Cruise Control Verification and Operator Notification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cruise control systems in motor vehicles often fail to properly disengage when certain control inputs are activated, leading to potential inappropriate vehicle speed control, and there is a need for verification and notification features to ensure safe operation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that verify the operational status of control input monitoring systems, such as service brake pressure sensors and clutch pedals, and notify the operator if the cruise control is disabled, providing instructions for regaining operability through visual, auditory, or haptic feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the cruise control system monitors control inputs (brake pedal, clutch pedal) to detect disengagement, then the reliability of cruise control operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and monitoring systems
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs functionality checks of control input monitoring systems before enabling cruise control operation. This preliminary verification ensures that sensors and monitoring circuits are operational, preventing future disengagement failures without requiring complex continuous monitoring of all system components during cruise operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the operator through notifications when control input monitoring systems fail functionality checks. This feedback mechanism alerts the operator to system issues while maintaining relatively simple monitoring architecture by only requiring failure detection and notification rather than complex real-time verification.
2Reliability
If the system performs functionality checks before enabling cruise control, then the safety and reliability are improved, but the loss of time occurs during the verification process
Solution Approach 1:
Functionality checks are performed during system initialization or before cruise control enablement, completing verification in advance rather than during active operation. This approach minimizes time loss by ensuring system readiness before critical operation begins, rather than interrupting ongoing cruise control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs targeted functionality checks on specific control input monitoring components rather than comprehensive testing of all cruise control systems. This partial verification approach achieves sufficient reliability assurance while reducing the time required for functionality checks to acceptable levels.
3Loss of information
If the system notifies the operator of cruise control inoperability, then the information completeness is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional notification mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The notification system utilizes existing vehicle output devices such as display screens, audio systems, or indicator lights that are already part of the vehicle's standard instrumentation. By repurposing these multi-functional components for cruise control status notification, the system provides complete operator information without adding dedicated notification hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing communication and display infrastructure as an intermediary to convey cruise control status information to the operator. Rather than implementing direct notification mechanisms, the system leverages the vehicle's established information delivery channels, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive operator awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
Cruise control systems and methods suitable for use in vehicles, such as Class 8 trucks, are provided. For example, cruise control systems are disclosed that include verification and/or notification features for verifying the operational condition of the cruise control system, and if non-operational, notifies the vehicle operator of system inoperability and/or instructs the operator to activate a specified control input, e.g., press and release the clutch pedal, the service brake pedal, the parking brake, etc., so that cruise control functionality may be enabled.