Vehicle Brake Wear Estimation Using Speed, Mass, and Slope Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining brake wear in vehicles are inadequate as they fail to accurately account for factors like vehicle loading, road slope, and driver behavior, and do not effectively distinguish between brake pad degradation caused by these factors and faulty brake systems.
Innovation Solution
A method that calculates brake wear by determining brake wear parameters over time periods, considering vehicle speed, speed changes, mass, and slope inclination, and uses sensor data to detect brake system anomalies, allowing for accurate estimation of remaining brake pad life and potential faults.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are installed to detect brake pad wear, then brake wear detection capability is improved, but the system cannot provide information about how driving behavior degrades brake pads or distinguish between normal wear and faulty brake system
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing sensors (acceleration sensor, speed sensor) that serve multiple functions: they detect vehicle deceleration, calculate brake wear parameters, and identify abnormal brake system operation. By processing sensor data through multiple calculation pathways (normal deceleration wear vs. abnormal deceleration wear), the system achieves comprehensive monitoring without additional hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes raw sensor data and transforms it into meaningful brake wear information. It calculates brake wear parameters by mediating between sensor inputs (acceleration, speed) and output signals, while also identifying abnormal conditions through comparative analysis of deceleration patterns
2Ease of operation
If brake wear is determined based on travelled kilometers, then replacement timing is simplified, but no information is provided about actual brake pad degradation or driver behavior influence
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a single parameter (travelled kilometers) to multiple dynamic parameters (deceleration values, speed changes, time periods). By continuously updating brake wear parameters based on actual driving conditions and accumulating them over time, the system achieves precise brake pad degradation assessment while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control unit processing
3Measurement precision
If additional sensors are installed to accurately measure brake wear factors, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing vehicle sensors (acceleration sensor, speed sensor from ABS/ESP systems) that already serve other vehicle functions. The control unit processes this existing data to calculate brake wear parameters without requiring additional sensors, thereby achieving accurate measurement while avoiding increased device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 2:
Existing sensors are utilized for multiple purposes: vehicle dynamics control, stability control, and now brake wear monitoring. The acceleration sensor detects both normal and abnormal deceleration patterns, while the speed sensor provides data for calculating brake wear parameters, eliminating the need for dedicated brake wear sensors
4Device complexity
If brake wear parameters are calculated without considering vehicle loading and road slope, then calculation complexity is reduced, but measurement precision of brake wear degradation is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates additional parameters (vehicle loading, road slope) into the brake wear calculation by processing existing sensor data through enhanced algorithms. The control unit calculates brake wear parameters that account for these factors by analyzing deceleration patterns and comparing them against expected values under different conditions, achieving precise measurement without hardware complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining brake wear at a vehicle. According to the present invention, the brake wear estimation includes determining, for each of one or more time periods during which a brake of the vehicle is actuated, a speed of the vehicle at a start time of the respective time period and a speed change parameter indicative of a change of speed of the vehicle during the respective time period; and determining, for each of the one or more time periods, a respective brake wear parameter indicative of brake wear at one or more brakes of the vehicle during the respective time period based on the speed of the vehicle at the start time of the respective time period, the speed change parameter indicative of the change of speed of the vehicle during the respective time period, and the mass or weight of the vehicle.