Adaptive Drive Control System for Road Characterization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
As the number of control settings and controllable subsystems in vehicles increases, it becomes difficult for drivers to select the appropriate configuration mode for varying driving conditions, necessitating an integrated control strategy that can automatically determine and adjust vehicle subsystem settings.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive drive control system that includes a sensing system to categorize and discretize road surface conditions, allowing a controller to automatically alter the operational mode of vehicle subsystems such as suspension and steering systems, ensuring optimal performance based on sensed road characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control settings and controllable subsystems are provided in vehicles, then adaptability to different driving conditions is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic mode selection where the vehicle subsystems self-adjust based on sensed road conditions. The controller automatically determines appropriate configuration modes for suspension, steering, and powertrain without requiring manual driver intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in selecting optimal settings.
Solution Approach 2:
A single integrated control system serves multiple subsystems including suspension, steering, and powertrain. The controller universally manages different configuration modes across various subsystems, coordinating them to work together rather than requiring separate control mechanisms for each subsystem.
2Ease of operation
If manual selection of configuration modes is required, then driver control is maintained, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic mode selection where the vehicle subsystems self-adjust based on sensed road conditions. The controller automatically determines appropriate configuration modes for suspension, steering, and powertrain without requiring manual driver intervention, allowing the system to serve itself in selecting optimal settings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously senses road surface conditions and uses this feedback to automatically adjust configuration modes. The sensing system provides real-time information about road conditions, and the controller responds by selecting appropriate modes, creating a closed-loop feedback system that adapts to changing conditions.
3Measurement precision
If continuous road surface sensing is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The road surface conditions are segmented into discrete categories rather than attempting to measure and process every continuous variable. The system divides complex road conditions into manageable categories such as smooth, rough, curved, and straight, allowing for efficient processing with reduced computational and energy requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of sensing and processing based on current driving conditions. Rather than continuously analyzing all parameters at maximum precision, the system adapts its measurement and processing intensity to match the actual complexity of road conditions, reducing unnecessary energy consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle selectively operates in a plurality of operational modes. The operational modes carry with them different commands for operating a controlled suspension system such as a continuously controlled damping suspension system, a controlled steering system such as an electronic power-assist steering system, and a powertrain of the vehicle. For example, in one operational mode, the powertrain might be more sensitive to output torque from a motor or engine quickly with little hesitation. The vehicle includes a sensing system, such as a plurality of suspension height sensors and a corresponding controller programmed to receive suspension height signals indicating the characteristic of the road, to categorize the signals, and to compute categorized vehicle characteristics such as vehicle pitch, heave, roll, yaw, etc. The controller can discretize the categorized signals into a discrete number of index values, and then command the vehicle to change operational mode based on the discrete index value.