Off-Road Speed Control Using Surface-Responsive Torque Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems struggle to effectively manage propulsive and braking torque in off-road driving situations, particularly when encountering varying surface types, which can lead to loss of traction and vehicle stalling.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that includes a mode selector for enabling an off-road driving assistance mode, a torque control module to manage propulsive and braking torque based on a target speed, and a sensor network to provide tractive information for modifying the torque control module's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If automated trail control feature is enabled to manage propulsive and braking torque, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates on unsuitable surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the control mode based on detected surface conditions. The trail control feature is selectively enabled or disabled according to real-time tractive information from sensors, allowing the system to adapt its degree of automation to match the current operating environment's suitability
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensor networks that continuously monitor tractive information and feed this data back to the controller. This feedback loop enables the system to detect when surface conditions are unsuitable for automated control and respond by modifying the torque control module's operation or disabling the feature entirely
2Ease of operation
If trail control manages both propulsive and braking torque automatically, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to different surface types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static automated control approach to a dynamic one that continuously adapts to different surface types. By using sensor data to detect surface characteristics, the system can modify its control strategy in real-time, enabling it to handle diverse terrains from paved roads to loose gravel to slippery surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters based on surface type detection. When unsuitable surfaces are detected, the controller modifies torque requests, adjusts control aggressiveness, or switches control modes to better match the physical characteristics of the current surface, thereby improving adaptability across different terrain types
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system may include a mode selector for enabling selection of an operating mode of the vehicle among a plurality of selectable operating modes, where at least one of the selectable operating modes includes an off-road driving assistance mode that controls propulsive torque and braking torque application when the off-road driving assistance mode is active. The system may further include a torque control module to generate both a propulsive torque request and a braking torque request based on a target speed set in association with the off-road driving assistance mode, a sensor network operably coupled to components of the vehicle to obtain tractive information associated with an operating context of the vehicle, and a controller operably coupled to the sensor network to receive the tractive information and modify operation of the torque control module responsive to the tractive information indicating a trigger event.