EV Control Using Real-Time Traffic and Driver-Specific Driving Cycles

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric vehicle control systems fail to optimize energy consumption due to inaccurate driving cycles that do not account for real-time traffic conditions and driver characteristics, leading to increased battery losses and reduced range and lifespan.

Innovation Solution

A control system that synthesizes driver-route-traffic-specific driving cycles to optimize HVAC and propulsive power demands, using reduced-order models and real-time traffic data to predict future power demands and adjust HVAC operations accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional driving cycles (UDDS, US06) are used to evaluate BEV control strategies, then standardized evaluation is achieved, but real-world accuracy and performance optimization are compromised due to lack of real-time traffic conditions and driver characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-world driving scenario accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary synthesis of driver-route-traffic-specific driving cycles using microscopic traffic flow models before actual vehicle operation. By pre-processing traffic data and driver characteristics to generate customized velocity profiles, the system prepares accurate reference cycles that reflect real-world conditions, thereby improving measurement precision without adding operational complexity during vehicle execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adapts driving cycles by incorporating real-time traffic conditions and driver characteristics. Instead of using static conventional cycles, the system continuously updates velocity profiles based on current traffic flow data and observed driver behavior, enabling the evaluation system to remain accurate across varying real-world scenarios while maintaining a standardized evaluation framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If HVAC power demand is increased to meet thermal comfort requirements, then passenger comfort is improved, but battery energy consumption increases and range is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal comfortVSAvoidbattery energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary synthesis of driver-route-traffic-specific driving cycles using microscopic traffic flow models before actual vehicle operation. By pre-processing traffic data and driver characteristics to generate customized velocity profiles, the system prepares accurate reference cycles that reflect real-world conditions, thereby improving measurement precision without adding operational complexity during vehicle execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adapts driving cycles by incorporating real-time traffic conditions and driver characteristics. Instead of using static conventional cycles, the system continuously updates velocity profiles based on current traffic flow data and observed driver behavior, enabling the evaluation system to remain accurate across varying real-world scenarios while maintaining a standardized evaluation framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Power

If simultaneous peaks of propulsive power demand and HVAC power demand occur, then immediate power requirements are met, but battery losses increase and thermal management system stress increases potentially shortening battery lifespan

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower delivery capabilityVSAvoidbattery lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary synthesis of driver-route-traffic-specific driving cycles using microscopic traffic flow models before actual vehicle operation. By pre-processing traffic data and driver characteristics to generate customized velocity profiles, the system prepares accurate reference cycles that reflect real-world conditions, thereby improving measurement precision without adding operational complexity during vehicle execution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adapts driving cycles by incorporating real-time traffic conditions and driver characteristics. Instead of using static conventional cycles, the system continuously updates velocity profiles based on current traffic flow data and observed driver behavior, enabling the evaluation system to remain accurate across varying real-world scenarios while maintaining a standardized evaluation framework

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS20260054578A1Systems and methods for controlling electric vehicles based on real-time traffic information and driver characteristics

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC RESEARCH LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

A method for controlling an electric vehicle (EV) comprises obtaining a set of models corresponding to functional components, mobility components, and thermal components of the EV. Physical state data of the EV and a driver command input corresponding to a functional component is collected. The method further comprises generating driving cycle data for the EV, based on the physical state data and determining operating points of at least one mobility component, based on the driving cycle data. Each operating point of the plurality of operating points is parameterized by a desired torque and speed of the EV. The method further comprises generating a set of control commands for the functional component, based on the plurality of operating points, the set of models stored in the memory, and the driver command input and controlling the functional component, based on the set of control commands.