Method for manufacturing a braking system comprising means for estimating at least one useful characteristic
By integrating artificial intelligence with physical models, the method addresses the challenge of precise braking system characteristic estimation, reducing sensor reliance and enhancing control accuracy.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2025/059812
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-04-10
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-10
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing braking systems face challenges in precisely estimating characteristics like clamping force due to reliance on rotor position curves that do not accurately reflect actual brake behavior, especially for electromechanical service brakes, necessitating a reduced number of sensors.
A method involving artificial intelligence algorithms integrated with physical models to estimate braking system characteristics, using a training process that reduces data requirements and enhances precision by calibrating neural networks to match physical models, thereby eliminating the need for direct sensors.
The method achieves precise estimation of braking system characteristics, such as clamping force, with reduced sensor usage, improving control accuracy and reducing the need for extensive vehicle testing.
Smart Images

Figure EP2025059812_16102025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A BRAKING SYSTEM COMPRISING MEANS FOR ESTIMATING AT LEAST ONE USEFUL CHARACTERISTIC TECHNICAL FIELD AND PRIOR ART The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a braking system comprising means for estimating a characteristic useful for controlling the brake and a braking system. A motor vehicle is equipped at each of the wheels with a brake. This may be a disc brake or a drum brake. The brake may be a hydraulic brake, an electrohydraulic brake or an electromechanical brake designated EMB ("Electromechanical Brake" in English terminology). Parking brakes are increasingly electrically activated, often with hydraulic activation for the service brake function,and it is interesting to be able to produce service brakes with fully electrical actuation. For example, a screw-nut system actuated by an electric motor causes the brake pads to be applied against the disc in the case of a disc brake, and the brake linings against the drum in the case of a drum brake. We want to be able to know the clamping force exerted by each brake to be able to check whether the expected braking level is reached and / or to control the service brake in the case of an electromechanical service brake. Furthermore, we want to reduce or limit the number of sensors, in particular we do not want to implement a force sensor to know the clamping force. Currently,the position of the rotor in the brake is used to deduce the clamping force using predetermined curves linking the position of the rotor to the clamping force. However, it appears that the curves do not always sufficiently reflect the actual behavior of the brake. Indeed, knowledge of the rotor position alone is not always sufficient to estimate the clamping force with sufficient precision in certain configurations, in particular for an electromechanical service brake,because a large number of parameters are involved. Document EP 3 853 087 describes a braking system in which the braking instructions have been generated by a device equipped with a fuzzy logic processor and validated by a decision algorithm. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing a braking system in which the precise estimation of a characteristic useful for braking control requires a reduced number of sensors. The aim stated above is achieved by a method for manufacturing a braking system comprising means for estimating at least one characteristic useful for controlling the braking system, comprising at least one step of developing a function for calculating said estimated characteristic from determined parameters and at least one artificial intelligence algorithm,said step on the one hand using a set of learning data as a function of said determined parameters and on the other hand integrating at least one physical model linked to the braking system. In other words, a braking system is produced comprising a virtual sensor of the first useful characteristic by integrating into the learning of the artificial intelligence algorithm one or more physical equations representative of the braking system. The manufacturing method according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the quantity of data necessary for training the artificial intelligence algorithm and to obtain a braking system in which the useful characteristic is estimated more precisely. In addition, the data for training are generally collected by driving a vehicle equipped with the braking system to which it is desired to apply the virtual sensor,Reducing the amount of data required makes it possible to reduce the number of kilometers to be traveled by the vehicle. Furthermore, the invention, by integrating one or more physical models, provides the artificial intelligence software with information on expected / realistic output values. The physical model(s) limit the space of solutions admissible by the neural network during the learning phase. The term "artificial intelligence algorithm" means any fuzzy logic or artificial intelligence, advantageously self-learning, preferably any neural network, preferably any deep neural network. Neural networks are software and / or hardware neural networks... For example, the useful characteristic is the clamping force applied by the brake, the temperature of the brake disc, the wear of brake linings,the hydraulic pressure in the case of a braking system with at least partly hydraulic