Dynamic Gear State Management for Vehicle Speed Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional automatic transmission systems in vehicles rely on static calibration tables for gear selection, leading to suboptimal performance, drivability, and fuel economy, especially when navigating hills or varying terrain conditions, as they fail to adjust gear states dynamically based on current and future engine power requirements.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic gear state management system that determines current and future engine power requirements by analyzing route conditions, including terrain, weather, and traffic, to optimize vehicle reference speed and transmission gear state independently or in conjunction with each other, using a GSM algorithm integrated into the engine control unit to adjust gear shifts proactively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If static calibration tables are used for gear selection, then the transmission control system is simple and reliable, but the vehicle performance and fuel economy are suboptimal under varying terrain conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic gear state management that continuously adjusts transmission gear selection based on real-time vehicle operating conditions, terrain data, and power requirements, replacing static calibration tables with an adaptive control system that optimizes gear state dynamically throughout the vehicle operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary gear state adjustments by predicting future power requirements based on terrain analysis and vehicle state, allowing the transmission to be pre-positioned in optimal gear states before actual power demands occur, thereby improving performance without excessive complexity
2Speed
If the transmission shifts gear reactively under load, then the control logic is simple, but the vehicle loses additional speed and drivability is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The control system proactively adjusts gear state based on predicted power requirements and terrain conditions before the vehicle encounters situations requiring reactive shifting, thereby maintaining continuous optimal speed without the disruptions of reactive gear changes under load
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle state, power requirements, and terrain conditions, using this feedback to dynamically adjust gear state selections and ensure the vehicle maintains optimal speed and drivability across varying operating conditions
3Use of energy by moving object
If the controller maintains a fixed vehicle set speed, then the speed control is simple and reliable, but the engine cannot operate in efficient regions under varying power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic vehicle reference speed management that continuously adjusts the target speed based on terrain conditions, power requirements, and engine efficiency regions, replacing fixed speed maintenance with an adaptive system that optimizes both fuel economy and performance
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the vehicle reference speed parameter based on operating conditions, allowing the engine to operate in efficient regions by adjusting speed targets rather than maintaining a fixed set speed, thereby improving fuel economy across varying power requirements
Data Source
AI summary
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a control system, apparatus, and method includes dynamic optimization of at least one of a vehicle reference speed and/or transmission gear state of a vehicle by determining current and future engine power requirements from the current and forward-looking route conditions to improve performance, drivability, and/or fuel economy of the vehicle over what is achievable through conventional gear state selection via static calibration tables and conventional shifting strategies. The selection of the vehicle reference speed and gear state can be performed independently of one another in one embodiment, and complementary of one another in another embodiment.