Predictive Curve Speed Control for Smooth Vehicle Deceleration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing curve speed controllers in vehicles are reactive, commanding high levels of deceleration upon entering a curve, leading to occupant discomfort and wear on vehicle components, as they fail to predict curves ahead of time.
Innovation Solution
A controller that processes sensor data to generate a route representation, predicts curves, and adjusts vehicle speed proactively by generating virtual targets and commands to follow or maintain distance from these targets, using engine torque and brake pressure adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the curve speed controller commands high levels of deceleration upon entering a curve, then the vehicle speed is reduced in time, but occupant comfort deteriorates and wear on vehicle components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting curves ahead of the vehicle using road profile sensors and analyzing route data before the vehicle enters the curve. The controller calculates appropriate deceleration commands in advance and begins reducing vehicle speed before curve entry, rather than reacting after lateral acceleration exceeds a threshold. This preliminary speed reduction eliminates the need for high-level deceleration commands during curve entry, thereby maintaining occupant comfort while still achieving timely speed reduction.
2Ease of operation
If the curve speed controller is reactive and detects lateral acceleration exceeding a threshold, then the vehicle deceleration is commanded in response to curve entry, but the deceleration occurs too late for smooth speed control
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses road profile sensors and route analysis to detect curves ahead of the vehicle before the driver or existing sensors perceive the curve through lateral acceleration. The controller proactively calculates and executes speed reduction commands in advance of curve entry, eliminating the time delay inherent in reactive systems that wait for lateral acceleration thresholds to be exceeded.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary detection mechanism (road profile sensors and route analysis) that mediates between the vehicle's current state and the upcoming curve conditions. This intermediary system provides advance notice of curve geometry and allows the controller to plan smooth deceleration profiles, rather than directly reacting to lateral acceleration changes that occur only when the vehicle is already in the curve.
3Measurement precision
If the vehicle quickly enters a curve with a small radius, then the curve speed controller detects high lateral acceleration, but high levels of deceleration are commanded causing discomfort and wear
Solution Approach 1:
For quick entries into small-radius curves, the system's preliminary detection capability is particularly valuable. Road profile sensors and route analysis identify tight curves ahead of time, allowing the controller to calculate and execute gradual deceleration profiles before the vehicle enters the curve. This prevents the situation where high lateral acceleration is detected only after the vehicle is already in the curve, which would trigger high-level deceleration commands and cause discomfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the deceleration profile based on the detected curve characteristics (radius, length, severity). For small-radius curves, the controller calculates an appropriate deceleration rate that achieves the required speed reduction without causing abrupt changes. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to handle varying curve conditions optimally, maintaining comfort even in challenging quick-entry scenarios.
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 occupant comfort and prolongs component life by reducing abrupt decelerations through predictive speed control, maintaining smooth vehicle operation.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more sensors includes a radar sensor and classifying each target as stationary or moving includes classifying each target based on a Doppler shift of the target
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for a motor vehicle includes an electronic processor configured to receive sensor data from one or more sensors, process the sensor data to generate targets indicative of objects around the motor vehicle, plot the targets on a coordinate system representing space around the motor vehicle, generate a representation of a route ahead of the vehicle based on the plotted targets, analyze the representation of the route to determine whether a curve in a road is present ahead of the motor vehicle, and generate an instruction to reduce a speed of the motor vehicle in response to determining that the curve is present.