control. In a particularly interesting embodiment, the method according to the invention allows the manufacture of a braking system in which the physical model for calculating the clamping force takes into account the stiffness of the brake, in particular of the caliper in the case of a disc brake. Alternatively, the physical calculation model takes into account other characteristics of the brake, such as the friction properties. For example, during the learning phase the artificial intelligence algorithm estimates a clamping force from parameter values, an error with respect to the measured value is calculated. Furthermore, a physical error is calculated between the estimated clamping force and the clamping force calculated with the physical model. Then the algorithm is modified in order to make the sum of the errors tend towards zero. For example,from one or more physical models, the artificial intelligence algorithm estimates in addition to the useful characteristic, at least one other characteristic of the brake, for example the stiffness of the brake is estimated. In another example, the clamping force and the stiffness and / or other characteristics of the brake are each estimated by a different artificial intelligence algorithm, each using its own parameters or characteristics. The virtual sensor thus obtained offers greater precision. The subject of the present invention is then a method for manufacturing a braking system for a motor vehicle comprising at least one brake and means for estimating at least one characteristic useful for controlling said at least one brake, said brake being intended to be mounted on a given motor vehicle, said braking system comprising a control unit comprising a storage area comprising executable machine instructions,a memory and a processor for generating said estimated useful characteristic, said brake being mounted on a test vehicle or a test bench conforming to the given motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps: a) Selection of first parameters of the brake and its environment having an influence on the value of the useful characteristic, b) Selection of at least one physical model making it possible to calculate said useful characteristic, said model comprising at least one variable depending on second parameters of the brake and its environment, c) Establishment of a first artificial intelligence algorithm to be trained using said first parameters as input parameters and configured to estimate the useful characteristic, d) Measurement or evaluation by means equipping the brake or said test vehicle with a training data set comprising values of the first parameters and values of the useful characteristic,said useful characteristic being measured by at least one sensor equipping said brake, e) Training said first artificial intelligence algorithm comprising: 1. providing the first parameters as input to the first algorithm, 2. estimating the useful characteristic by the first algorithm, 3. Establishing a function comprising a term dependent on the measured useful characteristic and a term dependent on the estimated useful characteristic and a term dependent on the physical model, 4- modifying the first algorithm so as to make said function tend towards zero, 5- repeating sub-steps 1 to 4 until said sum is less than a predetermined threshold value and the first artificial intelligence algorithm is considered satisfactory, f) developing a function for calculating the estimated useful characteristic from the first artificial intelligence algorithm considered satisfactory. Preferably,the function of sub-step 3 is a weighted sum of a first element and a second element, the first element depending on the measured useful characteristic and the estimated useful characteristic and the second element depending on the estimated useful characteristic and the useful characteristic from the physical model. The function of sub-step 3 is for example Ldata + Lp, with, F being the measured useful characteristic, Fθ being the estimated useful characteristic, Fp being the useful characteristic of the physical model. In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one variable is estimated by means of a second artificial intelligence algorithm, using as input the second parameters, which are at least partly different from the first parameters, and in which said method comprises the measurement or evaluation by means equipping the brake or said vehicle with a training data set comprising values of second parameters and values of the variable. In another exemplary embodiment, the at least one variable is estimated by the first artificial intelligence algorithm. Advantageously, the first algorithm and / or the second algorithm are implemented by artificial neural networks. Sub-step 4 then implements for example backpropagation.The useful characteristic is for example the clamping force exerted by the brake. In an exemplary embodiment, the physical model is of the type CKCyb, with KC the stiffness of the brake and yb the displacement of a part of the brake generating the braking, Kc being the variable In another exemplary embodiment, the brake is an electric brake and the physical model is of the type. With i athe electric current supplying the motor, ωm the angular speed of the motor, ώm the angular acceleration of the motor, and in which C4 is the variable. According to an additional characteristic, during step f), a polynomial function or a weighting matrix is extracted from the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory intended to be used by the processor of the estimation system to calculate the estimated clamping force or the calculation function is the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory. Preferably, the vehicle moves during step d),preferably