Platooning Control System Limit Deceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
In platooning vehicles, the uncertainty in maximum deceleration of individual vehicles due to varying load, trailer configurations, and environmental conditions complicates safe coordination, particularly in emergency braking situations, leading to potential rear-end collisions when vehicles brake with their individual maximum deceleration.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a platooning control system that limits vehicle deceleration to a 'limit deceleration' when certain criteria are met, ensuring all vehicles can implement at least this limit deceleration, thus preventing excessive braking and ensuring safe operation, with the limit deceleration defined as a function of the legal minimum deceleration and adjusted by a safety factor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If vehicles brake with their individual maximum deceleration in emergency braking situations, then the braking distance is minimized, but rear-end collisions occur when the leading vehicle has higher maximum deceleration than following vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the deceleration parameter from individual maximum deceleration to a common limit deceleration that is assumed to be achievable by all vehicles in the platoon. This parameter change ensures that following vehicles can match the deceleration of the leading vehicle, preventing rear-end collisions while still maintaining effective emergency braking capability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If target distances between vehicles are reduced to save fuel and optimize platoon coordination, then fuel consumption is reduced, but safe operation cannot be guaranteed when maximum deceleration is unknown or varies between vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a common limit deceleration value in advance that is assumed to be achievable by all vehicles in the platoon. This preliminary determination of deceleration capability allows the system to safely reduce target distances between vehicles, optimizing fuel consumption while maintaining safety through coordinated braking based on the pre-established limit deceleration.
3Measurement precision
If maximum deceleration is determined precisely through repeated daily full brake tests, then accurate braking capability information is obtained, but the complexity and impracticality of the testing procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex and resource-intensive repeated daily full brake tests with a simplified approach that uses a common limit deceleration value assumed to be achievable by all vehicles. This substitution eliminates the need for frequent expensive testing while still providing sufficient accuracy for safe platoon operation.
4Use of energy by moving object
If vehicles coordinate with each other via wireless communication to maintain short intervals, then fuel consumption is reduced through reduced air resistance, but coordination becomes difficult when maximum deceleration is not known or only known imprecisely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the coordination parameter from individual maximum deceleration values to a common limit deceleration that all vehicles in the platoon can achieve. This parameter standardization simplifies wireless communication and coordination between vehicles, allowing them to maintain short intervals and optimize fuel consumption without the complexity of exchanging and reconciling individual deceleration capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for setting a vehicle deceleration (a1, a2, a3) of a vehicle (1, 2, 3) driving in a platoon (100), wherein the vehicle (1, 2, 3) is a guide vehicle (X) or a following vehicle (Y) driving indirectly or directly thereafter, wherein in the event of a platoon mode, a predefined target distance (D12Soll, D23Soll) is set - between the vehicle (1) as guide vehicle (X) and the following vehicle (Y) driving directly thereafter, or - between the vehicle (2, 3) as following vehicle (Y) and the guide vehicle (X) driving directly in front thereof and at least one further following vehicle (Y) driving directly behind the vehicle (2, 3). According to the invention, the vehicle deceleration (a1, a2, a3) of the vehicle (1, 2, 3) as the guide vehicle (X) or following vehicle (Y) is limited to a limit deceleration if a limiting criterion is met.