Mobile Working Machine Gearshift Control With Virtual Position Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile working machines with multi-stage transmissions experience abrupt changes in speed and torque during gear shifts due to abrupt changes in the tractive force function, leading to undesirable acceleration or deceleration, and using a single tractive force function for all gears results in low control resolution or unattainable maximum speeds.

Innovation Solution

Implement a virtual control element position that maps the real control element position to a torque and speed, using transition functions to maintain consistent speed and torque during gear shifts, allowing for optimal control resolution and smooth transitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a single tractive force function is used for all gear ratios, then the control element resolution is reduced and maximum speed cannot be achieved, but using multiple tractive force functions causes abrupt changes in torque and speed during gear shifts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol element resolutionVSAvoidabrupt speed change during gear shift
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the control element position range into multiple segments, each associated with a specific gear ratio. The virtual position mapping function segments the continuous control input into gear-specific ranges, allowing each gear to have its own optimized tractive force function while maintaining smooth transitions through virtual position continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a virtual control element position as an intermediary between the real control element position and the tractive force function selection. This virtual position acts as a mediator that maps real positions to gear-appropriate virtual positions, enabling smooth gear transitions without abrupt torque changes while preserving full control resolution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If multiple tractive force functions are used for different gear ratios, then maximum speed can be achieved and control resolution is maintained, but abrupt changes in torque occur during gear shifts causing acceleration or deceleration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaximum speedVSAvoidspeed stability during gear shift
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary mapping of the real control element position to a virtual position before selecting the tractive force function. This preliminary virtual position calculation ensures that when gear ratios change, the virtual position transitions smoothly, preventing abrupt torque changes and maintaining speed stability during gear shifts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from direct real control element position to a transformed virtual position parameter. This parameter transformation allows the system to maintain multiple gear-specific tractive force functions while ensuring continuous, smooth transitions during gear shifts, thereby maintaining speed stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the control element position is directly mapped to torque without virtual position, then the system is simple, but control resolution is lost during gear transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidcontrol resolution during gear shift
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the control element position that is gear-specific. Instead of directly using the real control element position, the system generates a virtual position copy that is mapped according to the current gear ratio, preserving control resolution during gear transitions while adding minimal computational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4513063B1Method for operating a mobile working machine, computing unit and mobile working machine
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP4513063B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4513063B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4513063B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for operating a mobile working machine (100), wherein the mobile working machine has a drive (110) with a transmission (116) having at least two different selectable transmission stages (G1, G2), and a control element (120), comprising, when a transmission stage change occurs: providing or determining (200) a real control element position (FR) existing before the change, as well as a speed (v) of the mobile working machine existing before the change and/or a torque (M) to be set based on the previous control element position and the previous traction function before the change;Determine (210), based on the current traction force function (ZF2), an equivalent value (FA) of the control element position such that the torque to be set resulting from the equivalent value (FA) and the current traction force function (ZF2) corresponds to the torque to be set before the change, and/or such that the velocity resulting from the equivalent value and the current traction force function corresponds to the velocity present before the change.