Vehicle Drivetrain Capacity Mapping Across Mission Stages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems face disruptions in productivity due to malfunctions, as responses to drivetrain malfunctions can negatively impact both the affected vehicle and others in a site or transport system, leading to reduced productivity.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling vehicles that involves collecting operational data on drivetrain components and environmental conditions, determining propulsive capacity in different operational areas, and mapping these capacities to expected mission stages to adjust vehicle control strategies, allowing for continued operation with reduced capacity in non-critical areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If evasive maneuvering is implemented in response to drivetrain malfunction, then vehicle safety is improved, but productivity is reduced due to mission disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The drivetrain operational areas are segmented into multiple distinct regions (e.g., first operational area, second operational area, third operational area) with different propulsive capacity characteristics. This segmentation allows the control system to evaluate malfunctions area-specifically rather than triggering blanket evasive maneuvers, enabling continued operation in non-critical areas while maintaining safety in critical areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assessing the impact of drivetrain malfunction locally within specific operational areas rather than globally across the entire drivetrain. The control system determines whether the malfunction affects critical operational areas (requiring evasive maneuvers) or non-critical areas (allowing continued operation), thus preserving productivity while ensuring safety where needed.
2Reliability
If drivetrain component de-rate is implemented to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but propulsive capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic de-rate strategies where the propulsive capacity reduction is adjusted in real-time based on the severity and location of the malfunction. The control system continuously monitors operational data and dynamically modifies the de-rate level across different operational areas, allowing maximum power in non-affected areas while applying protective de-rate only where necessary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (propulsive capacity limits) based on the detected malfunction characteristics. By identifying which operational areas are affected and to what extent, the control system adjusts the propulsive capacity parameters selectively, maintaining full capacity in safe operational areas while reducing capacity only in areas where the malfunction poses a risk.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive operational data collection is performed to assess drivetrain status, then measurement precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the most critical operational data elements needed for drivetrain status assessment rather than collecting all possible data. The control system identifies and extracts key parameters related to propulsive capacity in different operational areas, filtering out redundant information and focusing on data that directly impacts safety and productivity decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of operational data to determine the overall drivetrain status before initiating detailed analysis. By pre-evaluating data quality and relevance, the control system can decide whether comprehensive data collection is necessary or if a simplified assessment suffices, thereby reducing unnecessary system complexity while maintaining measurement precision when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method for controlling a vehicle (1) comprising a drivetrain comprising at least one drive device (2) adapted to generate mechanical power, the method comprising—controlling the vehicle to perform a mission comprising a plurality of stages (MS1-MS12), —collecting operational data relevant to the operation of the drivetrain, wherein the operational data indicate a de-rate of a component of the drivetrain, a fault of a component of the drivetrain, and/or an environmental condition which influences the drivetrain operation, —determining an expected mission stage (MS1-MS12), —determining, in dependence on the operational data, the propulsive capacity (CA1-CA3) in at least two different operational areas (A1-A3) of the drive device (2), —mapping the operational area propulsive capacities (CA1-CA3) to the expected mission stage (MS1-MS12), and —controlling the vehicle (1) in dependence on said mapping.