Electric Vehicle Anti-Rollback Torque Control on Inclines

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles without torque converters face challenges in mitigating rollback on inclines due to insufficient torque response time and driveline oscillations, which affect driveability and stability.

Innovation Solution

A driveline controller implements a rollback control method using position and speed compensation to generate hold torque, adjusting torque based on vehicle position, speed, grade, and mass, with algorithms to distinguish between oscillations and actual rollback, and limits torque application to prevent driveline instability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If electric vehicles use motor-generators without torque converters, then efficiency is improved, but rollback control capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidrollback control capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies hold torque to the motor-generator before the vehicle actually rolls back, based on predictive algorithms that detect early signs of rollback tendency. This preliminary torque application prevents rollback before it occurs, compensating for the lack of torque converter cushioning effect while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system continuously monitors vehicle position, speed, and motor-generator torque, using this feedback to dynamically adjust hold torque application. The feedback loop enables real-time rollback control without requiring a torque converter, maintaining both efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If hold torque is applied to reduce rollback, then rollback is reduced, but driveline oscillations increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverollback reductionVSAvoiddriveline stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies only the minimum necessary hold torque to prevent rollback, rather than maximum torque. The control algorithm continuously modulates torque application to achieve just enough counteracting force, avoiding excessive torque that would cause driveline oscillations while still effectively preventing rollback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system applies hold torque in periodic pulses rather than continuous application, synchronizing with the driveline's natural oscillation frequency to minimize disturbance. This periodic torque application maintains rollback control while reducing driveline instability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If torque response time is increased to counter gravity on inclines, then rollback control improves, but driveline oscillations worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverollback controlVSAvoiddriveline oscillation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares hold torque application in advance based on predictive algorithms that detect incline conditions and vehicle state. By anticipating rollback tendency before it fully develops, the system can apply torque with optimal timing that prevents rollback without causing oscillations from delayed or excessive torque application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts torque response characteristics based on real-time vehicle conditions, incline angle, and driveline state. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize torque application timing and magnitude for each situation, achieving effective rollback control while minimizing driveline oscillations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4065441B1Electric drive vehicle with Anti-rollback control
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 CUMMINS INC
  • EP4065441B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4065441B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4065441B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of reducing rollback of a electric vehicle, including determining a position baseline of the electric vehicle; determining a position compensated speed of the electric vehicle based on the position baseline; determining a hold torque as a function of the position compensated speed; and generating a command to apply the hold torque to the motor-generator of the electric vehicle.