Cruise Control Auto-Activation Using Speed Averaging Thresholds
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cruise control systems in heavy-duty vehicles do not effectively reduce fuel consumption, as they require manual activation and do not adapt to varying speed limits and traffic conditions, leading to inefficient speed maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A method that automatically activates cruise control by continuously measuring vehicle speed and detecting steady speed conditions, using predetermined speed limits and time ranges based on maximum allowable speeds, to maintain optimal cruising speeds and reduce fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If manual cruise control activation is required, then the system structure remains simple, but fuel consumption reduction is insufficient due to lack of automatic engagement
Solution Approach 1:
The cruise control system automatically activates itself by detecting steady speed conditions through the control unit analyzing speed sensor data, eliminating the need for manual driver intervention. The system serves itself by autonomously determining when cruise control conditions are met and engaging the feature without external activation signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors vehicle speed and pre-assesses whether steady speed conditions exist before automatically activating cruise control. This preliminary detection and assessment occurs in advance, preparing the system to engage cruise control automatically when conditions are favorable, rather than waiting for manual activation.
2Productivity
If cruise control is manually activated, then driver control is maintained, but driving regularity and fuel consumption improvement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects when steady speed conditions are present and activates cruise control without requiring manual driver input. This self-service capability ensures that whenever the vehicle is already maintaining steady speed, the system will autonomously engage cruise control to maintain that regularity, maximizing fuel efficiency opportunities without additional driver effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously receives feedback from speed sensors and analyzes whether steady speed conditions persist. This feedback loop enables the system to make real-time decisions about automatic activation, comparing actual speed variations against thresholds to determine when cruise control should be engaged to maintain driving regularity.
3Ease of operation
If cruise control activates at any speed, then ease of activation is maximized, but activation may occur during inappropriate conditions such as slow traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multiple parameters including speed threshold values, time duration of steady speed maintenance, and allowable speed variation margins to determine activation appropriateness. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system ensures cruise control only activates when truly appropriate conditions exist, such as highway cruising, while preventing activation during slow traffic or stop-and-go conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously monitors speed sensor feedback to assess whether steady speed conditions are genuine and sustained. By analyzing the feedback data over time and comparing it against predefined thresholds for speed variation and duration, the system reliably determines when activation is appropriate, avoiding false activation during transient or inappropriate driving conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of activating cruise control for a vehicle in motion is described. The vehicle speed is continuously acquired. A maximum allowable speed on the path currently travelled by the vehicle is determined. A value V1 for a limit speed is selected based on and below the determined maximum allowable speed. A time range of T units of time is selected based on the maximum allowable speed. The average speed is continuously calculated based on the continuously acquired speed measurements for the most recent T units of time. Upon determination that the speed of the vehicle exceeds the value V1 and that during the most recent T units of time the speed has deviated less than or equal to a predefined allowable deviation from the last calculated average speed, the cruise control is automatically activated to operate the vehicle at said last calculated average speed.