Coasting Guide Controller for Eco-Friendly Vehicle Energy Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers of eco-friendly vehicles, such as electric, hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles, often fail to coast at the appropriate timing, leading to reduced mileage and fuel efficiency due to delayed accelerator pedal release and premature brake pedal application, making it difficult to recover energy effectively.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilizes a vehicle speed detector, GPS receiver, and data storage unit to guide drivers by providing timely information on when to release the accelerator pedal, using a controller to determine the coasting guide section based on current and target vehicle speeds, and outputting visual or auditory cues to induce coasting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If drivers rely on visual judgment to determine pedal release timing, then the system remains simple, but coasting timing accuracy deteriorates leading to reduced energy recovery
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores optimal coasting guide sections and target speeds in map data before driving. When a deceleration event is detected, the controller retrieves pre-computed guidance information, eliminating the need for real-time complex calculations and enabling precise timing guidance without overwhelming computational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the GPS receiver, vehicle speed detector, and information providing unit. It processes raw sensor data, determines whether the vehicle is in a coasting guide section, and generates appropriate guidance signals, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining measurement precision.
2Reliability
If drivers apply brake pedal early to ensure deceleration, then deceleration reliability is improved, but energy recovery opportunity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle speed via the speed detector and compares it against target speeds stored in map data for upcoming deceleration events. This feedback mechanism allows the controller to provide real-time guidance on whether to maintain coasting or prepare for braking, ensuring reliable deceleration while maximizing energy recovery opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
Map data pre-stores target speeds and coasting guide sections for known deceleration events ahead of time. This allows the system to prepare optimal deceleration strategies in advance, enabling drivers to coast through appropriate sections and only brake when necessary, thereby maintaining reliability while preserving energy recovery potential.
3Ease of operation
If the coasting guide section is extended to allow later pedal release, then ease of operation is improved, but speed control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the road into specific coasting guide sections with defined start and end points stored in map data. Each section has localized quality characteristics (target speeds, guide boundaries) that are optimized for that specific location. This allows flexible driver operation within each localized section while maintaining overall speed control precision through the structured segmentation of guidance zones.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an apparatus and method for guiding a driver in coasting of an eco-friendly vehicle at an appropriate timing in a situation where deceleration is needed, which can enable economic driving through energy savings and improve the mileage and fuel efficiency of the vehicle.