Autonomous Pulse and Glide Control for Adaptive Fuel Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pulse and glide strategies for improving vehicle fuel economy are inefficient in adapting to various traffic situations and require enhanced implementation methods to optimize fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system incorporating a strategy control module, autonomous-mode controller, radar control module, powertrain control module, steering control module, and inter-vehicle communication module to dynamically adjust acceleration and deceleration based on lead and trailing vehicle speeds, lane availability, and communication with other autonomous vehicles to optimize pulse and glide modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a vehicle uses traditional pulse and glide strategy to improve fuel economy, then fuel efficiency is improved, but the system cannot adapt to various traffic situations effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The pulse and glide system dynamically adjusts acceleration and deceleration based on real-time traffic conditions, lead vehicle speed, trailing vehicle speed, and lane availability. The controller continuously monitors environmental parameters and modifies the pulse and glide strategy accordingly, transforming a static fuel-saving approach into a dynamic adaptive system that responds to changing traffic situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates multiple sensors including radar control modules that detect lead and trailing vehicles, providing continuous feedback about traffic conditions. This feedback loop enables the controller to adjust the pulse and glide strategy in real-time based on actual traffic situations, resolving the contradiction between fuel efficiency and adaptability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a vehicle accelerates to maximum target speed and then glides to minimum target speed, then fuel economy is improved, but the system complexity increases with multiple control modules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple control functions including strategy control, autonomous-mode control, radar control, powertrain control, steering control, and braking control into a coordinated pulse and glide system. These previously separate control modules are merged and synchronized to work together, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining fuel economy benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it manages pulse and glide strategy, monitors traffic conditions via radar, controls powertrain acceleration and deceleration, manages lane changes, and coordinates with other vehicles. This multi-functional controller reduces the need for separate dedicated systems, thereby reducing device complexity while achieving fuel economy goals.
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
The system effectively improves fuel efficiency by dynamically adjusting vehicle speed and lane changes based on real-time traffic conditions, enhancing fuel savings in traffic situations.
Implementation Method 1
a radar control module that detects a speed of the lead vehicle and a speed of the trailing vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
An autonomous pulse and glide system and method are disclosed. Pulse and glide is a fuel savings strategy that pulses a host vehicle to a maximum target speed and glides to a minimum target speed. Where the host vehicle detects that a lead vehicle is within a minimum distance the pulse and glide strategy is modified. The system may interrupt a pulse or may instruct the host vehicle to pass the lead vehicle. The host vehicle may also include an inter-vehicle communication module which facilitates a master/slave interaction with a lead or trailing vehicle.