Axle Load-Based Braking Assessment for Platooning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for determining dynamic braking capabilities of highway vehicles, particularly combination vehicles with trailers, face challenges due to varying load distributions, which affect braking performance and safety in platooning scenarios, as traditional methods rely solely on gross vehicle weight without considering load distribution dynamics.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a control unit with sensors to determine dynamic braking capabilities by analyzing axle loading information, incorporating vehicle speed and torque data to calculate predicted stopping distances and adjust braking performance parameters, enabling real-time adaptation and communication of these parameters within a platoon for optimized vehicle ordering and gap maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional methods rely solely on gross vehicle weight to determine braking capabilities, then the determination process is simple, but the accuracy of braking capability assessment deteriorates due to varying load distributions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the gross vehicle weight into individual axle load components. Instead of treating the vehicle as a single unit with total weight, the system divides the weight measurement into separate axle measurements (front axle, rear axles, trailer axles). This segmentation allows the system to capture the distribution of load across different axles, providing a more nuanced understanding of braking capabilities while maintaining a relatively simple sensor-based implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional assessment (total gross vehicle weight) to a multi-dimensional assessment by incorporating axle load distribution data. The system evaluates braking capability not just based on total weight but also considering how that weight is distributed across multiple axles. This dimensional expansion enables more accurate prediction of braking performance under varying load conditions without requiring complex computational models.
2Loss of energy
If the platoon maintains a tight distance to reduce energy consumption, then fuel efficiency improves, but safety deteriorates due to insufficient braking distance under varying load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of platoon spacing based on real-time braking capability assessments. Rather than maintaining a fixed safety distance, the system continuously evaluates the braking capabilities of all vehicles in the platoon using axle load data and adjusts the spacing dynamically. This allows the platoon to maintain tighter distances when braking capabilities are confirmed sufficient while increasing spacing when load conditions suggest reduced braking performance, thereby optimizing both energy efficiency and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where axle load measurements continuously inform braking capability assessments, which in turn guide platoon spacing adjustments. The control units in each vehicle share load and braking capability data with other platoon members, enabling real-time coordination of spacing decisions. This feedback mechanism ensures that the platoon maintains optimal spacing that adapts to changing load conditions, balancing energy consumption with safety requirements.
3Loss of energy
If vehicles are ordered in the platoon based only on aerodynamic geometry, then aerodynamic efficiency improves, but braking safety deteriorates due to ignoring load distribution variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate ordering criteria into a unified approach: aerodynamic geometry and braking capability. The system first considers the aerodynamic characteristics of vehicles for basic positioning, then overlays braking capability assessments based on axle load distributions. This combined ordering strategy ensures that vehicles are positioned not only to maximize aerodynamic efficiency but also to optimize platoon braking safety, with vehicles having similar braking characteristics grouped together regardless of their aerodynamic profiles.
Data Source
AI summary
Dynamic braking capability of a combination vehicle including a tractor and at least one trailer is provided based on a distribution of the load carried by the combination vehicle. Load distribution is determined directly using load sensors disposed at wheel pairs of the tractor and trailer(s) or indirectly by using a load sensor located at the drive axle of the tractor together with engine torque and vehicle speed signals for determining gross vehicle mass. A database having sub-databases therein each storing stopping distance calculation results for a corresponding combination vehicle type e.g. 5-axle single or 8-axle double, is indexed by using the determined load distributions for providing the dynamic braking capability based on the vehicle type and its load distribution. The database may also be indexed using Axle Load Allocation Factor that is calculated based on a mathematical combination of drive, steering, and gross trailer axle loading.