Active Driver Control System for Fuel Economy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for improving fuel economy in vehicles fail to provide active compensation for driver input and lack real-time indexing and feedback, making it difficult for drivers to adapt and achieve optimal fuel efficiency, especially for those with slow reaction times or aggressive driving styles.
Innovation Solution
The technology actively compensates for driver-controlled inputs by moderating the vehicle's response to maintain a 'sweet spot' and attenuates undesired frequency content, using a Green Driver Index to quantify driver performance and provide feedback, and an Active Green Mode to adjust engine and vehicle settings for improved fuel economy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If driver coaching systems are used to improve fuel economy, then fuel efficiency may improve for some drivers, but drivers with slow reaction times or inexperience cannot adapt effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system between the driver and vehicle propulsion that actively compensates for driver input limitations. This mediator processes driver commands and adjusts them in real-time to achieve optimal fuel economy regardless of driver capability, thereby resolving the contradiction between improving fuel economy and maintaining adaptability to all driver types.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes control parameters by indexing driver control ability in real-time and adjusting compensation levels accordingly. This allows the system to adapt to different driver capabilities while maintaining fuel economy improvements, resolving the contradiction by making the system versatile across different driver types.
2Loss of information
If driver feedback systems provide real-time coaching, then driver awareness of fuel economy issues improves, but drivers may find the system complex or difficult to understand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses color-coded visual feedback (e.g., traffic light colors) to communicate complex system status and fuel economy information to drivers in an intuitively understandable manner. This reduces perceived complexity while maintaining comprehensive feedback, resolving the contradiction between providing informative feedback and maintaining simplicity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If active compensation attenuates driver input to maintain sweet spot operation, then fuel economy improves, but driver desired performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of active compensation based on real-time indexing of driver control ability and current operating conditions. This allows the system to optimize fuel economy while adapting to driver preferences and performance needs, resolving the contradiction by making both fuel economy and driver satisfaction variable rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements closed-loop feedback that continuously monitors both fuel economy metrics and driver performance indicators, adjusting compensation levels to maintain optimal balance between these competing objectives. This feedback mechanism ensures that fuel economy improvements do not come at the expense of driver performance satisfaction.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology described herein provides an active driver control system. Additionally, in various example embodiments, this technology provides methods for optimizing fuel economy (or energy consumption) through active compensation of driver controlled inputs. The active compensation functionality is used to moderate 'sweet spot' vehicle response with driver desired performance. In particular, the active compensation functionality can be used to smooth the vehicle response and attenuate undesired frequency content from the driver input. One of the benefits to this technology is that it assists all drivers in achieving better fuel economy in real world driving. Another benefit is that active compensation of driver controlled inputs can mitigate some of the negative effects of more aggressive driving styles. In addition to active compensation functionality, the technology described herein is also capable of generating a Green Driver Index which is derived by quantifying the driver's control ability and normalizing the result against desired fuel economy and performance targets.