Cruise Control Auto-Activation from Steady Speed Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cruise control systems in heavy-duty vehicles do not efficiently reduce fuel consumption by automatically activating cruise control when a driver intends to maintain a steady speed, especially at high speeds outside of town centers.
Innovation Solution
A method that continuously acquires vehicle speed measurements, determines the maximum allowable speed on the current path, and automatically activates cruise control when the vehicle maintains an average speed above a predetermined limit (V1) with minimal deviation over a selected time period (T), ensuring fuel efficiency and compliance with speed limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If cruise control is manually activated by the driver, then fuel consumption is reduced through steady speed maintenance, but the system requires continuous driver intervention and does not automatically engage when steady speed is naturally maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The cruise control system automatically monitors vehicle speed and determines when steady speed conditions exist, then self-activates without driver intervention. The control unit continuously calculates average speed over time period T and compares it to current speed to detect steady cruising conditions, enabling the system to serve itself by automatically engaging when appropriate
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle speed through sensors and feeds this information back to the control unit, which calculates average speed and detects deviations. This feedback loop enables the system to recognize when steady speed conditions are maintained and automatically activate cruise control accordingly
2Stability of the object's composition
If cruise control is automatically activated based on average speed calculation, then driving regularity is improved, but the system may incorrectly activate during temporary steady speed periods that do not represent intended cruising
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the activation criteria by considering both the average speed over time period T and the current instantaneous speed. By requiring that current speed equals the calculated average speed, the system adapts to varying driving conditions and ensures that activation occurs only when the vehicle is genuinely in a steady cruising state, not during temporary speed plateaus
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously calculates average speed over time period T in advance, preparing the data needed for activation decisions. This preliminary calculation allows the system to quickly and accurately determine when steady speed conditions exist without delay, improving both responsiveness and reliability of activation
3Measurement precision
If the cruise control system continuously monitors speed and calculates average speed over time period T, then automatic activation accuracy is improved, but computational load and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs continuous speed monitoring and average speed calculation over a defined time period T, which provides sufficient precision for accurate activation detection without requiring excessive computational resources. This partial action approach balances measurement accuracy with acceptable system complexity by limiting the calculation window to a reasonable time period
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method of activating cruise control for a vehicle in motion. 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.