Fleet Engine Control Using Shared Operating Data for Variable Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern engine control units for internal combustion engines struggle to effectively consider real environmental conditions, such as varying fuel quality, air pressure, humidity, and ambient temperature, which can lead to suboptimal engine performance in unpredictable environments.
Innovation Solution
An engine control unit that communicates with other units in a fleet vehicle network to share and compare engine operating data sets, allowing for the adaptation of control variables based on environmental parameters, using a data interface unit for wireless data exchange and a selection unit to optimize control schemes for improved torque response, fuel consumption, and exhaust gas composition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a universal control scheme is stored in the engine control unit, then stable acceptable results are achieved for different environmental parameters, but the control cannot effectively adapt to real varying environmental conditions such as fuel quality, air pressure, humidity, and ambient temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The engine control unit receives feedback from other control units in the fleet vehicle about their control variables and operating conditions. This feedback mechanism allows the control unit to learn from actual environmental conditions experienced by other vehicles and adapt its control scheme accordingly, resolving the contradiction between universal stability and environmental adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit proactively adjusts control variables based on predicted environmental conditions by learning from historical data and patterns from other fleet vehicles. This preliminary adaptation allows the engine to be pre-configured for upcoming environmental changes, improving reliability before the actual conditions occur
2Adaptability or versatility
If control variables are adjusted individually based on local environmental conditions, then adaptability to specific conditions improves, but the system lacks the ability to leverage data from similar environments in other fleet vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit merges its local environmental data with data from other fleet vehicle control units to create a comprehensive environmental profile. This combination allows the system to maintain individual adaptability while preventing information loss by aggregating fleet-wide environmental intelligence
Solution Approach 2:
The control scheme serves multiple functions: it operates as a universal baseline controller while simultaneously adapting to individual environmental conditions and learning from fleet-wide data. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between individual adaptation and information utilization
3Device complexity
If the control unit uses a fixed control scheme, then device complexity is minimized, but the system cannot optimize control variables for varying environmental parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The control scheme transitions from a static fixed configuration to a dynamic adaptive system that automatically adjusts control variables based on environmental conditions and learned patterns from fleet data. This dynamic approach maintains relative simplicity while significantly improving engine efficiency through automated adaptation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an engine control unit (1, 1′) for an internal combustion engine of a fleet vehicle (2, 2′) in a vehicle fleet with at least two fleet vehicles (2, 2′) with a control unit (3, 3), which is configured for setting control variables based on measured variables according to a control scheme stored in the engine control unit (1, 1′); and with a data interface unit (4, 4′), which is configured to transmit respective engine operating data sets to/from another engine control unit (1, 1′) of a respective drive internal combustion engine of at least one other fleet vehicle (2, 2′); wherein the control unit (3, 3′) is configured to set the control variables while considering at least one engine operating data set of the other engine control unit(s) (1, 1′) received via the data interface unit (4, 4′), in order to provide an improved control for the internal combustion engine.