Vehicle Control Unit Update Energy Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Motor vehicles cannot be reconfigured or updated while driving due to safety concerns, and updating during the parking phase is risky due to potential deep discharge of the energy storage device if the software update requires more energy than the battery's residual capacity.

Innovation Solution

A method that predicts the energy requirements for updating the control unit and only initiates the update if the residual energy is sufficient, using dependency data and probable parking time to ensure successful completion without depleting the battery, and utilizing machine learning to determine driver behavior for optimal update timing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control unit is updated during the parking phase when the drive engine is switched off, then the update can be performed without safety risks associated with driving, but the energy storage device may be depleted due to insufficient residual energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate safetyVSAvoidenergy storage device depletion
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary checks of the residual energy state before initiating the update process. The control device evaluates whether sufficient energy is available in the energy storage device before starting the configuration data set installation, preventing updates that would lead to battery depletion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device continuously monitors the residual energy state during the update process and can terminate the update if energy levels fall below threshold values. This feedback mechanism ensures that updates are aborted before complete battery depletion occurs, maintaining system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If the update process is initiated without checking energy availability, then the update can start immediately, but the process may be aborted prematurely leaving the control unit in an inoperable state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate initiation speedVSAvoidcontrol unit operability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary validation of energy sufficiency and calculates the probable duration of the update process before initiation. This ensures that updates only start when conditions guarantee successful completion, preventing inoperable states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes energy thresholds and time windows that provide a safety margin before actual depletion or failure occurs. By monitoring residual energy against predetermined thresholds and comparing update duration estimates with available time windows, the system maintains a cushion that prevents catastrophic failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple configuration data sets are installed simultaneously, then the update process is more comprehensive, but the energy requirement increases the risk of deep discharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate comprehensivenessVSAvoidtotal energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides multiple configuration data sets into separate update tasks and executes them sequentially rather than simultaneously. Each data set is processed in individual time windows, allowing energy consumption to be managed in discrete portions rather than all at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the update schedule based on real-time energy state monitoring. When energy levels are sufficient, multiple updates can be queued; when energy becomes constrained, the system pauses or cancels non-critical updates, making the update process adaptive to energy availability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3368379B1Control device update in a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 AUDI AG
  • EP3368379B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3368379B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for adjusting a configuration data set (6) in a control device (2) of a motor vehicle (1). The aim of the invention is to reliably install the configuration data set (6) in the control device (2). In order to do so, according to the invention, an amount of energy required by all vehicle components (F) that are needed for adjusting the configuration data set (6) is predicted, an amount of remaining energy currently available in an energy storage device (14) of the motor vehicle (1) is determined, and during a parking phase of the motor vehicle (1), when the driving motor/engine (13) is off, a triggering signal (23) for adjusting the configuration data set (6) is sent to the vehicle components (F) only if the currently available remaining amount of energy is greater than the predicted amount energy required.