Friction Coefficient Determination Using Vehicle Moisture Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining the coefficient of friction on a passable supporting surface require additional specialized sensors, which occupy space and incur costs, and may not provide accurate or timely measurements.
Innovation Solution
The method utilizes existing sensors on an ego vehicle to acquire data on moisture levels, such as spray and swirled-up snow, and combines this with secondary data like friction coefficients from other systems and weather information to determine the coefficient of friction using a database, allowing for accurate and rapid determination without additional hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional specialized sensors are installed to determine the coefficient of friction, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using existing vehicle sensors (designed for other purposes such as detecting spray or swirled-up snow) for the additional function of determining the coefficient of friction. This allows the same sensor to serve multiple functions, eliminating the need for specialized friction measurement sensors while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's existing sensor system serves itself by automatically utilizing available sensor data (moisture level measurements from spray or snow sensors) to determine the coefficient of friction without requiring external specialized equipment. The system leverages data already being collected for other vehicle functions.
2Measurement precision
If additional specialized sensors are installed to determine the coefficient of friction, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By designing the sensor system to perform multiple functions, the patent eliminates the need for additional specialized sensors, thereby reducing vehicle production costs while maintaining the capability to accurately determine the coefficient of friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing sensor system provides the friction measurement capability as a self-service function, utilizing data already being collected during normal vehicle operation, which avoids additional manufacturing costs for specialized equipment.
3Reliability
If moisture level data is acquired and validated using multiple data sources, then reliability of friction determination is improved, but loss of time in data processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using multiple data sources (spray sensors, snow sensors, weather data) to validate and cross-check moisture level measurements. This feedback mechanism ensures the reliability of the friction determination by comparing data from different sources and confirming consistency before final calculation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and device for determining a coefficient of friction of a passable supporting surface with the aid of an ego vehicle, including a step of acquiring first data values, which represent a moisture level in the surrounding area of the ego vehicle, a step of checking the plausibility of the acquired, first data values by comparison with at least one second data value, and a step of determining third data values, which represent the coefficient of friction of the passable supporting surface; the determination taking place as a function of the plausibility check of the first data values, using the at least one second data value.