Energy-Optimal Adaptive Cruise Controller Trajectory

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional adaptive cruise control systems lead to energy inefficiencies as they optimize engine operating points instantaneously without considering the entire speed trajectory, and mimic erratic driving behaviors, resulting in suboptimal energy use and an unpleasant driving experience.

Innovation Solution

An energy-optimal adaptive cruise controller that includes a speed trajectory optimizer, which generates and communicates an energy-optimal speed profile to the vehicle's speed controller based on roadway data, optimizing energy use and reducing transportation costs and extending the range of electric and hybrid electric vehicles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If conventional adaptive cruise control systems optimize engine operating points instantaneously, then the system responds quickly to traffic conditions, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to lack of trajectory consideration

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveResponse speed to traffic conditionsVSAvoidEnergy efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary optimization by calculating the entire speed trajectory in advance rather than reacting instantaneously. The speed trajectory optimizer computes the optimal speed profile considering future road segments, traffic conditions, and vehicle dynamics before execution, enabling energy-efficient cruising while maintaining responsive behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the host vehicle mimics the erratic driving behavior of the leading vehicle, then the adaptive cruise control maintains following distance, but driving experience deteriorates and energy use increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveFollowing distance maintenanceVSAvoidDriving experience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of passively mimicking the leading vehicle's erratic behavior, the system inverts the approach by using the speed trajectory optimizer to generate smooth, energy-optimal speed profiles that actively filter out erratic variations. The optimizer maintains safe following distances while producing pleasant, predictable acceleration and deceleration patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If conventional cruise control systems optimize parameters one moment at a time, then the control system remains simple, but energy optimization deteriorates due to lack of trajectory evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveControl system complexityVSAvoidEnergy optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The road ahead is segmented into multiple drive segments, and the speed trajectory optimizer evaluates energy optimization across all segments simultaneously rather than one at a time. This segmentation approach enables comprehensive trajectory optimization while maintaining computational tractability through dynamic programming or similar efficient algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11186277B2Energy-optimal adaptive cruise controller

Publication Date: 2021.11.30 BAUER PETER H

AI summary

An energy-optimal vehicle control system for at least one vehicle including a roadway data source configured for providing traffic and map data including at least one drive segment of the at least one vehicle, and an electrical processing system operably coupled with the roadway data source. The electrical processing system includes an optimizer for generating an energy-optimal speed profile for the at least one drive segment, and the electrical processing system is configured for controlling the speed of the at least one vehicle in accordance with the energy-optimal speed profile.