Vehicle Component Test Actuation for Accurate Wear Assessment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle components wear out over time, and existing methods for determining when to replace them are often inaccurate or based on fixed time/distance intervals, which may not account for actual component condition.
Innovation Solution
A computer system actuates vehicle components using a test control input that cycles actuation magnitude more frequently than standard operation, allowing for more accurate determination of physical characteristics by comparing data with a reference model, and adjusts control algorithms based on these characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fixed time/distance intervals are used to determine component replacement, then replacement scheduling is simple, but accuracy of determining when components actually need replacement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors component performance parameters and feeds this information back to the control unit, which compares actual performance against reference models to dynamically assess component wear and determine replacement timing, replacing fixed intervals with adaptive feedback-driven assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/time-based replacement scheduling with an electronic monitoring and assessment system that uses sensors, data processing, and computational algorithms to evaluate component condition, substituting physical measurement intervals with electronic performance monitoring
2Measurement precision
If standard control input is used for component actuation, then normal vehicle operation is maintained, but accuracy of determining physical characteristics deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic test control inputs with cycling magnitudes to stimulate the component and elicit measurable responses, allowing accurate physical characteristic determination during dedicated test windows while maintaining normal operation during other periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs component testing and physical characteristic determination in advance during scheduled maintenance intervals or when specific conditions are met, so that accurate assessment data is available before actual replacement decisions are made, separating assessment from operational periods
3Reliability
If component replacement is based on recommended intervals, then maintenance scheduling is straightforward, but risk of premature or unnecessary replacements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors actual component performance parameters and compares them against degradation patterns in the reference model, providing feedback on true component condition rather than relying on time-based assumptions, thereby preventing premature replacement of still-functional components
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from using fixed time/distance parameters for replacement scheduling to using dynamically measured performance parameters such as response magnitude, cycling behavior, and deviation from reference models, allowing replacement decisions based on actual physical degradation rather than arbitrary intervals
Data Source
AI summary
A computer includes a processor and a memory, and the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to, in response to a state of a vehicle satisfying a criterion, actuate a component of the vehicle according to a test control input; and determine a physical characteristic of the component based on data generated as a result of actuating the component according to the test control input. The test control input cycles a magnitude of actuation of the component more frequently than a standard control input cycles the magnitude of actuation. The standard control input is used for actuating the component while the state of the vehicle does not satisfy the criterion.