehicle. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a side view of the vehicle. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the processing flow performed by the control device. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram showing a vehicle traveling on a road. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The following describes one embodiment of a vehicle equipped with a spats control device (hereinafter referred to as the "control device"). <Configuration of this embodiment> As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 10 comprises a body 20, wheels 30, a spats device 40, a navigation device 50, and a control device 60. The wheels 30 include a right front wheel 30R as the "right wheel" and a left front wheel 30L as the "left wheel". Although not shown in Figure 1, the wheels 30 also include a right rear wheel and a left rear wheel.

[0015] <Spats device 40> The spats device 40 comprises a right spats device 40R corresponding to the right front wheel 30R and a left spats device 40L corresponding to the left front wheel 30L. The right spats device 40R has a right spats 41R and a right drive unit 42R. Similarly, the left spats device 40L has a left spats 41L and a left drive unit 42L. In the following description, both the right spats 41R and the left spats 41L will be referred to as "spats 41," and both the right drive unit 42R and the left drive unit 42L will be referred to as "drive unit 42."

[0016] The spats 41 are for rectifying the airflow around the front wheels when the vehicle 10 is traveling at high speed. The spats 41 are preferably made of a lightweight and highly rigid resin material. The drive unit 42 drives the spats 41. At this time, the spats 41 operate between an deployed position in which they are deployed in the area in front of the corresponding wheel 30 and a retracted position in which they are retracted from the area in front of the corresponding wheel 30. In Figure 2, the deployed position of the spats 41 is shown by a solid line, and the retracted position of the spats 41 is shown by a dashed line. As shown by the solid arrows in Figure 2, the drive unit 42 adjusts the amount of deployment of the spats 41 based on a control signal transmitted from the control device 60.

[0017] Here, the deployment amount of the spats 41 is an amount indicating the degree of opening of the spats 41. When the spats 41 is positioned at the deployed position, the deployment amount of the spats 41 reaches the maximum value of "100%". On the other hand, when the spats 41 is positioned at the stored position, the deployment amount of the spats 41 is the minimum "0%". In the present embodiment, the deployment amount of the spats 41 can be appropriately changed between "0%" and "100%". The adjustment step for the deployment amount of the spats 41 may be "5%" or "10%". Furthermore, the greater the deployment amount of the spats 41, the higher the rectification effect of the airflow around the front wheels.

[0018] The drive unit 42 is configured to include, for example, an electric motor and a transmission mechanism that transmits the power of the electric motor to the spats 41. The transmission mechanism may be a link mechanism, or may include a plurality of gears.

[0019] <Navigation device 50> The navigation device 50 holds information including the vehicle body speed, which is the traveling speed of the vehicle 10, information relating to the road on which the vehicle 10 travels, and information relating to the current position of the vehicle 10. The information relating to the road on which the vehicle 10 travels includes the radius of the road, the gradient of the road, and the like. The navigation device 50 transmits such information to the control device 60.

[0020] <Control device 60> The control device 60 is configured of, for example, a processing circuit including a computer and a memory, and the like. The control device 60 controls the spat device 40 in accordance with a program stored in the memory. As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 60 includes, as functional units, an acquisition unit 61, a storage unit 62, and a control unit 63.

[0021] The acquisition unit 61 acquires various types of information transmitted from the navigation device 50. For example, the acquisition unit 61 acquires the vehicle body speed, which is the traveling speed of the vehicle 10, or acquires the shape of the road ahead of the vehicle 10. In other embodiments, the acquisition unit 61 may acquire the shape of the road ahead of the vehicle 10 based on detection results from a perimeter monitoring device such as a camera.

[0022] The memory unit 62 stores the driving mode selected by the user. In this embodiment, the driving mode includes a first driving mode and a second driving mode, each of which exhibits different vehicle behavior in response to steering. The first driving mode is a driving mode in which the vehicle exhibits a stronger tendency towards oversteer during turns than the second driving mode. The driving mode is selected, for example, by operating switches provided on the steering wheel and instrument panel.