until reaching a wear determined as sufficient of at least one brake lining. The present invention also relates to a computer program medium comprising executable machine instructions for the execution by a processor of a method for estimating a characteristic useful for controlling at least one brake of a braking system, said estimation method implementing the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory obtained by the manufacturing method according to the invention or the polynomial function or the weighting matrix extracted from the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory obtained by the manufacturing method according to the invention. The present invention also relates to a braking system for a motor vehicle comprising at least one brake,an electronic control unit for said brake comprising a storage area comprising executable machine instructions, a memory and a processor for generating at least one useful characteristic estimated for the control of the brake by the control unit, said braking system being obtained by the method according to the invention, said braking system also comprising means for collecting the first selected parameters, said collection means comprising sensors and / or means for evaluating all or part of the first selected parameters. In a preferred example, the collection means do not comprise or do not use a sensor for direct measurement of said useful characteristic. Said polynomial function or the weighting matrix can be stored in the storage area, or the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered satisfactory can be stored in the storage area,in particular in which the processor is a graphics processor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The following description will be better understood with the aid of the attached drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle comprising a braking system capable of implementing the invention, - Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an example of a method for manufacturing a braking system according to the invention, - Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a variant of the manufacturing method of Figure 2, - Figure 4 is a schematic representation of another example of a method for manufacturing a braking system according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS In Figure 1, a vehicle V can be seen, represented schematically, comprising a braking system S comprising electric brakes FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4 each equipping a wheel. In this example,the service braking is provided by electric brakes FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4. These advantageously incorporate an electric parking brake. Each electric brake comprises an actuator equipped with an electric motor and means for converting the rotational movement of the electric motor into a translational movement applying the brake pads against the brake disc or the brake segments against the drum. The electric brake can be equipped with any type of electric motor, for example a direct current motor, for example a brushless direct current motor. The braking system may or may not include an ABS and / or ESP computer. The braking system comprises an electronic control unit (ECU) for controlling the brakes FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4. The brakes are controlled, for example, by actuating a brake pedal. Alternatively, the brakes are controlled automatically,particularly in the case of an autonomous vehicle. The braking system also comprises means for estimating at least one characteristic useful for controlling one or more brakes. The control unit comprises a processor P, a memory area M, and a storage area Z in which executable machine instructions I and a function for calculating the estimated useful characteristic are loaded, the calculation function Fest being obtained from a trained artificial intelligence algorithm. The invention will be described in the context of an application to one of the electric brakes, but it will be understood that the invention applies to each electric brake. Furthermore, the invention also applies to braking systems that are at least partly hydraulic. The subject of the invention is a method for manufacturing a braking system comprising means for estimating a characteristic useful for controlling the braking,in particular in order to avoid having to resort to an actual sensor for this characteristic. In the present application, the term "useful characteristic" means any characteristic enabling the control unit of the braking system to control the braking exerted by at least one brake. This concerns, for example, the clamping force exerted by the brake, the temperature of the brake disc, the level of wear of the brake pads, the hydraulic pressure in the case of a braking system using brake fluid. The useful characteristic may relate to the brake, the braking system, or even the vehicle or other components of the vehicle that may be involved in controlling the braking. As a further example, the useful characteristic is chosen from the deceleration of the vehicle, the speed of the vehicle, the supply current of the motor, the rotational position of the motor,the engine rotational speed and other derived characteristics such as the duration of the last braking event or the current braking event, the time elapsed since the last braking event, the kinetic energy of the vehicle In the following description, the estimated useful characteristic is the clamping force. By "artificial intelligence algorithm" is meant automatic learning means (Machine Learning) or artificial neural network, for example a convolutional neural network. An artificial neural network comprises several units connected to each other and