Dynamic Brake Torque Modulation for Off-Road Deceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
When a vehicle decelerates on deformable, low-mu surfaces like sand or mud, the wheels sink in, causing drag torque and abrupt stops, and material buildup, making it difficult to pull away smoothly.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that monitor vehicle speed and terrain type, adjusting brake torque by reducing then increasing it as the vehicle approaches a stop, to minimize sinking and material buildup, ensuring a more controlled deceleration and easier restart.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If high brake torque is applied to decelerate the vehicle on low-mu surfaces, then the deceleration effectiveness is improved, but the wheels dig into the surface causing abrupt stops and material buildup
Solution Approach 1:
The brake torque is dynamically adjusted during the deceleration process rather than applied statically. The system continuously monitors wheel speed and terrain conditions, modifying brake torque in real-time to prevent wheel sinking while maintaining deceleration effectiveness. This dynamic adjustment allows the brake system to adapt to changing conditions during the stop sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake torque application follows a periodic pattern with distinct phases: initial high torque for deceleration, followed by reduced torque to prevent sinking, and final torque application to complete the stop. This periodic modulation of brake torque prevents continuous wheel digging while achieving the desired deceleration and stop.
2Ease of operation
If standard brake torque is applied during vehicle stop, then the stopping function is achieved, but the vehicle experiences abrupt stops and difficulty in subsequent pull-away
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary reduced brake torque before the vehicle comes to a complete stop to prevent material buildup and wheel sinking. By anticipating the stop condition and adjusting torque in advance, the system ensures a smoother transition to stationary position and facilitates easier restart without overcoming significant material resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake control system uses feedback from wheel speed sensors and terrain detection to continuously monitor deceleration progress. Based on this feedback, the system adjusts brake torque to maintain controlled deceleration while preventing wheel sinking and material buildup, ensuring both reliability and ease of 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
This approach limits wheel sinking, reduces abrupt stops, and minimizes material buildup, allowing the vehicle to pull away more smoothly by compensating for drag torque and enabling wheels to roll over accumulated material.
Implementation Method 1
the combination of the demanded brake torque and the decelerating drag torque caused by the digging/sinking of the wheels may cause the vehicle to decelerate
Implementation Method 2
As the vehicle wheels dig/sink into the surface, a drag torque may be applied to the wheels that has a decelerating effect on the vehicle
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of managing the deceleration of a vehicle. The method comprises receiving a brake command (102). The method further comprises monitoring the speed of the vehicle (104) as the vehicle decelerates in response to the brake command. The method still further comprises modifying the amount of brake torque (106) being applied to one or more wheels of the vehicle when the vehicle speed reaches a predetermined threshold (105), by first decreasing the amount of brake torque being applied and then subsequently increasing the amount of brake torque being applied to bring the vehicle to a standstill. A system for implementing the methodology is also provided.