Vehicle Battery Pack Control for Predicted Crash Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Battery Management Systems (BMS) face challenges in safely managing high-voltage batteries during vehicle crashes, as they often shut down the entire battery network, which is not optimal for preventing damage and ensuring safety due to the lack of time for delicate solutions.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses sensors to predict an impact and selectively control a subset of batteries, such as disabling only those likely to be damaged, to mitigate damage and maintain vehicle mobility, incorporating radar data for impact prediction and staggered shutdown procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the entire battery network is shut down in response to an impact, then safety is improved, but vehicle mobility is lost and excessive damage prevention is achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The battery network is divided into multiple independently controllable battery packs. When an impact is detected, only the battery pack(s) at risk are shut down while other packs remain operational, enabling selective protection rather than complete system shutdown.
Solution Approach 2:
Different battery packs are treated differently based on their location relative to the impact. Battery packs closer to the impact zone are shut down for safety, while those farther away remain active to maintain vehicle mobility and functionality.
2Reliability
If the entire battery network is shut down immediately upon impact detection, then damage prevention is maximized, but the response time is insufficient for delicate solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors for impact conditions and prepares shutdown sequences in advance. When an impact is detected, the pre-prepared selective shutdown protocol can be executed immediately, reducing response time while still allowing for delicate control of individual battery packs.
3Productivity
If a subset of batteries is selectively controlled based on impact prediction, then vehicle mobility is maintained, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into independently controllable packs with individual control circuits. This segmentation allows selective shutdown of specific packs while maintaining control over others, balancing mobility requirements with safety without requiring complete system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an embodiment, there is provided a battery management method for a vehicle comprising a plurality of batteries. According to another embodiment there is a control unit for performing the battery management method. The battery management method comprising detecting an incoming hazard; predicting an impact of the incoming hazard from one or more sensors coupled to the vehicle; determining a course of action to be taken in response to the predicted impact; and controlling one or more batteries of the plurality of batteries according to the determined course of action.