Onboard Axle Load Plausibility Check Using Drive Force Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional axle load measuring systems in vehicles are susceptible to manipulation and wear, leading to measurement errors due to their mechanical coupling and environmental vulnerabilities.
Innovation Solution
A device and method that utilize a comparator and computing unit to calculate and compare two total axle load values, one from a conventional onboard system and another from vehicle acceleration and drive force, to detect significant differences and generate error messages or activate signal generators, thereby improving measurement reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional onboard axle load measuring system with mechanical coupling is used, then the axle load can be measured, but the system is susceptible to manipulation and wear leading to measurement errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by continuously comparing the measured axle load value with a plausibility range derived from vehicle mass data. When the measured value falls outside the expected range, the system generates an error signal, creating a closed-loop verification system that enhances measurement reliability without requiring fundamental changes to the measurement principle itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification system that acts as a mediator between the mechanical measurement system and the control system. This intermediary layer (the plausibility check device) compares measured values with independently obtained vehicle mass data, providing an additional verification step that protects against manipulation and wear-induced errors without affecting the original measurement function.
2Measurement precision
If a mechanical coupling system with rotational angle sensor is used to measure axle load, then the measurement can be obtained, but the sensor is susceptible to wear due to adverse environmental influences
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring the measured axle load values and comparing them against plausibility ranges. This allows the system to detect when sensor wear or environmental damage causes measurement drift, enabling timely intervention before complete sensor failure occurs, thereby extending effective service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The plausibility check system provides self-service by automatically detecting sensor degradation through comparison with vehicle mass data. The system monitors its own measurement quality without requiring external inspection, and can trigger maintenance alerts when sensor performance deteriorates due to wear or environmental factors.
3Reliability
If the axle load measuring system is made manipulation-proof, then security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback to achieve manipulation security without complex physical protections. By continuously comparing measured axle load values with independently obtained vehicle mass data and generating error signals for discrepancies, the system creates a software-based verification layer that is simpler than mechanical manipulation-proofing but provides equivalent security against tampering.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces potential mechanical manipulation-proofing measures with an electronic/software-based plausibility check system. Instead of using complex mechanical seals or tamper-resistant hardware, the system uses computational comparison of measurement data with vehicle mass records, substituting mechanical complexity with information processing that achieves the same security goal more simply.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is for checking the plausibility of measured values of an axle load measuring system determinable via a sensor system, using which the axle load resting on all axles of a vehicle is determinable as a first total axle load value. The device has a comparator and a computing unit. A second total axle load value is computable via the computing unit. The first and the second total axle load value can be supplied to the comparator, a comparison between the two total axle load values can be carried out via the comparator, and, if there is a sufficiently large difference between the first total axle load value and the second total axle load value, an error message can be generated and/or a signal generator can be activated via the comparator. Manipulations and measurement errors on the axle load measuring system may be recognized in this way.