Hybrid Engine Switching Timing for Target Stop Position
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driving assistance systems for hybrid vehicles face limitations in assisting vehicles to stop at a target position while improving fuel economy, requiring increased accelerator operation and having limited fuel economy improvements.
Innovation Solution
A driving assistance apparatus that includes an assistance control unit determining the engine's on/off state and a drive control unit to optimize engine switching, allowing the vehicle to coast to a target stopping position by calculating the timing and setting thresholds based on vehicle speed, deceleration, and battery state of charge, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is switched off to improve fuel economy, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle cannot reach the target stopping position without increasing accelerator operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates in advance whether the vehicle can reach the target stopping position by coasting from the current position, and determines the appropriate timing to switch the engine off before reaching the stopping position, allowing the vehicle to coast to the target position without requiring additional accelerator input from the driver
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is switched off earlier to improve fuel economy, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle may not be able to reach the target stopping position
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the current position, target stopping position, and vehicle speed, and dynamically adjusts the engine off timing based on whether the vehicle can reach the target position by coasting, ensuring reliable stopping while maximizing fuel economy
3Use of energy by moving object
If the engine switching threshold is set to a higher value to improve fuel economy, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the engine switches off at inappropriate timing affecting driving assistance quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the engine off threshold parameter based on the calculated distance to the target stopping position and current vehicle speed, rather than using a fixed threshold, allowing the engine to remain on when needed for proper driving assistance and switch off when safe to do so for fuel economy
Data Source
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AI summary
A driving assistance apparatus (1) includes an assistance control unit (50) determining an on/off state of an engine (5) and a drive control unit (54c) controlling driving of the engine (5) on the basis of the on/off state determined by the assistance control unit (50). The assistance control unit (50) determines whether a vehicle stops at a target stopping position, and carries out setting such that the engine (5) is more easily switched from the on state to the off state when the assistance control unit (50) determines to stop at the target stopping position and it is timing at which the vehicle is able to reach the target stopping position in a state where driving force is not generated.