Adaptive Cruise Control for Off-Road Terrain and Occupant Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle speed control systems, such as cruise control, are ineffective in low-speed conditions and off-road terrains due to minimum speed requirements and susceptibility to wheel slip events, limiting their ability to maintain progress and occupant comfort.
Innovation Solution
A speed control system that adjusts vehicle speed based on vehicle body movement data, including pitch, roll, and heave accelerations, to maintain comfort levels and adapt to terrain conditions, using an electric controller to automatically adjust the target speed and account for occupant presence and preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cruise control systems impose a minimum speed requirement (e.g., 30 kph) to reduce collision risk, then safety is improved, but the system becomes ineffective in low-speed driving conditions such as urban environments and off-road terrains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic speed threshold adjustment where the minimum speed threshold is no longer fixed but adapts based on detected terrain conditions. The system uses terrain sensors to identify off-road conditions and automatically adjusts the speed threshold accordingly, allowing cruise control to operate effectively at low speeds in off-road environments while maintaining safety in on-road conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the cruise control by modifying the minimum speed threshold based on terrain type. When off-road terrain is detected, the system alters the speed parameter requirements, permitting operation below the standard 30 kph threshold that would be unsafe on roads but acceptable in controlled off-road environments.
2Reliability
If cruise control systems are disabled upon detecting wheel slip events to prevent low-speed collisions, then safety is improved, but the system cannot maintain vehicle progress in off-road conditions where wheel slip is common
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the response to wheel slip events based on terrain context. In off-road mode, when wheel slip is detected, the system does not immediately disable cruise control but instead adapts by reducing the speed threshold and allowing continued operation. This dynamic response enables the system to distinguish between harmful wheel slip on roads and acceptable wheel slip in off-road conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by modifying the speed threshold and cruise control activation criteria when off-road terrain is detected. This allows the cruise control to remain active during wheel slip events that would normally cause disablement, thereby maintaining vehicle progress in off-road conditions while still prioritizing safety through adjusted parameters.
3Reliability
If cruise control systems maintain a fixed minimum speed threshold to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but the system lacks adaptability to varying terrain conditions and occupant comfort requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a dynamic speed threshold that automatically adjusts based on multiple factors including terrain type detected by sensors, vehicle speed, and occupant presence. Rather than maintaining a fixed 30 kph minimum threshold, the system continuously adapts the threshold in real-time, lowering it when off-road terrain is detected and raising it when on-road conditions prevail, thereby achieving both safety and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal speed control mechanism that functions across diverse conditions by integrating multiple sensing capabilities (terrain detection, speed sensing, occupant detection) into a single adaptive cruise control system. This multi-functional approach allows the same system to safely operate in both on-road and off-road environments, as well as accommodate different occupant comfort requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide a speed control system for a vehicle, comprising: means for automatically causing a vehicle to operate in accordance with a target speed value, means for receiving information relating to movement of at least a portion of a vehicle body or at least a portion of a body of an occupant relative to a vehicle, and means for adjusting automatically the value of the target speed value in dependence on said information.