[0023] Based on the various information acquired by the acquisition unit 61, the control unit 63 individually controls the right drive unit 42R and the left drive unit 42L to individually adjust the positions of the right spats 41R and the left spats 41L. This will be explained in detail below.

[0024] The control unit 63 deploys or retracts the right spats 41R and left spats 41L according to the vehicle speed. Specifically, the control unit 63 positions the right spats 41R and left spats 41L in the deployed position when the vehicle speed is above a predetermined determination speed. On the other hand, the control unit 63 positions the right spats 41R and left spats 41L in the retracted position when the vehicle speed is below the determination speed. The determination speed is the speed at which the vehicle 10 is traveling to determine whether or not the rectifying effect of the spats 41 is exerted. The determination speed for determining the deployment of the spats 41 and the determination speed for determining the retraction of the spats 41 may be different.

[0025] Furthermore, if the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the determination speed, the control unit 63 determines, based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 61, whether or not there is a curve in the road ahead of the vehicle 10. Whether or not the road ahead of the vehicle 10 includes a curve can be determined based on whether or not the radius of the road ahead of the vehicle 10 is less than a predetermined determination value.

[0026] If the track in front of the vehicle 10 includes a curve, the control unit 63 performs an adjustment process to create a difference in the deployment amount of the right spats 41R and the left spats 41L according to the turning direction of the vehicle 10 when it is traveling on the curve. Here, when the vehicle 10 is traveling on the curve, the wheel 30 on the inside of the turn is referred to as the inner wheel, and the wheel 30 on the outside of the turn is referred to as the outer wheel. When the track in front of the vehicle 10 includes a curve, the control unit 63 makes the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheel greater than the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheel during the adjustment process.

[0027] If the track ahead of vehicle 10 is a right curve, an adjustment process is performed so that the deployment amount of the left spats 41L becomes greater than that of the right spats 41R. For example, the deployment amount of the left spats 41L is set to "80%" and the deployment amount of the right spats 41R is set to "20%".

[0028] In this way, the control unit 63 increases the yawing moment generated in the turning direction of the vehicle 10 by creating a difference in the deployment amount of the left and right spats 41. As a result, the steering force of the steering wheel is reduced, making it easier for the vehicle 10 to turn along the curve. It is preferable that the control unit 63 complete the adjustment process when the vehicle 10 is just before the curve.

[0029] In the vehicle 10 according to this embodiment, the user can select a driving mode. When the first driving mode is selected, the control unit 63 increases the difference between the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheels and the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheels compared to when the second driving mode is selected. At this time, the control unit 63 may increase only the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheels, or decrease only the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheels. Alternatively, the control unit 63 may increase the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheels and decrease the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheels. In this way, when the first driving mode is selected, the yawing moment generated in the turning direction of the vehicle 10 is larger than when the second driving mode is selected.

[0030] When the radius of a curve is small, the driver needs to apply more steering force to the steering wheel than when the radius of the curve is large. Therefore, when the radius of the curve is small, the control unit 63 increases the difference between the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheels and the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheels compared to when the radius of the curve is large. At this time, the control unit 63 may increase only the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheels, or decrease only the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheels, depending on the radius of the curve. Alternatively, the control unit 63 may increase the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheels and decrease the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheels, depending on the radius of the curve. In this way, when the radius of the curve is small, the yawing moment generated in the turning direction of the vehicle 10 is larger than when the radius of the curve is large.

[0031] <Processing by the control device 60> Referring to Figure 3, the processing flow performed by the control device 60 will be explained. This processing is performed when the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the judgment speed.

[0032] As shown in Figure 3, the control device 60 acquires the shape of the track in front of the vehicle 10 (S11). Next, the control device 60 determines whether or not the track in front of the vehicle 10 includes a curve (S12). If the track in front of the vehicle 10 does not include a curve (S12: NO), the control device 60 drives the left and right spats 41 to the deployed position (S13). After that, the control device 60 terminates this process. Note that if the track in front of the vehicle 10 does not include a curve and the left and right spats 41 are already in the deployed position, the control device 60 terminates this process without driving the left and right spats 41.