between which signals are transmitted and distributed in layers. Each neuron receives an input signal which is modified by weights and biases,and generates an output signal that is transmitted to the other neurons by connections or synapses. The steps for manufacturing a braking system comprising means for estimating the application force according to an exemplary embodiment will now be described. Typically, the means for estimating the application force of a brake depend on the brake and the vehicle model on which the brake is mounted. To develop the braking system, the brake(s) of the braking system is or are mounted on a test vehicle or platform, corresponding to the production vehicle on which the brake is intended to be mounted, and the braking system is constructed taking into account this brake environment. The brake and the vehicle are instrumented by means of real sensors in order to quantify and / or qualify the various parameters. The quantification of a parameter is for example a measurement or a calculation or an evaluation, for example by a mathematical model,or by mapping, or even by an artificial intelligence algorithm. Alternatively or in addition, the brake is mounted on a test bench which corresponds to the production vehicle model on which the brake is intended to be mounted. The production method includes the phase of calibrating the brake on the platform. The term calibration is used here to designate the adaptation of the means for estimating the clamping force, which can form a subset of a broader calibration process. In this sense, this calibration phase includes: - the selection of parameters of the brake and its environment having an influence on the value of the clamping force, - the selection of at least one physical model for calculating the clamping force, said model comprising at least one variable depending on the parameters of the brake and its environment,- establishing an artificial intelligence algorithm to be trained using the parameters as input parameters and configured to estimate the clamping force, - acquiring training data sets for estimating the clamping force and the variable of the physical model, - training the artificial intelligence algorithm until an artificial intelligence algorithm considered satisfactory is obtained, - developing a function for calculating the estimated clamping force from the artificial intelligence algorithm considered satisfactory. Very advantageously, the calibration phase extends over a sufficient period of time for it to take into account substantial or even total wear of the brake linings, which offers the advantage of calibrating the brake over a sufficiently long period and taking into account different states of the brake. According to the invention,the design of the means for estimating the clamping force exerted by a given brake on a given platform is tailor-made. The different steps will now be described. The training of the artificial intelligence algorithm uses a training data set which includes values of parameters C1, C2… Cn of the brake environment and the associated clamping force. By “parameters of the brake environment” we mean vehicle parameters and / or parameters of the terrain on which the vehicle is moving, the weather… The parameters C1, C2… Cn are for example and in a non-limiting manner: the acceleration of the vehicle, the deceleration of the vehicle, the position of the rotor of the brake motor or the position of the piston, the temperature of the brake pads, the temperature of the brake disc, the wear of the disc and / or the brake linings which can be measured or estimated, the clamping force applied to the brake pedal, the speed of the vehicle,the speed when the brake is activated and when the brake is deactivated, the duration of braking, the mass of the vehicle which is known, the time interval between two braking actions, the characteristics of the last braking action(s), the number of braking actions, the condition of the whole, the slope of the road, the thickness of the brake pads, the type of vehicle, the number of pads per brake, the type of brake pad, the coefficient of friction, the surface area of the brake pads, the coefficient of wear, the pedal travel, the force applied to the brake pedal, the current consumed by the motor, the voltage at the motor terminals, the vehicle speed, the duration of the last braking action, the weather conditions, such as humidity, ambient temperature, etc. To acquire this data set, the test vehicle is driven for example on a test track. During the calibration phase,clamping force measurements are carried out using a physical sensor on the brake mounted on the test vehicle, these values are linked to the parameters C1, C2…, Cn, the values of which are for some measured using real sensors, for others evaluated using a mathematical model, or mapped in a table, or even estimated using an artificial intelligence algorithm forming virtual sensors. The measurements or evaluations of the parameters take place for example every 50 ms, as well as the measurement of the clamping force. Thus a real clamping force value is associated with a set of parameter values. We then have a training data set comprising real clamping force values associated with the values of a certain number of parameters which have a greater or lesser influence on the clamping force. In Figure 2,we can see schematically represented a manufacturing process of a virtual sensor of the clamping force applied by a brake according to a first example of realization. We will consider the case of a floating caliper disc brake. The clamping force is proportional to the stroke of the caliper designated yb The manufacturing process aims to establish a function Fθ(x) which takes into account the input parameters from an artificial