Clutch Start Control Using Topographic Prediction and Gear Preselection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling the internal combustion engine in heavy-duty vehicles during clutch start operations often result in compromised drivability, productivity, and driver experience, especially when the engine is restarted after being shut off to conserve fuel.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method that predicts the driving scenario for an upcoming road segment by acquiring topographic data, selecting an appropriate gear based on the prediction, and starting the internal combustion engine on that gear before reaching the segment, thereby improving drivability and reducing fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the internal combustion engine is shut off to reduce fuel consumption, then fuel economy is improved, but drivability and productivity deteriorate when the engine is restarted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by predicting the upcoming driving scenario using topographic data before the vehicle reaches the road segment. The gear is selected in advance based on the predicted scenario, and the engine is started on the optimal gear before or when the vehicle reaches the predicted segment, ensuring immediate availability of appropriate torque without compromising drivability
2Ease of operation
If the engine is restarted immediately to improve drivability, then ease of operation is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system predicts the upcoming driving scenario using topographic data and selects the optimal gear in advance. The engine is started on this pre-selected gear at the optimal moment (before or when reaching the predicted segment), rather than immediately or arbitrarily, thereby minimizing fuel consumption while ensuring drivability is maintained
3Device complexity
If the engine is started on an inappropriate gear to simplify control, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity deteriorates due to speed fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary prediction of the driving scenario using topographic data and selects the optimal gear in advance of reaching the road segment. This pre-selection ensures that when the engine is started, it engages on the most appropriate gear for the upcoming conditions, maintaining vehicle speed and productivity without requiring complex real-time adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses topographic data as feedback about the upcoming road conditions to inform gear selection and engine start timing decisions, enabling optimized control that maintains productivity while managing complexity through information-based decision making
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for clutch start control of an internal combustion engine, ICE, in a vehicle. When the vehicle is travelling on a road with the ICE being shut off, topographic data representative of the topography of an upcoming road segment is acquired. A driving scenario for at least a part of the upcoming road segment is predicted based on the acquired topographic data. A gear is selected based on the predicted driving scenario. The ICE is started on the selected gear before or when the vehicle reaches said part of the road segment. The invention also relates to a computer program, a computer readable medium, a control unit, and a vehicle.