Platooning Speed and Distance Control for Fuel Economy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle platooning systems do not effectively optimize fuel economy by considering driving speed and road gradient, leading to suboptimal fuel efficiency during autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle platooning control system that sets a target speed for maximum fuel economy and adjusts separation distance based on driving speed and road gradient, using a processor-implemented method to control vehicle driving, including a monitor for generating fuel economy data and a braking strategy setter for compensated deceleration during abrupt braking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the platooning group maintains a fixed separation distance and speed, then the control system is simple to operate, but fuel economy is not optimized considering driving speed and road gradient
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the separation distance between vehicles in the platooning group based on real-time driving speed and road gradient data. Instead of maintaining a fixed distance, the system calculates optimal separation distances that vary with operating conditions, thereby optimizing fuel economy while adapting to changing environmental factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key operational parameters (separation distance and driving speed) based on monitored conditions such as road gradient and vehicle speed. By continuously adjusting these parameters rather than maintaining fixed values, the system achieves improved fuel economy through adaptive control that responds to real-time environmental variations.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the separation distance is reduced to improve fuel economy, then energy efficiency increases, but safety is compromised during abrupt braking events
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-calculates and prepares optimal separation distances based on predicted braking scenarios and road gradients. By anticipating potential abrupt braking events and adjusting separation distances in advance, the system ensures safety margins are maintained while still optimizing fuel economy during normal driving conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors driving conditions, vehicle speed, and road gradient, using this feedback to dynamically adjust separation distances. This closed-loop control ensures that when abrupt braking is detected or anticipated, the separation distance is automatically increased to maintain safety, while during stable conditions, the distance is optimized for fuel efficiency.
3Productivity
If the target speed is increased to improve productivity, then the platooning group moves faster, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the target speed parameter based on real-time road gradient and fuel economy data. Instead of maintaining a constant high speed for productivity, the system dynamically adjusts speed to match optimal fuel economy conditions, thereby achieving a balance between productivity and energy efficiency that adapts to varying road conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a vehicle platooning control apparatus including a vehicle speed setter configured to set a target speed of a platooning group based on driving-speed-based fuel economy data of a vehicle included in the platooning group, a distance setter configured to set a separation distance between the vehicle and a preceding vehicle based on the target speed set by the vehicle speed setter, and a driving controller configured to control driving of the vehicle based on the target speed set by the vehicle speed setter or the separation distance set by the distance setter.