intelligence algorithm. x designates the set of input parameters. In addition, the configuration of the artificial intelligence algorithm makes it possible to discover in an inverse manner other characteristics of the brake, such as the rigidity. In this example, the physical model characterizing the clamping force designated Fp is the following. it is a simplified model., With yb the caliper stroke and Kc the brake stiffness. C is considered a constant and its value may not be known. Alternatively, the neural network during training determines the value of C by inverse analysis. Fp can be written: The stiffness Kc varies depending on the caliper stroke and different parameters of the braking system, such as the viscoelastic nature of the brake lining depending on the temperature, braking cycles, etc. Kc is considered to be a function of x, where x represents the input parameters mentioned above, and we can then write Kc(x). In the example shown, the artificial intelligence algorithm DL1 is a multi-layer neural network and is configured to provide the estimated application value Fθ(x) and to provide the estimated brake stiffness Kc(x). The untrained neural network DLP1 is designed considering the selected features. For this, including the number of layers, activation functions and connections between neurons, weights and biases are established.Some characteristics of the untrained neural network are established, for example, by experience and trial and error, while others are set to default values. L. data denotes the error between the measured force F taken from the training dataset, F being called Ground Truth in Anglo-Saxon terminology, and the value of the estimated clamping force F θ. : Lp denotes the error or deviation between the network's prediction Fθ and the value FP resulting from the application of the equations representing the physics of the system applied to the network, in this case formula (I). LP is designated residual. When training the neural network, we aim for the sum L data + L ptends to zero. The estimated value of Kc extracted by the DL1 neural network and the value of C which depends for example on the rigidity, the forward efficiency of the reducer and the ball nut, the transmission ratio and the screw pitch of the ball nut, and which can be learned by an artificial intelligence algorithm, are used in the sum L data + L p. C can be determined elsewhere The weights and biases of the DL1 neural network are then modified by means of a BR1 backpropagation loop, advantageously by backpropagation of the gradient to reduce the value of Ldata + Lp. A function, called the cost function, which is a weighted sum of Ldata and Lp is used to update the weights of the neurons in the DL1 network. The weighting of Ldata and LP is obtained by the trial and error method. Constant terms can be introduced into the cost function, which will be determined by the neural network during training, in particular if Ldata and LP are of close values. The input signals are again injected into the network thus modified and Ldata + Lp is checked. The neural network is trained until Ldata + Lp is less than a given threshold. The neural network is then considered satisfactory.Training continues until the neural network is satisfactory. The term “neural network considered satisfactory” and more generally “artificial intelligence algorithm considered satisfactory” means a trained artificial intelligence algorithm providing estimated clamping force values located within the limits of the expected error threshold. A large number of modification steps of the neural network may take place before obtaining the trained DL1 network considered satisfactory. Thanks to the invention, the artificial intelligence algorithm is considered satisfactory when the difference between the estimated clamping force and the measured clamping force is less than 200 N. In the case of an algorithm obtained solely by training from a data set, it is considered satisfactory when the difference between the estimated clamping force and the measured clamping force is less than 500 N.The virtual sensor obtained by the invention therefore makes it possible to increase the control precision of the brake. According to an alternative embodiment, Kc is not estimated by the neural network but is known elsewhere, for example by means of a mapping which has been carried out upstream, for example during the collection of training data or on a test bench. In Figure 3, we can see an alternative embodiment of the manufacturing method of Figure 2 which differs from it in that Fθ and Kc(x) are estimated by two different neural networks. This variant has the advantage of being able to use different sets of determined input parameters for Fθ(x) and Kc(x), which makes it possible to increase the precision of the estimation.The parameters C1, C2…Cn are used for the DL1 algorithm for estimating Fθ(x) and the parameters C1', C2'…Cn' are used for the DL2 algorithm for estimating Kc(x'), x' designating the set of parameters C1, C2…Cn. As before, the errors are used to create a cost function which will, by means of a BR1 backpropagation loop, modify the weight of each of the neurons. Alternatively, a different cost function is used to modify each of the neural networks. Advantageously, an additional constraint is imposed during training, which is to impose that the estimated clamping force is positive. This constraint is obtained, for example, by means of the ReLU activation function called "rectified linear unit" or Rectified Linear Unit in English terminology.). If F. θ is positive, we use the value F θ , if F θ is negative, F θtakes the value 0. Conversely the additional term in the cost function takes the value 0 when F θ is positive, and the additional term takes on a penalizing value in the