Vehicle ECU Workload Allocation Based on Wear Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity of on-vehicle networks due to the rise in Electric Vehicles and advanced safety systems leads to a demand for technologies that extend the usable time period of electronic control units (ECUs), as their operation rate is expected to increase with the prevalence of shared cars and automated driving technology.
Innovation Solution
An on-vehicle control device and system that acquires wear information from ECUs, selects less worn ECUs to perform critical processes, and adjusts communication frequencies to reduce processing loads, thereby distributing the workload and extending the lifespan of each ECU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the operation rate of ECUs is increased to handle the complexity of on-vehicle networks and support shared cars/automated driving, then the functionality and productivity of the vehicle system is improved, but the wear of ECUs increases and their usable time period decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the ECU workload distribution flexible and adjustable based on real-time wear information. The management device dynamically assigns processes to different ECUs depending on their current wear state, allowing the system to adapt its operational characteristics to extend ECU lifespan while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of ECUs by monitoring wear information and adjusting process assignment accordingly. When an ECU's wear reaches certain thresholds, the system modifies its workload parameters by transferring processes to other ECUs, thereby extending the usable time period without reducing overall system productivity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more ECUs are added to the on-vehicle network to support increased functionality, then the system's adaptability and versatility are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the on-vehicle network into multiple ECUs with specific functional assignments. Each ECU is responsible for particular processes, and the management device coordinates them based on wear information. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex functionality while managing device complexity through organized functional distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by enabling ECUs to perform multiple functions through dynamic process assignment. An ECU can handle different types of processes at different times based on its wear state and capability, allowing the system to achieve high adaptability and versatility without proportionally increasing the number of dedicated hardware components.
3Device complexity
If the workload is concentrated on fewer ECUs to simplify management, then the device complexity is reduced, but the wear of individual ECUs increases rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring wear information from ECUs and using this information to dynamically adjust process assignment. The management device receives wear status feedback and responds by redistributing workloads to prevent any single ECU from experiencing rapid wear, thereby extending reliability while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
This on-vehicle control device includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of pieces of wear information regarding a degree of wear of each of a plurality of function units mounted on a vehicle; a selection unit configured to select, on the basis of each piece of the wear information acquired by the acquisition unit, from the plurality of function units, one or a plurality of the function units to be caused to perform a target process that should be performed by one or a plurality of the function units among the plurality of function units; and a control unit configured to perform a control of causing the one or plurality of the function units selected by the selection unit to perform the target process.