Redundant Wheel Drive Control for Vehicle Emergency Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hybrid and battery-electric vehicles with damaged drive systems, such as combustion engines, electric motors, transmissions, or high-voltage batteries, cannot continue driving and are at risk of becoming stranded, posing safety hazards and incurring significant towing costs, as existing systems lack reliable emergency operation capabilities.
Innovation Solution
An electric traction drive with independently controllable single-wheel drives on each axle, featuring a common energy source and separate control and power networks for each wheel, including a redundant data bus interface and an emergency energy source, allowing for emergency operation even if one drive is faulty, enabling the vehicle to limp to safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single centralized control system is used for wheel hub drives, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates because a single fault can deactivate both drives
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into two independently controllable wheel hub drives, each with its own control unit and data bus interface. This segmentation ensures that a fault in one drive does not affect the other, enabling emergency operation with at least one functional drive.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates redundant data bus interfaces and separate control networks as a form of prior cushioning against potential failures. This redundancy is built into the system design beforehand, allowing the vehicle to maintain operational capability even when one control path fails.
2Reliability
If redundant control networks are implemented for emergency operation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control network is divided into two separate, independent data bus interfaces, each dedicated to controlling one wheel hub drive. This segmentation provides redundancy without requiring a fully duplicated complex system, as each interface is simpler and more manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
Each wheel hub drive has its own localized control unit and data bus interface, tailored to its specific function. This local quality approach allows each subsystem to be optimized independently, reducing overall complexity while maintaining reliability through redundancy.
Data Source
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AI summary
In an electrical traction drive for a vehicle, comprising at least two individual wheel drives that are to be controlled independently of each other, the drives are able to be operated redundantly in order for an emergency operating function to be implemented.