Autonomous Diesel Vehicle Pilot Injection Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous diesel vehicles experience unnecessary fuel efficiency degradation and increased accident risk due to pilot injection control, which reduces engine noise and makes the vehicle less recognizable when unmanned.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous vehicle system that includes a passenger monitoring unit to determine the presence of a passenger and adjust fuel injection control accordingly, omitting pilot injection when no passenger is present to conserve fuel and increase engine noise for pedestrian recognition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If pilot injection control is performed to reduce engine noise and vibration, then noise and vibration decrease, but fuel efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the pilot injection control adjustable rather than fixed. The main control unit dynamically switches between performing pilot injection control (when passengers are present) and omitting it (when no passengers are present), allowing the system to adapt to different operational conditions and resolve the contradiction between noise reduction and fuel efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the fuel injection system based on detected conditions. By switching the pilot injection control parameter between 'performed' and 'omitted' states according to passenger presence, the system optimizes the balance between noise reduction and fuel consumption for different operating scenarios
2Ease of operation
If pilot injection control is performed to create a silent driving environment, then comfort improves, but pedestrian recognition capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts engine noise levels based on operational context. When no passengers are detected, the system intentionally increases engine noise by omitting pilot injection control, thereby improving pedestrian recognition capability while maintaining comfort when passengers are present
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the engine noise parameter by switching pilot injection control on or off based on passenger presence detection, allowing the vehicle to adapt between comfortable quiet operation and highly visible noisy operation for safety
3Power
If pilot injection control is continuously performed, then combustion is facilitated, but unnecessary fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the pilot injection control function from continuous operation and selectively applies it only when necessary. By removing (omitting) the pilot injection control when no passengers are present, the system eliminates unnecessary fuel consumption while maintaining combustion efficiency when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by performing pilot injection control only in specific conditions (when passengers are present) rather than continuously. This partial application of the control function optimizes fuel consumption by avoiding excessive fuel injection during unmanned operation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves fuel efficiency and enhances pedestrian recognition of the vehicle when unmanned, reducing the risk of accidents by adjusting fuel injection based on passenger presence.
Implementation Method 1
a passenger monitoring unit configured to check whether a passenger exists inside the vehicle through a sensor
Implementation Method 2
an engine control unit configured to control driving of an engine and injection of fuel of an injector according to a control instruction of the main control unit
Implementation Method 3
a diesel engine performs pilot injection control which causes deterioration of fuel efficiency for a silent and comfortable driving environment
Data Source
AI summary
Autonomous diesel vehicles and control methods thereof are disclosed. An autonomous vehicle may include a peripheral information collecting unit configured to collect peripheral information necessary for autonomous travelling through an image camera and a laser scanner, a main control unit configured to control the autonomous travelling with reference to the peripheral information collected by the peripheral information collecting unit, a passenger monitoring unit configured to check whether a passenger exists inside the vehicle through a sensor and transmit a result of the check to the main control unit, and an engine control unit configured to control driving of an engine and injection of fuel of an injector according to a control instruction of the main control unit. When the passenger is inside the vehicle, the main control unit performs a pilot injection control, and when the passenger is not inside the vehicle, the main control unit omits the pilot injection control.