Vehicle Platoon Control Aerodynamic Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle platoon control systems face challenges in achieving improved fuel efficiency and collision mitigation, as they struggle to effectively coordinate the operation of multiple vehicles to reduce fuel consumption and enhance safety while maintaining efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vehicle platoon control system that utilizes a combination of on-board and off-board electronic control systems, including vehicle electronic control units (ECUs) and a vehicle platoon controller (VPC), which uses sensor data and communication networks to adjust the power and performance characteristics of vehicles in a platoon, optimizing fuel efficiency and safety through coordinated acceleration, braking, and aerodynamic adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If vehicles in a platoon travel in close proximity to improve fuel efficiency through aerodynamic benefits, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the risk of vehicle collision increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the separation distance between vehicles in the platoon based on real-time conditions such as vehicle speed, acceleration, and environmental factors. This allows the platoon to maintain optimal aerodynamic efficiency while ensuring sufficient safety margins to prevent collisions, resolving the contradiction between fuel efficiency and collision risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors the relative positions, speeds, and accelerations of all vehicles in the platoon, and adjusts each vehicle's powertrain output accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that vehicles maintain safe distances while maximizing aerodynamic benefits, thereby reducing fuel consumption without increasing collision risk.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the platoon maintains tight formation to maximize aerodynamic efficiency, then fuel efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines the control functions of multiple vehicles into a unified platoon management system that coordinates acceleration, braking, and speed adjustments across all vehicles. This merging of control functions simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving the fuel efficiency benefits of tight formation through centralized coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic control system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it manages aerodynamic coordination, monitors collision risks, adjusts powertrain output, and communicates with all vehicles in the platoon. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby managing complexity while maintaining fuel efficiency.
3Device complexity
If vehicles operate independently to simplify control systems, then device complexity is reduced, but fuel efficiency decreases due to loss of aerodynamic benefits
Solution Approach 1:
Each vehicle in the platoon is equipped with its own electronic control system that independently manages its powertrain based on platoon conditions. This self-service approach allows vehicles to operate autonomously while still benefiting from aerodynamic coordination, reducing the need for complex centralized control while maintaining fuel efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables vehicles in a platoon to operate with reduced fuel consumption and increased efficiency by optimizing aerodynamic performance and powertrain efficiency, while maintaining safety through dynamic adjustments and predictive cruise control, thereby improving overall platoon performance.
Implementation Method 1
determine in-platoon aerodynamic loading values for each of the plurality of vehicles
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control system is configured to control operation of a platoon including a plurality of vehicles. The electronic control system may be configured one or more of operate each of the vehicles to provide operation emulating the lowest non-platooning vehicle performance capability among the plurality of vehicles of the platoon, operate an individualized predictive cruise control (IPCC) process for each of the vehicles and a corresponding supervisory safety process for the platoon, and operate a cooperative predictive cruise control (CPCC) process for each of the vehicles and a corresponding supervisory safety process for the platoon.