Vehicle Powertrain Freewheeling With Predictive Engine Restart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional internal combustion engine vehicles consume unnecessary fuel and emit excess emissions due to continuous operation during idling and inactivity, and existing stop-and-start systems face challenges in predicting safe engine restarts under varying road conditions.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that selectively operates the powertrain in a freewheeling mode by predicting road conditions using restarting conditions based on vehicle weight and drive axle load to ensure safe and efficient engine restarts, disconnecting the engine from drive wheels when conditions are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the engine operates continuously, then the vehicle can maintain readiness for immediate acceleration, but fuel consumption increases and emissions are generated during idle periods
Solution Approach 1:
The engine operates periodically rather than continuously - shutting off during idle periods (stop phase) and restarting when needed (start phase). This periodic operation eliminates fuel consumption during idle while maintaining readiness through predictive restart capabilities based on detected driving conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is shut off during idle, then fuel consumption is reduced, but the vehicle cannot respond immediately to acceleration demands
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of driving conditions and predicts when acceleration will be needed. By anticipating the need for acceleration before it occurs, the system can restart the engine in advance, ensuring immediate response capability while maximizing the duration of engine-off periods for fuel savings.
3Reliability
If the engine restarts using the clutch on high friction roads, then engine restart can be achieved, but excessive braking occurs causing poor comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors vehicle parameters including total weight and compares them against thresholds to predict road friction conditions. When high friction conditions are detected, the system changes the restart parameter by using the starter motor instead of the clutch, thereby avoiding excessive braking and maintaining passenger comfort while ensuring reliable engine restart.
4Reliability
If the engine restarts using the clutch on low friction roads, then engine restart can be achieved, but excessive wheel slip occurs causing safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects low friction road conditions by monitoring drive axle load and comparing against thresholds. When low friction is detected, it changes the restart method parameter from clutch-based to starter motor-based, thereby preventing excessive wheel slip and associated safety hazards while maintaining reliable engine restart capability.
5Use of energy by moving object
If advanced predictive algorithms are implemented, then fuel savings and emissions reduction are increased, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's existing sensors and onboard computer to perform predictive analysis and control decisions. By leveraging already-available data sources (vehicle speed, acceleration requests, engine parameters) and existing processing capabilities, the system achieves advanced predictive functionality without requiring separate dedicated sensors or complex external systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system for controls a powertrain system of a vehicle. The computer system has processing circuitry to operate the powertrain system in a freewheeling mode, in which an output shaft of an engine is non-rotating, and the engine is disconnected from one or more drive wheels. The processing circuitry determines an opportunity for the freewheeling mode by predicting a feasibility of restarting the engine along an intended route by using a controllable clutch. Predicting the feasibility of restarting the engine by using the controllable clutch includes determining fulfillment of any one of a first restarting condition and a second restarting condition. The powertrain system is controlled into the freewheeling mode upon the fulfillment of any one of the first restarting condition and the second restarting condition.