Predictive Traction Control Using Road Surface Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles experience wheel spin on slippery road surfaces due to excessive motor torque, leading to instability, as traction control is only activated after wheel spin occurs, making it difficult to drive at the road-tire torque limit without wheel spin.
Innovation Solution
A predictive traction control system that utilizes road surface information, including sensors and cameras, to detect slippery conditions and proactively adjust driving motor speed and torque to prevent wheel spin by determining the driver's intent to accelerate and calculating target driving motor speed and torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If motor torque is increased to improve acceleration performance, then productivity is improved, but wheel spin occurs on slippery road surfaces causing stability loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of road surface conditions using sensors (camera, thermal imaging camera, lidar, photodetector) before acceleration occurs. When slippery conditions are detected, the predictive control unit pre-adjusts motor torque and calculates target driving motor speed to prevent wheel spin before it happens, allowing the vehicle to accelerate smoothly without exceeding road-tire torque limits
2Device complexity
If conventional traction control is activated only after wheel spin detection, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of time occurs during wheel spin prevention
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses road surface condition sensors to detect slippery conditions in advance and triggers predictive traction control before wheel spin occurs. The predictive control unit calculates target driving motor speed and torque based on detected conditions, eliminating the time delay associated with reactive wheel spin detection and correction
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors road surface conditions through sensors and feeds this information to the predictive control unit. The control unit adjusts motor torque in real-time based on feedback from road surface detection, creating a closed-loop system that prevents wheel spin while maintaining simple control architecture
3Reliability
If road surface detection sensors are added to enable predictive control, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs multiple types of sensors (camera, thermal imaging camera, lidar, photodetector) that can serve multiple functions. These sensors not only detect road surface conditions for traction control but can also provide information for navigation, obstacle detection, and other vehicle safety functions, thereby distributing the complexity across multiple system uses
Data Source
AI summary
A predictive traction control system may include: a road surface conditions information providing unit mounted on a vehicle driven by a driving motor, to detect and output an upstream road surface condition in a travelling direction of the vehicle; and a predictive control unit electrically connected to the road surface conditions information providing unit, determining an entry or release of the predictive traction control using information on road surface conditions input from the road surface conditions information providing unit, and calculating target driving motor speed for controlling the driving motor and transmitting the same.