Driver Alert System Torque Feedback Electric Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electric-drive vehicles lack effective systems to provide real-time feedback to drivers about potential energy buildup in the powertrain, which can lead to reduced driver awareness and response time during vehicle maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A driver alert system with control logic that tracks powertrain energy and provides audible, visual, and tactile cues through sensory output devices, such as haptic transducers, to match the dynamic increase of torque in the propulsion system, enhancing driver awareness and response time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If electric-drive vehicles operate in high-performance modes with torque buildup, then vehicle acceleration and maneuver performance improve, but driver awareness and response time deteriorate due to lack of feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system that provides real-time sensory output (visual, audible, and tactile cues) to the driver about the amount of potential energy stored in the powertrain. This feedback loop allows the driver to understand the relationship between their inputs and the vehicle's response, improving awareness during high-performance operating modes where torque buildup occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs tactile cues through haptic transducers that create vibrational feedback on the steering wheel. This mechanical vibration provides the driver with physical sensation corresponding to the powertrain's potential energy level, enhancing awareness without requiring visual or audible distraction.
2Loss of information
If multiple sensory output devices are added to provide comprehensive feedback, then driver awareness improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple types of sensory feedback (visual displays, audible warnings, and tactile haptic transducers) into a unified driver alert system controlled by a single controller. This integration allows comprehensive feedback while managing system complexity through centralized control logic and coordinated operation of multiple output devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions by managing powertrain operation monitoring, determining potential energy levels, selecting appropriate feedback cues, and coordinating multiple sensory output devices. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control responsibilities in a single intelligent component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system enhances driver awareness and response time by providing user-perceptible feedback that corresponds directly to real-time powertrain operating status, improving vehicle efficiency, range, and drivability.
Implementation Method 1
The tactile cue may be applied by a haptic transducer to a driver interface, such as a driver seat, steering wheel, pedal, center console, armrest, etc.; the transducer's vibrational output may be continuously modulated in correlation with the increasing torque being applied to the driveline.
Data Source
AI summary
Presented are driver alert systems with control logic for powertrain energy tracking and reporting, methods for making/using such systems, and electric-drive vehicles with alert systems for providing driver cues to indicate real-time potential energy buildup in the powertrain. A method of operating a driver alert system for an electric-drive vehicle includes a vehicle controller receiving a selection of a powertrain operating mode. Responsive to the received selection, the vehicle controller determines a buildup of output torque generated via an electric traction motor for an impending vehicle maneuver associated with the selected powertrain operating mode. The controller accesses a memory-stored, torque-based lookup table to retrieve an output level calibrated to an in-vehicle sensory output device and corresponding to an output torque value for the determined torque buildup. The controller then commands the sensory output device to generate a driver-perceptible visible, audible, and/or tactile cue based on the retrieved output level.