Reduced-Power Vehicle Route Control for Grade-Aware Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles operating in reduced power mode face limitations in power output, maximum speed, and torque, making it challenging to navigate routes efficiently, especially those with steep grades or high speed limits.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines a vehicle's energy thresholds based on road grade, speed limits, and available energy output, allowing the vehicle to select a route that optimizes energy usage and adheres to its reduced power capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle operates in reduced power mode, then the vehicle can continue operation despite faults, but the power output and maximum speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control system dynamically adjusts operating parameters including power output limits, maximum speed limits, and torque limits based on the detected fault condition. This allows the vehicle to operate in a modified reduced power mode that maintains reliability while optimizing the remaining power capabilities for safe operation to a service location.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by determining reduced power output, maximum speed, and torque limits in response to fault detection. These parameter adjustments enable the vehicle to continue operation under constrained conditions, balancing reliability with the reduced power state necessary for safe operation.
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle selects routes based on energy thresholds, then the vehicle can navigate within its reduced power capabilities, but the route selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control system performs preliminary calculations of energy thresholds for multiple candidate routes before final route selection. By pre-determining which routes are feasible based on reduced power capabilities and calculating energy requirements in advance, the system simplifies the final decision-making process while ensuring navigation feasibility within operational constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The route selection system automatically evaluates multiple routes, calculates energy thresholds, and selects an appropriate route without requiring complex external intervention. The system uses available vehicle data and route information to self-determine feasible paths, reducing the need for manual route planning while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Reliability
If the vehicle has reduced maximum speed, then the vehicle can operate safely within reduced power mode, but the ability to meet speed requirements on certain roads is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control system dynamically determines a reduced maximum speed limit based on the specific fault condition and calculates energy thresholds that account for this speed constraint. The system evaluates whether the vehicle can reach the destination within the reduced speed capability, allowing safe operation while assessing feasibility for routes with minimum speed requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the maximum speed parameter from the vehicle's normal operating speed to a reduced maximum speed appropriate for the fault condition. This parameter change enables safe operation in reduced power mode while the route selection process evaluates whether this reduced speed can still meet the requirements of candidate routes.
4Power
If the vehicle has reduced available torque, then the vehicle can operate within reduced power mode, but the ability to climb hills and overcome resistance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle control system performs preliminary evaluation of candidate routes by calculating energy thresholds that account for terrain characteristics including hills and grades. By assessing the torque requirements for climbing before final route selection, the system ensures that chosen routes are feasible within the reduced torque capabilities, preventing situations where the vehicle cannot overcome resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the determined energy thresholds to evaluate whether candidate routes are feasible given the reduced torque output. The energy threshold calculations incorporate terrain information and compare required energy against available energy, providing feedback that guides route selection to paths that the vehicle can successfully navigate with reduced climbing capability.
Data Source
AI summary
In at least some implementations, a method includes determining that a vehicle is operating in a reduced power mode, determining a destination of the vehicle, determining more than one route to the destination, determining one or more energy thresholds for each route, selecting one of the routes as a chosen route, and guiding the vehicle along the chosen route. The chose route may be selected based on the one or more energy thresholds and as a function of the energy output available from the vehicle.