Adaptive Powertrain Shifting via Driver Style Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Generalized powertrain characteristic adjustments in automotive vehicles often fail to meet the preferences of individual drivers, resulting in unsatisfactory driving experiences.

Innovation Solution

A method that sets powertrain characteristics as a function of accelerator pedal position and a preset limit, with modifications based on feedback values, allowing for personalized adjustments based on identified driving styles, which are determined through a feature vector analysis and adaptive classification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If generalized powertrain characteristic adjustments are applied, then the system can operate with standard settings, but the driver satisfaction decreases because the adjustments do not match individual driving preferences

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepowertrain characteristic adjustmentVSAvoiddriver satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts powertrain characteristics by continuously monitoring driver behavior through accelerator pedal position data and adjusting shift duration, shift sensitivity, and other parameters in real-time based on identified driving style, transforming static standardized settings into dynamic personalized configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by monitoring driver responses to applied characteristics and updating the driving style classification accordingly, allowing the system to learn from driver reactions and refine future adjustments to better match individual preferences

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If computational resources are increased to enable personalized adjustments, then driver preference accuracy improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver preference identificationVSAvoidcomputational system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters by transforming raw accelerator pedal position data into a driving style value through mathematical operations including covariance matrix calculation and determinant computation, enabling precise driver preference identification from simple sensor inputs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the continuous driving behavior data into discrete driving style classifications (e.g., conservative, moderate, aggressive) based on threshold comparisons of the driving style value, simplifying the complexity of continuous data into manageable categories for control decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9200702B2Driver aware adaptive shifting

Publication Date: 2015.12.01 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

An individual driving value is set as a function of an accelerator pedal position. In turn, a powertrain characteristic is set as a function of the individual driving style. The set powertrain characteristic may be modified on the basis of a feedback value corresponding to learned preferences of a driver. The modified powertrain characteristic is then either automatically implemented for operation of a powertrain or communicated as a choice for implementation. The feedback value is updated per a response to automatic implementation or choice communication.