Adaptive Vehicle Pedal Resistance for Temporary Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack the ability to dynamically adjust torque output based on real-time environmental and navigational conditions, leading to potential unsafe driving scenarios.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system comprising an electronic control unit that controls the vehicle pedal between normal, increased resistance, and decreased resistance states, utilizing real-time and crowdsourced data to adjust torque output for safer driving.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the vehicle pedal is made more sensitive to driver pressure, then the torque response becomes faster and more responsive, but the likelihood of risky maneuvers increases in challenging conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pedal sensitivity adjustable rather than fixed. The system dynamically changes the pedal's resistance characteristics based on real-time environmental conditions detected by sensors. In normal conditions, the pedal remains highly sensitive for responsive torque delivery, while in challenging conditions (detected via sensors monitoring environment, vehicle state, and navigation data), the system automatically adjusts the pedal to a less sensitive state with increased resistance, preventing risky maneuvers while maintaining the underlying capability for fast torque response when safe
2Reliability
If the vehicle pedal is made less sensitive to driver pressure, then driving safety is improved in challenging conditions, but the torque response becomes slower and less responsive
Solution Approach 1:
The system resolves this contradiction through dynamic adjustment of pedal sensitivity based on environmental conditions. The electronic control unit continuously monitors sensor data (environmental sensors, vehicle state sensors, navigation system) and automatically transitions the pedal between sensitive and less sensitive states. This allows the system to maintain fast torque response capability when conditions are safe, while automatically reducing sensitivity to prevent risky maneuvers when challenges are detected, thus achieving both safety and responsiveness at different times
3Reliability
If the electronic control unit continuously monitors environmental conditions and adjusts torque output, then driving safety is enhanced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by having the electronic control unit perform multiple functions: it manages normal torque requests from the driver, processes data from various sensors (environmental, vehicle state), integrates navigation information, determines challenging conditions, and controls pedal resistance. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single control unit that handles all aspects of safe torque delivery, enhancing safety while managing overall system complexity through functional integration
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring environmental conditions, vehicle state, and navigation data, then using this information to automatically adjust torque output and pedal resistance. The electronic control unit receives feedback from sensors and navigation systems, processes this information to determine if challenging conditions exist, and responds by adjusting the pedal characteristics and torque delivery accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enhances safety through real-time adaptation without requiring overly complex manual intervention systems
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle includes a vehicle pedal, a vehicle engine and an electronic control unit. The vehicle engine generates a torque output of the vehicle in accordance with an operation of the vehicle pedal. The electronic control unit controls the vehicle pedal between a normal state, an increased resistance state and a decreased resistance state. The vehicle pedal is less sensitive to driver pressure in the increased resistance state. The vehicle pedal is more sensitive to driver pressure in the decreased resistance state.