Adaptive Brake Map Switching for Vehicle Platoon Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle platoons face challenges in achieving comfortable and energy-efficient driving due to the time delay in response from following vehicles to the lead vehicle's acceleration or braking, which is influenced by the driving style of the lead vehicle operator, impacting passenger comfort and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method and control unit that utilize 'comfort' and 'safety' modes by employing different brake and acceleration maps, allowing for smoother operation in comfort mode and quicker responses in safety mode, with mode shifts triggered by predetermined pedal speed or position thresholds, ensuring improved comfort and reduced energy consumption while maintaining rapid control system responses when needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a quick response mode is used for the lead vehicle control system, then the control system response speed is improved, but the passenger comfort and energy efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the brake map adaptive rather than static. The control system dynamically switches between a first brake map (for normal comfort-oriented operation) and a second brake map (for urgent safety-oriented operation) based on the driver's braking intensity. This allows the system to adapt its response characteristics in real-time, providing both comfort during normal driving and quick response when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of brake force mapping by providing multiple brake maps with different characteristics. The first brake map provides gradual brake force application for comfort, while the second brake map provides aggressive brake force application for quick response. The system selects which map to use based on detected braking conditions, thereby changing the operational parameters to match the situation.
2Productivity
If aggressive braking is applied to achieve quicker response in vehicle platoon, then the control system response is improved, but the passenger comfort and energy consumption worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its braking strategy based on situational requirements. During normal operation, the first brake map is used which applies braking forces in an energy-efficient and comfortable manner. When urgent braking is detected through the brake pedal speed threshold, the system switches to the second brake map for rapid response, thereby optimizing energy consumption while maintaining productivity when needed.
3Speed
If the brake map provides high brake force change speed for quick response, then the control system response is improved, but the passenger comfort and platoon smoothness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the brake map into two distinct versions: a first brake map for normal operation with gradual brake force application, and a second brake map for urgent situations with aggressive brake force application. This segmentation allows the system to provide appropriate brake force change speed for each situation, maintaining comfort during normal driving while enabling quick response when safety requires it.
4Ease of operation
If the lead vehicle operator drives smoothly for improved comfort, then the passenger comfort is improved, but the control system response time worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the brake pedal speed sensor to determine when to switch between brake maps. When the brake pedal speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating urgent braking, the system switches to the second brake map for rapid response. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system maintains smooth comfortable operation during normal driving while automatically providing quick response when the driver's actions indicate urgency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates a method for driving a vehicle platoon (1) having a lead vehicle (2) and a plurality of vehicles (3) following the lead vehicle. The method comprises the steps of providing a first mode and a second mode for driving the lead vehicle (2), by using a first brake map (29a) for the first mode and a second brake map (29a') for the second mode for braking the lead vehicle (2), wherein the first brake map gives a lower brake force (27) on the lead vehicle than the second brake map for equal brake requests (22), and/or by using a first acceleration map (29b) for the first mode and a second acceleration map (29b') for the second mode for accelerating the lead vehicle (2), wherein the first acceleration map gives a lower traction force (28) on the lead vehicle than the second acceleration map for equal acceleration requests (25), and shifting from the first mode to the second mode when an operator of the lead vehicle (2) has performed a predetermined driving action.