Vehicle Engine Torque Suppression by Obstacle Height and Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing engine-torque suppression systems fail to appropriately adjust engine torque reduction based on the type and height of obstacles, leading to unnecessary torque reduction and potential collision risks.
Innovation Solution
An engine-torque suppression apparatus that includes obstacle detection and height detection units, allowing the engine-torque suppression unit to differentiate torque reduction conditions based on obstacle height, vehicle speed, accelerator opening, and distance to obstacles, thereby tailoring torque reduction strategies for various obstacle scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If uniform conditions are set for reducing engine torque regardless of obstacle type, then collision avoidance is simplified, but unnecessary torque reduction occurs and collision risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating torque reduction conditions based on obstacle characteristics. High obstacles (walls, poles) trigger torque reduction at larger distances and higher speeds, while low obstacles (wheel chocks, steps) trigger reduction at shorter distances and lower speeds. This localized adaptation of control parameters to specific obstacle types resolves the contradiction by improving collision avoidance reliability without requiring uniformly complex control logic for all scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making torque reduction conditions adaptive rather than static. The control system dynamically adjusts the threshold distance and speed parameters based on real-time obstacle detection and classification. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize collision avoidance for each specific situation, resolving the contradiction between simplified uniform control and reliable situation-specific response.
2Reliability
If engine torque is reduced early to ensure safety margin, then collision risk decreases, but vehicle acceleration performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting the torque reduction threshold distance and speed parameters based on obstacle type and vehicle state. For high obstacles, the threshold distance is set larger and speed threshold higher, enabling earlier torque reduction for safety. For low obstacles, the thresholds are smaller, allowing later torque reduction that preserves acceleration performance. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing the safety-performance tradeoff for each obstacle scenario.
3Productivity
If torque reduction conditions are relaxed to maintain acceleration, then vehicle responsiveness improves, but collision avoidance capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing different torque reduction conditions for different obstacle types. For low obstacles like wheel chocks during parking, the conditions are relaxed (smaller threshold distance and speed), allowing better acceleration performance and parking efficiency. For high obstacles like walls, the conditions are strict (larger threshold distance and speed), ensuring superior collision avoidance capability. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction between productivity and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An engine-torque suppression apparatus (101) of a vehicle (1, V) includes an obstacle detection unit (201, 202) configured to detect presence of an obstacle (OBS, OBS') in a traveling direction of the vehicle (1, V), an obstacle-height detection unit configured to detect height of the obstacle (OBS, OBS'), and an engine-torque suppression unit configured to reduce engine torque to be actually generated by an engine below torque corresponding to an accelerator opening under a predetermined condition when presence of the obstacle (OBS, OBS') is detected by the obstacle detection unit (201, 202). The engine-torque suppression unit differentiates a condition for reducing the engine torque depending on the height of the obstacle (OBS, OBS') detected by the obstacle-height detection unit.