Predictive Brake Heating for Cold and Wet Stopping Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing brake systems face challenges in maintaining optimal performance, especially under adverse conditions such as cold and wet weather, leading to increased stopping distances and environmental particle emissions, and there is a need for predictive brake assistance to enhance safety and reduce unnecessary heating.
Innovation Solution
A brake system that integrates external condition sensors, brake performance sensors, and a control unit to assess threat levels and performance, autonomously heating brakes when necessary to maintain desired performance levels and reduce particle emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brakes are heated continuously to maintain optimal temperature, then brake performance is improved, but energy consumption increases and unnecessary particle emissions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs preliminary assessment of brake performance parameters (temperature, humidity, wear) and external conditions (weather, road surface, traffic) before initiating heating. This allows heating to be activated only when actually needed to maintain optimal performance, avoiding continuous energy consumption while ensuring reliability when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors brake performance parameters and external conditions, using this feedback to dynamically adjust heating activation. The control unit compares current performance levels against optimal thresholds and activates heating only when performance degradation is detected or predicted, creating a closed-loop control system that balances reliability with energy efficiency.
2Reliability
If brakes are heated in all weather conditions, then brake performance is maintained, but environmental particle emissions increase unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies heating selectively based on local conditions - activating only when specific performance parameters indicate need (cold temperature, high humidity, detected precipitation) rather than applying universally. This localized approach maintains performance where needed while avoiding unnecessary heating and particle emissions in conditions where brakes are already adequate.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit monitors changes in environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, precipitation detection) and brake parameters (temperature, wear level) to dynamically adjust heating activation. By responding to parameter changes rather than using fixed rules, the system maintains performance reliability while minimizing unnecessary heating events that would generate particle emissions.
3Reliability
If brake heating is activated early to ensure performance, then stopping distance is reduced, but energy is wasted when brakes are not needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary assessment of multiple parameters (brake temperature, humidity, external weather conditions, road surface friction, traffic situation) before activating heating. This comprehensive preliminary evaluation ensures heating is activated early enough to maintain optimal performance when actually needed, while avoiding premature activation that would waste energy in situations where brakes are already adequate.
4Reliability
If multiple sensors and predictive algorithms are integrated, then brake performance optimization is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions - monitoring brake performance parameters, detecting external conditions, predicting brake performance degradation, and controlling heating activation. By consolidating these functions in a single multi-functional control unit rather than separate dedicated systems, the patent achieves comprehensive brake optimization while minimizing system complexity.
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
Enhances brake performance by reducing stopping distances and minimizing environmental impact through targeted heating based on predictive analysis, ensuring brakes are ready for use when needed and conserving energy by avoiding unnecessary heating.
Implementation Method 1
a brake heating element integrated into the brake disc and arranged to heat the brake disc
Implementation Method 2
The heat can melt snow on the brakes and the water is thereafter evaporated such that the brake is heated and dry
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A method and a brake system (1) for controlling the brake performance of a vehicle (100) are disclosed, the brake system (1) comprises at least a brake (2), a control unit (3) connected to one or more external condition sensors (4), one or more brake performance sensors (5), the brake (2), and a driver assistance unit (10), wherein the external condition sensors (4) are configured to obtain parameters regarding conditions surrounding the vehicle (100), the brake performance sensors (5) are configured to obtain parameters regarding conditions of the brake (2), the driver assistance unit (10) is configured to monitor the surroundings of the vehicle (100) and estimate a probability value of that the brake (2) should be applied to avoid a collision. The control unit (3) is configured to receive the obtained parameters from the external condition sensors (4) and the estimated probability value from the driver assistance unit (10) and determine, based on said parameters and said probability value, a surrounding threat level of the vehicle (100), receive the obtained parameters from the brake performance sensors (5) and determine, based on said parameters, a brake performance level, and heat the at least one brake (2) if the brake performance level is below a first level and the surrounding threat level is above a second level.