Predictive Gear Shift Control Using Future Trajectory Data

Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles, particularly large trucks, face challenges in optimizing gear shifts due to the absence of a well-optimized transmission controller, leading to improper manipulation of gear shifts and torque, resulting in diminished acceleration, increased fuel consumption, and potential engine or transmission damage.

Innovation Solution

A computing system uses sensor data to determine future trajectory needs and decides whether to perform a gear shift based on upcoming navigation scenarios, optimizing gear changes to adapt to dynamic environmental conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If gear shifts are performed based on traditional control methods without future trajectory information, then the transmission controller operates with limited data, but this leads to improper manipulation of gear shifts and torque, resulting in diminished acceleration and increased fuel consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveacceleration performanceVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of upcoming navigation scenarios using sensor data to predict future trajectory requirements. By determining optimal gear shifts in advance based on predicted acceleration or speed needs, the system prepares the transmission controller to execute precise gear changes at the right moments, thereby improving acceleration performance while avoiding unnecessary gear shifts that waste fuel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If traditional transmission control is used without future trajectory prediction, then the system is simpler to implement, but this results in improper manipulation of gear shifts and potential engine or transmission damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengine and transmission protectionVSAvoidtransmission control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of upcoming navigation scenarios using sensor data to predict future trajectory requirements. By determining optimal gear shifts in advance based on predicted acceleration or speed needs, the system prepares the transmission controller to execute precise gear changes at the right moments, thereby improving acceleration performance while avoiding unnecessary gear shifts that waste fuel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously receives sensor data representing the vehicle's environment and compares predicted future trajectory needs with current gear status. This feedback loop allows the transmission controller to adjust gear shift timing dynamically, ensuring optimal protection of engine and transmission components while adapting to changing driving conditions without requiring overly complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If gear shifts are performed frequently to maintain optimal speed, then speed control improves, but this increases fuel consumption and causes sudden acceleration changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed control precisionVSAvoidfuel efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of upcoming navigation scenarios using sensor data to predict future trajectory requirements. By determining optimal gear shifts in advance based on predicted acceleration or speed needs, the system prepares the transmission controller to execute precise gear changes at the right moments, thereby improving acceleration performance while avoiding unnecessary gear shifts that waste fuel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of performing gear shifts at every possible opportunity to maintain speed, the system applies partial action by selecting only those gear shifts that are truly necessary based on predicted future trajectory needs. This selective approach maintains adequate speed control precision while significantly reducing unnecessary gear changes that would consume fuel and cause sudden acceleration variations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250214597A1Methods and Systems for Controlling Gear Shifts based on Future Trajectory Information

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 WAYMO LLC

AI summary

Example embodiments relate to controlling gear shifts based on future trajectory information. A vehicle computing system may receive sensor data representing an environment of the vehicle during autonomous navigation of a path and determine, based on the sensor data, the vehicle is approaching a predefined situation positioned along the path. The computing system may then estimate a future acceleration or speed associated with navigation of the predefined situation by the vehicle. The computing system may determine, based on the future acceleration or speed and a current acceleration of the vehicle, whether to perform a gear shift prior to navigation of the predefined situation by the vehicle, and control the vehicle based on determining whether to perform the gear shift prior to navigation of the predefined situation.