ECU Energy-Efficient Acceleration Control via Camera and GPS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles are often inefficient during acceleration, particularly when driven aggressively, due to the lack of control over energy-efficient acceleration patterns, which can lead to increased energy consumption and emissions.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a power source, speed sensor, camera, GPS sensor, and electronic control unit (ECU) that detects current speed and location data to determine and implement energy-efficient acceleration patterns, minimizing energy usage by predicting target speeds and controlling the vehicle's power source accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a driver accelerates aggressively without control, then the vehicle reaches target speed quickly, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of acceleration requests using the camera to read speed limit signs and GPS to identify location changes. The ECU calculates energy-efficient acceleration patterns before the driver actually accelerates, allowing the system to prepare optimal control strategies in advance that minimize energy consumption while still achieving the desired speed increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors vehicle speed, energy consumption, and acceleration patterns. The ECU uses this feedback to adjust and optimize acceleration patterns in real-time, comparing actual energy usage against predicted values and refining control strategies to improve efficiency while maintaining acceptable acceleration performance.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the system implements full autonomous control of acceleration, then energy efficiency is maximized, but driver control and ease of operation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors and detects driver actions through the camera and GPS, automatically determining when the driver intends to accelerate. The ECU then calculates and applies energy-efficient acceleration patterns without requiring explicit driver input, allowing the system to serve itself by autonomously optimizing acceleration while the driver maintains overall vehicle control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameters dynamically based on detected conditions. When aggressive acceleration is detected or requested, the system intervenes with optimized parameters. When normal driving is detected, the system reduces intervention, allowing the driver to maintain control. This adaptive parameter changing resolves the contradiction by adjusting the level of automation based on situational needs.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a power source to generate power to propel the vehicle, and a speed sensor to detect a current speed. The system also includes a camera to detect image data corresponding to a current roadway, and a GPS sensor to detect location data corresponding to a current location of the vehicle. The system also includes an ECU. The ECU is designed to determine a target vehicle speed based on at least one of the image data or the location data. The ECU is also designed to calculate an energy-efficient acceleration pattern to accelerate the vehicle from the current speed to the target vehicle speed based on a goal to minimize energy usage of the power source. The ECU is also designed to control the power source to accelerate the vehicle from the current speed to the target vehicle speed using the energy-efficient acceleration pattern.