Adjustable Track Bump and Dip Control for Driving Mode Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bumps and dips in factory tracks can degrade the accuracy of vehicle control, especially during automatic driving, and hinder passenger visibility during manned driving.

Innovation Solution

A system with controllable bump/dip portions and a controller that adjusts the height difference based on driving mode, using identification and step information to optimize vehicle control accuracy and passenger visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the bump/dip portion maintains a fixed height difference to allow passenger visibility during manned driving, then passenger visibility is improved, but vehicle control accuracy degrades during automatic driving

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassenger visibilityVSAvoidvehicle control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bump/dip portion is designed to dynamically adjust its height difference based on the driving mode. During automatic driving, the height difference is reduced or eliminated to maintain control accuracy. During manned driving, the height difference is maintained or increased to enable passenger visibility. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the structure flexible rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the geometric parameter (height difference) of the bump/dip portion according to operational conditions. By varying this parameter between different driving modes, the system optimizes both passenger visibility and vehicle control accuracy for each specific operating condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the bump/dip portion is removed or flattened to improve vehicle control accuracy during automatic driving, then vehicle control accuracy is improved, but passenger visibility during manned driving is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle control accuracyVSAvoidpassenger visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than permanently removing or flattening the bump/dip portion, the invention makes it dynamically adjustable. The structure can transition between a pronounced form (for passenger visibility) and a flattened form (for control accuracy) based on real-time driving mode detection, thus preserving both functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The bump/dip portion serves multiple functions depending on the driving mode: it acts as a visibility aid during manned driving and as a control accuracy enhancer during automatic driving. This multi-functionality allows a single structure to address both contradictory requirements under different conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If the bump/dip portion is made adjustable to reduce height difference during automatic driving, then vehicle control accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle control accuracyVSAvoidbump/dip control mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that detect the driving mode (automatic or manned) and automatically adjust the bump/dip portion accordingly. This feedback loop enables the complex adjustment function to operate autonomously based on system state, reducing the need for manual intervention and simplifying the overall control architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The bump/dip portion adjustment system operates autonomously by detecting driving conditions and self-adjusting without external intervention. The system serves itself by using its own operational state information to control its structural configuration, thereby managing complexity through self-regulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4703830A1System comprisng a bump/dip portion and controller
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4703830A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4703830A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4703830A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system comprises: a bump/dip portion that is at least one of a bump configured to project freely from a track on which a vehicle is to run and a dip configured to be depressed freely from the track, the bump/dip portion being configured to allow the vehicle to get thereover; and a bump/dip controller that controls a height difference between the bump/dip portion and the track by operating the bump/dip portion.