Axle Weight Estimation for Heavy Truck Load Shift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy trucks face risks due to unbalanced, unsecure, and overweight loads, which can lead to instability and increased likelihood of accidents, as loads can shift during transport, causing uneven weight distribution and potentially leading to rollovers or tire blowouts.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that uses sensors and a processor to estimate axle weights in real-time by analyzing data from air spring suspension systems, frequency response functions, tire pressure changes, and relative wheel speed differences, determining if remedial actions are needed to maintain stability and safety, such as adjusting speed or navigating to a safe location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vehicle carries heavy loads, then the productivity is improved, but the weight distribution becomes unbalanced causing instability and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary weight distribution analysis before the vehicle drive using a frequency response function and center of gravity calculations. This allows the system to predict potential instability issues and determine remedial actions in advance, preventing safety incidents before they occur while maintaining heavy load carrying capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors weight distribution during vehicle operation using air spring suspension output and compares it against safe operating parameters. When imbalances are detected, the system provides feedback to trigger remedial actions such as speed reductions or route adjustments, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains stability during heavy load transport
2Productivity
If the vehicle speed is increased, then the productivity is improved, but the risk of accidents increases when loads are unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts vehicle operating parameters based on real-time weight distribution conditions. When balanced loads are detected, the vehicle can maintain higher speeds for improved productivity. When unbalanced conditions are detected, the system automatically reduces speed or triggers other remedial actions, creating a dynamic speed control system that optimizes productivity while maintaining safety
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors weight distribution and provides feedback to the vehicle control system. This feedback loop enables automatic speed adjustments based on load stability conditions, allowing high-speed operation when safe and automatic speed reduction when instability is detected, thereby maintaining both productivity and reliability
3Device complexity
If manual monitoring of weight distribution is performed, then the device complexity is reduced, but the response time to detect and remediate issues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing air spring suspension system to automatically monitor weight distribution without requiring additional external monitoring equipment. The control system automatically analyzes the suspension output data, detects imbalances, and triggers remedial actions without human intervention, enabling the system to self-monitor and self-correct while using already-available vehicle components
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the multi-functionality of the air spring suspension system, which serves both as a suspension mechanism and as a weight distribution sensing system. By processing the existing suspension output data through frequency response analysis, the system achieves automatic weight monitoring without adding dedicated sensing equipment, thereby maintaining device simplicity while enabling automated detection and response
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
The system effectively mitigates the risks associated with unbalanced and overweight loads by enabling automatic remedial actions, such as speed adjustments or navigating to a safe location, thereby enhancing the stability and safety of heavy trucks during transport.
Implementation Method 1
output from an air spring suspension system included in the vehicle
Implementation Method 2
a tire pressure change between a tire pressure associated with the plurality of wheels prior to the drive and a tire pressure associated with the plurality of wheels during the drive
Implementation Method 3
a difference between a vertical frequency value and a roll frequency value provided by a frequency response function associated with a center of gravity of the vehicle
Implementation Method 4
a height change associated with the vehicle between a height prior to the drive and a height during the drive
Implementation Method 5
a relative wheel speed difference between at least one first wheel from the plurality of wheels and at least one second wheel from the plurality of wheels during the drive
Data Source
AI summary
A representation of a first set of weights associated with a vehicle prior to a drive are received, the vehicle including a plurality of axles, a plurality of wheels attached to the plurality of axles, and a load. A warning is caused to be output in response to at least one weight from the first set of weights being outside a predetermined range. Longitudinal and lateral dynamics associated with the vehicle during the drive are determined. A second set of weights associated with at least one axle from the plurality of axles during the drive are determined. A determination is made if at least one remedial action should be performed based on the longitudinal dynamics, the lateral dynamics, and the second set of weights. In response to determining that the at least one remedial action should be performed, the at least one remedial action is caused to be performed.