[0033] In step S12, if the road ahead of the vehicle 10 includes a curve (S12:YES), the control device 60 sets the target deployment amount of the left and right spats 41 (S14). Here, the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the outer wheels is set to be greater than the deployment amount of the spats 41 corresponding to the inner wheels. Next, the control device 60 corrects the target deployment amount according to the radius of the curve ahead of the vehicle 10 and the driving mode selected by the user (S15, S16). After that, the control device 60 drives the left and right spats 41 based on the corrected target deployment amounts of the left and right spats 41 (S17). In this way, a difference is created in the deployment amount of the left and right spats 41. After that, the control device 60 terminates this process.

[0034] Although not shown in Figure 3, if the vehicle speed falls below the judgment speed, the spats 41 are driven to the retracted position. Also, in Figure 3, the adjustment process corresponds to steps S14 to S17.

[0035] <Operation of this embodiment> Referring to Figure 4, the deployment state of the spats 41 on the moving vehicle 10 will be explained.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, when the vehicle 10 reaches position P1 before a right curve, an adjustment process is performed. In the adjustment process, the target deployment amount of the left spats 41L, which corresponds to the outer wheel spats 41, is set to be greater than the target deployment amount of the right spats 41R, which corresponds to the inner wheel spats 41. Subsequently, the target deployment amounts of the left and right spats 41 are corrected according to the selected driving mode and the radius of the curve. As an example, the target deployment amount of the right spats 41R is set to "0%" and the target deployment amount of the left spats 41L is set to "100%". In this case, the right spats 41R is positioned in the retracted position and the left spats 41L is positioned in the deployed position. The positional adjustment of the left and right spats 41 is completed when the vehicle 10 reaches position P2 before the curve. Therefore, when the vehicle 10 is traveling around a curve, the yawing moment generated in the turning direction of the vehicle 10 becomes large. As a result, the user can travel along the curve without having to increase the steering force of the steering wheel.

[0037] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) The control device 60 performs adjustment processing when the road ahead of the vehicle 10 includes a curve. As a result, when the vehicle 10 travels on a curve, the yawing moment generated in the turning direction of the vehicle 10 is larger compared to when no adjustment processing is performed. As a result, the steering force required to drive the vehicle 10 along the curve is reduced. In this way, the control device 60 can improve drivability.

[0038] (2) The control device 60 can strengthen or weaken the oversteer tendency when driving around a curve, depending on the driving mode selected by the user. In this way, the control device 60 can bring the vehicle behavior when driving around a curve closer to the vehicle behavior desired by the user.

[0039] (3) The control device 60 can increase the oversteer tendency as the radius of the curve decreases. Therefore, the control device 60 can reduce the steering force even when the radius of the curve is small.

[0040] (4) The amount of deployment of the spats 41 is adjusted based on the power transmitted from the drive unit 42. For this reason, if the spats 41 are driven after the vehicle 10 has entered a curve, for example, after the steering amount has exceeded a predetermined judgment value, the vehicle 10 may have entered or passed the curve by the time the adjustment of the position of the spats 41 is completed. In this regard, the spats device 40 completes the adjustment of the deployment amount of the left and right spats 41 before the vehicle 10 enters a curve. For this reason, the control device 60 can reduce the steering force from the beginning of driving through the curve. In other words, the control device 60 can suppress the occurrence of the above situation.

[0041] <Example of changes> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0042] The vehicle 10 may be equipped with a spats device corresponding to the right rear wheel and a spats device corresponding to the left rear wheel. In this case, the control device 60 may, in the adjustment process, drive the spats device corresponding to the right rear wheel and the spats device corresponding to the left rear wheel, in addition to the right spats device 40R corresponding to the right front wheel 30R and the left spats device 40L corresponding to the left front wheel 30L.