cost function when F θ is negative It will be understood that this constraint can be applied during training according to the embodiment example of Figure 2. In Figure 4, we can see another example of a method for manufacturing a virtual clamping force sensor according to the invention. In this method, we consider the complete physical model describing the mechanical behavior of the electric motor: Kmotor being the motor torque constant, ia being the supply current of the electric motor, ωm being the angular speed of the motor, ώm being the angular acceleration of the motor, sgn(ωm) represents the direction of rotation of the motor. It should be noted that in a simplified way we can then write: With C1, C2 and C3 which can be considered as constants or as dependent on the input parameters. We can then express the stiffness of the brake as a function of the other elements of the model: L data is equal to FF θ . C4 depends on y b which is the stroke of the electric motor. The DL3 neural network is configured to, from input parameters determined according to their influence on the clamping force, provide as output the functions F θ(x) and extract C4(x). The input parameters are those stated above for the example of Figure 2. As in the exemplary embodiment of Figure 2, the neural network is trained on the basis of at least one training data set. Alternatively and similarly to the example of Figure 3, the implementation of an artificial intelligence algorithm for estimating the clamping force and an artificial intelligence algorithm for estimating C4(x) with their own input parameters and their own training data is applicable. When training the DL3 neural network, the aim is to ensure that the sum Ldata + Lp tends towards zero.The weights and biases of the neural network are then modified by means of a BR2 backpropagation loop, advantageously by gradient backpropagation. The cost function, which is a weighted sum of Ldata and Lp, then makes it possible to update the weights of the neurons in the network, by backpropagation. Training continues until the neural network is satisfactory. It will be understood that the physical model can include several C functions. i (x) which are estimated separately or in combination by the same neural network as the clamping force or each by one or more neural networks. The cost function(s) modify each of the networks so that the sum L data and L ptends towards zero. One or more more complex physical models or a combination of physical models can be used from which the algorithm(s) will estimate the useful characteristic(s) chosen to control the braking system and extract, during learning, variables characterizing the braking system. In addition, one can introduce into the function L data and L pany type of constraint allowing to improve the estimation of the useful characteristic(s). From the trained intelligence algorithm obtained by the examples above, a function for calculating the clamping force, generally of the polynomial function type, is extracted. This function is loaded into the storage area of the electronic control unit of the braking system, typically in the form of an implementation in an executable instruction program. This example has the advantage of only requiring a processor offering standard computing power. In another exemplary embodiment, it is the trained algorithm, for example a trained neural network or a clone thereof, which is loaded into the calculator, preferably a processor offering increased power is then implemented, for example a graphics processor.The braking system advantageously includes means for detecting a deviation from the estimated useful characteristic, for example a Kullback-Leibler divergence. For example, the vehicle may be equipped with a system comparing, for example, the acceleration predicted by the model and the measured acceleration. If this constantly deviates from the measured acceleration, it is considered that the current statistical distribution of the vehicle's data set diverges from the entire distribution of the data set used to train the model. Such an alert would then trigger another function that would retrain or recalibrate the already existing model to take this divergence into account. The system may use a characteristic other than acceleration to detect the divergence from the estimate of the useful characteristic.The clamping force estimation means thus produced are then installed during the manufacture of the mass-produced vehicle. The clamping force estimation means are substantially identical to those obtained at the end of the learning step of the manufacturing process. In addition, the braking system comprises means, such as sensors or evaluation and / or estimation means, making it possible to obtain the parameters selected for estimating the clamping force. For example, the vehicle comprises, at each brake, a wheel rotation sensor, a sensor for the supply voltage of the electric brake motor and a sensor for the current consumed by the electric motor. The data which are then supplied to the neural network relate to the parameters: wheel speed, electrical voltage applied to the motor and current consumed by the motor.The parameters that are estimated are for example the temperature of the brake disc, the wear of the brake pads, the outside temperature. It will be understood that these lists are given only as examples, and that they can vary depending on the brake, the vehicle… In one example, the same calculation function or the same trained algorithm is implemented to estimate the application force exerted by each brake, i.e. the right front brake, the left front brake, the right rear brake and the left rear brake. In another example, a trained function or algorithm is established for each brake or for pairs of brakes within a