Drive Direction Change Control With Reduced Throttle Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unintended directional acceleration in vehicles, particularly in systems with unconventional gear selection methods or automated direction changes, can lead to collisions due to the vehicle moving in the opposite direction expected by the driver, especially with high-power vehicles where quick reactions are difficult.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system with a drive system that includes a direction controller, capable of switching between standard and safe modes, where the safe mode provides a reduced motor response after a direction change to mitigate unintended acceleration by limiting throttle response for some angles and transitioning back to normal response based on driver reaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the drive system operates in standard mode with full motor response, then acceleration performance is improved, but the risk of unintended directional acceleration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between standard mode (full acceleration response) and safe mode (reduced acceleration response) based on the operational state. After a direction change is detected by the direction controller, the system automatically transitions to safe mode, which limits motor response to a predetermined reduced level, thereby preventing unintended acceleration while maintaining normal performance during stable operation
Solution Approach 2:
The direction controller continuously monitors the operational state of the drive system and provides feedback to the control system. When a direction change is detected, this feedback triggers the transition to safe mode. The system also monitors for driver correction actions and provides feedback to determine when to transition back to standard mode, creating a closed-loop safety mechanism
2Productivity
If the drive system provides rapid acceleration response, then productivity is improved, but the time for driver reaction and correction decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively reducing motor response before the driver can react to an unintended direction change. When the direction controller detects a direction change, the safe mode is activated immediately, limiting acceleration to a reduced level that allows sufficient time for the driver to perceive the error and correct it, rather than waiting for the driver to react after full acceleration has already begun
3Ease of operation
If the system uses unconventional gear selection methods, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of driver error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by implementing a safety mechanism that counteracts potential driver errors before they can cause harm. The safe mode limits motor response to a predetermined reduced level after direction changes, which prevents the vehicle from accelerating rapidly if the driver accidentally selects the wrong direction, thereby compensating for the increased risk associated with unconventional gear selection interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle system to mitigate unintended directional acceleration has an accelerator pedal operable by a driver through a range of positions between a minimum throttle angle and a maximum throttle angle, a drive system operable to selectably drive the wheels in a forward direction in a drive mode and in a rearward direction in a reverse mode, the drive system including a direction controller operable to enact a direction change between the drive mode and the reverse mode, the drive system operable in a standard mode to drive the motor with a first response curve based on the accelerator position, and the drive system operable in a safe mode immediately after the direction controller enacts a direction change to drive the drive motor with a second response curve having a reduced motor response for at least some throttle angles compared to the first response curve.