EV Pedal Mapping Control for Off-Road Traction Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles (EVs) face challenges in off-roading due to differences in powertrain behavior compared to conventional vehicles, and the lack of sound feedback makes it difficult for drivers to determine vehicle operating conditions, necessitating innovative solutions for wheel slip and tractive force management.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle power system with multiple electric motors and controllers that adjust power distribution and accelerator pedal mapping in response to wheel slip or tractive force deviations, allowing for automatic steering and power modulation to maintain optimal traction without reducing mechanical power output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If EV powertrain behavior is used as-is, then the vehicle can operate in conventional conditions, but it performs poorly in off-road conditions due to different powertrain characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerator pedal mapping is dynamically adjusted based on detected wheel slip or tractive force conditions. The controller modifies the relationship between pedal position and motor power output in real-time, allowing the same pedal travel to correspond to different mechanical power outputs depending on off-road conditions, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining control reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the accelerator pedal mapping parameter responsive to wheel slip or tractive force being outside a preferred range. This parameter modification allows the vehicle to adapt to off-road conditions by adjusting how accelerator pedal travel translates to motor power, enhancing off-road capability without compromising control reliability
2Ease of operation
If the driver relies on sound feedback to determine vehicle operating conditions, then the driver can easily monitor vehicle status, but EVs generate little sound making this approach ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements electronic feedback through the controller that monitors wheel slip and tractive force conditions and adjusts accelerator pedal mapping accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism compensates for the lack of acoustic feedback by providing real-time operational information to the driver through modified pedal response characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the natural acoustic feedback mechanism with an electronic control system that modifies accelerator pedal mapping. The controller substitutes the passive acoustic information channel with an active electronic feedback system that adjusts power delivery based on sensor data, maintaining driver awareness of vehicle conditions without relying on sound
3Reliability
If accelerator pedal mapping is adjusted to reduce wheel slip, then traction is improved, but the mechanical power output changes which may affect vehicle performance
Solution Approach 1:
The accelerator pedal mapping parameter is changed to adjust the relationship between pedal position and motor power output. This allows the system to optimize traction by modifying power delivery characteristics while maintaining the ability to provide adequate mechanical power when needed, resolving the contradiction between traction control and power output
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle power system includes a motor, a battery, and one or more controllers. The motor is configured to propel the vehicle. The battery is configured to supply power to the motor. The one or more controllers are programmed to, responsive to detecting a wheel slip or a longitudinal tractive force being outside a preferred range, adjust an accelerator pedal mapping such that a same amount of accelerator pedal travel before the adjustment corresponds to an amount of mechanical power output by the motor that is different than an amount of mechanical power output by the motor after the adjustment.