Hybrid Powertrain Control Using Road-Sign Green Zone Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hybrid electric vehicles rely solely on navigation system information for recognizing green zones, leading to inaccurate detection and missed recognition due to low-definition or outdated maps, especially in child protection areas, resulting in inadequate preparation for reduced exhaust gas driving modes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an image-based road-sign recognition system that uses a control unit to determine entry into green zones by analyzing speed limit and road-sign type information, allowing for more accurate identification and control of driving modes, including switching to Electric Vehicle (EV) mode within green zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If navigation system information is used for recognizing green zones, then the system structure is simple, but the recognition accuracy is low due to low-definition or outdated maps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines navigation system information with image-based road-sign recognition information to determine green zone entries. This merging of multiple information sources compensates for the limitations of each individual system - navigation provides advance planning while real-time image recognition provides accurate, up-to-date detection of actual road conditions and signage, thereby improving overall recognition accuracy without relying solely on outdated maps
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes and integrates information from both the navigation system and the image-based recognition device. It reconciles the data from these two sources, using the image-based information to validate and supplement the navigation data, ensuring accurate green zone identification even when navigation maps are low-definition or outdated
2Reliability
If only navigation system information is used, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of green zone detection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing navigation system predictions with real-time image-based road-sign recognition results. When discrepancies are detected or to confirm green zone entries, the control unit uses the image-based information as feedback to validate the navigation data, thereby improving detection reliability through continuous verification against actual road conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit performs preliminary determination of green zone entries using navigation information, then prepares to verify this determination using image-based road-sign recognition. This preliminary action allows the system to have a ready hypothesis that can be quickly validated or corrected in real-time, improving reliability by having both advance planning and real-time verification capabilities
3Loss of time
If navigation system alone is used for path information, then the system is simple, but the response time to green zone entry is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains continuous monitoring of road conditions through image-based recognition while simultaneously processing navigation information. This continuous action ensures that the control unit always has current information about green zone entries, eliminating delays associated with waiting for navigation system updates or manual intervention, thereby reducing preparation time loss
Data Source
AI summary
A hybrid electric vehicle or a powertrain control method therefor controlling a powertrain with a more effective recognition of an entry into a low emission zone may include steps of: determining by use of image-based road-sign recognition information an entry into a zone in which an amount of exhaust gas is requested to be reduced; determining an average size for a type of the zone in case where the entry thereinto is determined by the control unit; and controlling a driving mode to be Electric Vehicle (EV) mode until it is determined based on the average size that the vehicle exists the zone.