vehicle type, which allows to obtain an estimate of the application force as accurately as possible.The present invention can be implemented by means of an artificial neural network and more generally by means of an artificial intelligence algorithm, but it can also be implemented by means of a classical optimization approach, in which the sum of the losses represents the objective function and each term of the losses a constraint, which will be satisfied with a certain tolerance, and the constants and C(x) and Kc are treated as variables which will be determined when solving the optimization problem. The system according to the invention makes it possible to precisely estimate the clamping force, and more generally any characteristic useful for controlling the brakes, in addition it makes it possible to simplify the control unit and to free up space for the operation of the automatic learning means.The manufacturing method according to the invention also makes it possible to reduce the amount of data required for training the artificial intelligence algorithm and to obtain a braking system in which the useful characteristic is estimated more precisely. Furthermore, since obtaining the data for training is generally collected by driving a vehicle equipped with the braking system to which the virtual sensor is to be applied, reducing the amount of data required makes it possible to reduce the number of kilometers to be traveled by the vehicle and therefore the duration of this step. In addition, the invention, by integrating one or more physical models, provides the artificial intelligence software with information on expected / realistic output values. The physical model(s) limit the space of solutions admissible by the neural network during the learning phase.The method according to the invention can take into account several physical models and in which the estimated variables are different. In this case, either a single algorithm is implemented to estimate the useful characteristic and the variables, or several algorithms are implemented. Furthermore, the method according to the invention can relate to the estimation of several useful characteristics. The invention applies to both disc brakes and drum brakes. The invention applies to service brakes and the parking brake.
[0002] REFERENCES FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4: brakes BR1, BR2: backpropagation loop C1, C2…, Cn: selected parameters C1', C2'…, Cn': selected parameters DL1, DL2, DL3: neural networks ECU: electronic control unit F: measured clamping force F θ : estimated clamping force F P: clamping force calculated by the physical model Fest: calculation function of the estimated useful characteristic I: executable machine instructions Kc(x): the stiffness of the brake L data : difference between F and F θ L P : difference in F and F P M: memory area P: processor S: braking system V: vehicle Z: storage area
Claims
CLAIMS 1. Method for manufacturing a braking system for a motor vehicle comprising at least one brake (FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4) and means for estimating at least one characteristic useful for controlling said at least one brake (FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4), said brake being intended to be mounted on a given motor vehicle, said braking system comprising a control unit comprising a storage area (Z) comprising executable machine instructions, a memory and a processor (P) for generating said estimated useful characteristic, said brake being mounted on a test vehicle or a test bench conforming to the given motor vehicle, said method comprising the steps: a) Selection of first parameters (C1, C2…, Cn) of the brake and its environment having an influence on the value of the useful characteristic, b) Selection of at least one physical model making it possible to calculate said useful characteristic,said model comprising at least one variable depending on second parameters of the brake and its environment, c) Establishing a first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1) to be trained using said first parameters (C1, C2…, Cn) as input parameters and configured to estimate the useful characteristic, d) Measuring or evaluating by means equipping the brake or said test vehicle with a training data set comprising values of the first parameters and values of the useful characteristic, said useful characteristic being measured by at least one sensor equipping said brake, e) Training said first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1) comprising:
1. providing the first parameters as input to the first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1), 2. estimating the useful characteristic by the first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1), 3. Establishment of a function comprising a term dependent on the measured useful characteristic and a term dependent on the estimated useful characteristic and a term dependent on the physical model, 4- modification of the first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1) so as to make said function tend towards zero, 5- repetition of sub-steps 1 to 4 until said function is less than a predetermined threshold value and the first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1) is considered satisfactory, f) development of a function for calculating the estimated useful characteristic from the first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1) considered satisfactory. 2.Manufacturing method according to claim 1, in which the function of substep 3 is a weighted sum of an element depending on the measured useful characteristic and the estimated useful characteristic and an element depending on the estimated useful characteristic and the useful characteristic from the physical model.
