Electric Vehicle Torque Control for Obstacle Clearance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electric vehicles face challenges in safely and reliably controlling the process of overcoming low-level obstacles due to sudden torque buildup and delayed driver reaction, leading to potential collisions and thermal overloading.

Innovation Solution

A method that automatically detects the overcoming of obstacles by evaluating electric motor load parameters, such as motor current consumption, and initiates a reduction in torque or braking to ensure smooth and controlled movement, using a control device that integrates with existing tire pressure monitoring systems and sensor technologies to adapt to specific conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If high torque is transmitted to the wheels to overcome the obstacle, then the obstacle can be cleared, but the vehicle accelerates forward with a jerk and may reach excessively high speed

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetorqueVSAvoidvehicle speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The control device detects the overcoming of the obstacle by evaluating motor parameters before the vehicle completes the maneuver, and preemptively reduces torque or applies braking to prevent excessive speed, rather than waiting for the speed issue to manifest

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors motor parameters (current consumption, temperature) to detect when the obstacle has been overcome, and uses this feedback to automatically adjust torque transmission and apply braking, creating a closed-loop control system that prevents the harmful speed buildup

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Force

If the driver manually controls the starting process with accelerator pedal and clutch, then high torque can be transmitted with little slip, but the driver must react quickly to avoid collision

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetorqueVSAvoidcollision risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device autonomously monitors motor parameters, detects obstacle overcoming, and executes torque reduction or braking without driver intervention, making the system self-regulating and eliminating the reaction time delay inherent in manual control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces the mechanical manual control system (driver-operated accelerator and clutch) with an electronic control system that automatically monitors motor parameters and adjusts torque transmission, substituting human reaction with automated electronic detection and control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Force

If high torque builds up to overcome the obstacle, then the obstacle can be cleared, but thermal overloading of the electric drive machine may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetorqueVSAvoiddrive machine temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The control device detects the overcoming of the obstacle by evaluating motor parameters before thermal damage occurs, and preemptively reduces torque to prevent thermal overloading, rather than waiting for temperature to reach dangerous levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors motor parameters including current consumption and temperature, and uses this feedback to automatically adjust torque transmission, creating a closed-loop control that prevents thermal overloading by reducing torque when the obstacle is overcome

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2750950B1Method for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP2750950B1 patent drawingFigure 1~1f
  • EP2750950B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP2750950B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for assisting a driver of a motor vehicle, in particular of an electric vehicle, during a driving process for overcoming an obstacle which is close to the ground and has a slow speed. In this context, the method has the following steps: transmission (S1) of a torque to the wheels which are to be driven in order to overcome the obstacle, detection (S6) that the obstacle has been overcome, and automatic reduction in the torque and/or automatic generation (S7) of a braking torque in order to decelerate the motor vehicle directly after the detection.