Redundant Brake Control via Shared Actuators
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Highly automated vehicles require a brake system that can continue to operate with functional limitations in case of faults, but duplicating all brake system components for redundancy is not feasible due to cost, installation space, and weight constraints.
Innovation Solution
A brake system with a primary control means and a redundancy control means that share actuators and status variables, allowing the redundancy control to take over when switch-over conditions are met, enabling partial or complete control of the brake system to ensure continued operation even in fault scenarios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all brake system components are doubled to form a redundancy system, then reliability is improved, but cost, installation space, and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing brake system components multi-functional by enabling them to serve both primary and redundant functions. The control unit is configured to operate in different modes (primary control, redundant control, mixed control) allowing the same physical components to provide reliability without requiring complete duplication of the brake system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between primary control means and redundancy control means based on operational conditions and fault states. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the brake system to maintain reliability while using a single set of physical components that can be controlled by different control units depending on the situation.
2Reliability
If a redundant brake system is implemented, then vehicle control continuity is improved during faults, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed with multi-functionality, capable of performing both primary control and redundant control tasks. This eliminates the need for separate control units for each function, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining control continuity during faults.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the primary control and redundancy control functions into a single control unit. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the system architecture while still providing the necessary redundancy for continuous operation during faults.
3Quantity of substance
If complete component duplication is avoided, then cost and weight are reduced, but the ability to maintain all brake functions during faults is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial redundancy rather than complete redundancy. The redundancy control means takes over specific control functions when needed, providing sufficient functional capability during faults without requiring complete duplication of all brake system components and their control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake system dynamically reconfigures its control architecture during faults, allowing the redundancy control means to assume control of specific actuators and functions as needed. This dynamic adaptation maintains essential brake functions during faults while avoiding the need for complete component duplication.
Data Source
AI summary
A brake system for a vehicle for acquiring at least one status variable for controlling the brake system, including: a primary control unit for controlling the brake system by at least one actuator and taking into account the at least one status variable; and a redundancy control unit for controlling the brake system by part of the at least one actuator and taking into account part of the at least one status variable, in which the brake system is configured such that, when at least one switch-over condition is satisfied, the brake system is no longer controlled exclusively by the primary control unit and is at least partially controlled by the redundancy control unit. Also described are a related method and a computer readable medium.