3. Manufacturing method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the function of substep 3 is L. data + L p, avec F being the measured useful characteristic, F θ being the estimated useful characteristic, Fp being the useful characteristic of the physical model.
4. Manufacturing method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the at least one variable is estimated by means of a second artificial intelligence algorithm (DL2), using as input the second parameters (C1', C2'…, Cn'), which are at least partly different from the first parameters, and in which said method comprises the measurement or evaluation by means equipping the brake or said vehicle with a training data set comprising values of second parameters and values of the variable.
5. Manufacturing method according to claim 4, wherein the second algorithm (DL2) is implemented by artificial neural networks.
6. Manufacturing method according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one variable is estimated by the first artificial intelligence algorithm (DL1).
7. Manufacturing method according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first algorithm (DL1) is implemented by artificial neural networks.
8. Manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, wherein sub-step 4 implements backpropagation.
9. Manufacturing method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the useful characteristic is the clamping force exerted by the brake. 10.Manufacturing method according to the preceding claim, wherein said physical model is of the CK type. C y b , with K C the stiffness of the brake and y b the movement of a part of the brake generating the braking, Kc being the variable 11. Manufacturing method according to claim 9, in which the brake is an electric brake and the physical model is of the type With i a the electric current supplying the motor, ωm the angular speed of the engine, ώm the angular acceleration of the engine, and in which C4 is the variable.
12. Manufacturing method according to one of claims 1 to 11 wherein, during step f), a polynomial function or a weighting matrix is extracted from the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory intended to be used by the processor of the estimation system to calculate the estimated clamping force.
13. Manufacturing method according to one of claims 1 to 11 wherein, during step f), the calculation function is the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory.
14. Manufacturing method according to one of claims 1 to 13, in which the vehicle moves during step d), preferably until reaching a wear determined as sufficient of at least one brake lining. 15.Computer program medium comprising executable machine instructions for the execution by a processor of a method for estimating a characteristic useful for controlling at least one brake of a braking system, said estimation method implementing the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory obtained by the manufacturing method according to claim 13 or the polynomial function or the weighting matrix extracted from the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory obtained by the manufacturing method according to claim 12.
16. Braking system for a motor vehicle comprising at least one brake (FR1, FR2, FR3, FR4), an electronic control unit (ECU) of said brake comprising a storage area (Z) comprising machine instructions. executable, a memory and a processor (P) for generating at least one useful characteristic estimated for the control of the brake by the control unit, said braking system being obtained by the method according to one of claims 1 to 14, said braking system also comprising means for collecting the first selected parameters, said collection means comprising sensors and / or means for evaluating all or part of the first selected parameters.
17. Braking system according to claim 16, in which the collection means do not comprise or do not use a sensor for direct measurement of said useful characteristic. 18.Braking system according to claim 16 or 17 in combination with claim 10, said polynomial function or the weighting matrix being stored in the storage area, or the first trained artificial intelligence algorithm considered to be satisfactory is stored in the storage area, in particular in which the processor is a graphics processor.
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