[0043] When the above-mentioned determination speed is designated as the first determination speed, the control device 60 may determine whether or not to deploy the left and right spats 41 based on whether the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the first determination speed if the vehicle 10 is not traveling on a curve. Furthermore, the control device 60 may determine whether or not to perform adjustment processing based on whether or not the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than a second determination speed which is lower than the first determination speed. In other words, even if the vehicle speed is less than the first determination speed, the control device 60 may perform adjustment processing if the vehicle speed is equal to or greater than the second determination speed.

[0044] When the vehicle 10 is traveling on a curve, the control device 60 may change the amount of deployment of the left and right spats 41 if the radius of the curve changes. The control device 60 may correct the amount of deployment of the left and right spats 41 according to the vehicle speed.

[0045] The timing at which the control device 60 completes the adjustment process may be after the vehicle 10 has entered the curve. However, it is preferable that the timing at which the control device 60 completes the adjustment process is immediately after the vehicle 10 has entered the curve.

[0046] The spats device 40 does not need to have a difference in the deployment amount of the left and right spats 41 depending on the radius of the curve and the selected driving mode. In other words, steps S16 and S17 may be omitted in the flowchart shown in Figure 3.

[0047] The control device 60 is not limited to a processing circuit that includes a CPU and ROM and executes software processing. For example, the control device 60 may include a dedicated hardware circuit that executes at least a part of the various processes performed in each of the above embodiments. An example of a dedicated hardware circuit is an ASIC. ASIC is an abbreviation for "Application Specific Integrated Circuit". In other words, the control device 60 may have any of the following configurations (a) to (c).

[0048] (a) A processing circuit comprising a processing unit that executes all of the above processes according to a program, and a program storage device such as a ROM that stores the program. (b) A processing circuit comprising a processing unit and a program storage unit that perform a part of the above processing according to a program, and a dedicated hardware circuit that performs the remaining processing.

[0049] (c) A processing circuit equipped with dedicated hardware circuits to perform all of the above processes. Here, there may be multiple software execution devices equipped with processing units and program storage devices, as well as dedicated hardware circuits. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 10... Vehicles 20... Vehicle body 30(30R,30L)...Wheel 40 (40R, 40L)... Spats device 41 (41R, 41L)... Spats 42 (42R, 42L)... Drive unit 50…Navigation device 60... Spats control device 61…Acquisition part 62...Storage section 63…Control Unit

Claims

1. A spats control device for controlling a spats device comprising: a right spats that operates between a position deployed in front of the vehicle's right wheel and a position retracted from in front of the right wheel; a left spats that operates between a position deployed in front of the vehicle's left wheel and a position retracted from in front of the left wheel; a right drive unit for driving the right spats; and a left drive unit for driving the left spats, wherein An acquisition unit that acquires the shape of the road in front of the vehicle, The system includes a control unit that controls the right-side drive unit and the left-side drive unit to adjust the deployment amount of the right-side spats and the left-side spats, respectively. When the vehicle is traveling around a curve, if the wheel on the inside of the turn is considered the inner wheel and the wheel on the outside of the turn is considered the outer wheel, The control unit, when the track acquired by the acquisition unit includes the curve, sets the target deployment amounts for the right spats and the left spats respectively so that the target deployment amount for the spats corresponding to the outer wheel is greater than the target deployment amount for the spats corresponding to the inner wheel, and performs an adjustment process to adjust the right spats and the left spats to their respective target deployment amounts by controlling the right drive unit and the left drive unit. The control unit completes the adjustment process before reaching the curve. Spats control device.

2. It includes a storage unit that stores the driving mode selected by the user from among multiple driving modes, each with different vehicle behavior in response to steering, In the adjustment process, the control unit adjusts the amount of spats deployed for the outer ring and the amount of spats deployed for the inner ring according to the operating mode stored in the memory unit. The spats control device according to claim 1.

3. In the adjustment process, the control unit increases the difference between the amount of spats deployed for the outer ring and the amount of spats deployed for the inner ring when the radius of the curve is small, compared to when the radius of the curve is large. The spats control device according to claim 1.

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