Stop/Start Controller Intersection Anticipation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Stop/start vehicles face inefficiencies in controlling engine shutdown and restart at intersections, leading to suboptimal fuel economy and launch performance due to lack of advanced predictive capabilities for traffic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detect vehicle approaches to intersections, anticipating engine shutdowns and restarts by using sensors like cameras, GPS, LiDAR, and RADAR to disable or enable the power steering system and prepare auxiliary systems, enabling earlier autostop and autostart events based on traffic light or stop sign conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the engine shutdown and restart timing is delayed until the vehicle actually stops at the intersection, then the power steering system remains enabled longer ensuring adequate steering assist, but fuel economy deteriorates due to later shutdown timing
Solution Approach 1:
The controller anticipates the vehicle stop at the intersection by detecting traffic control devices (traffic lights, stop signs) and disabling the power steering system before the actual stop occurs. This preliminary action allows the engine to be shut down earlier than traditional systems, improving fuel economy while ensuring the power steering is already disabled before the stop, thus avoiding any performance degradation.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the power steering system is disabled earlier to enable earlier engine shutdown, then fuel economy improves, but steering assist availability deteriorates if the system is not properly prepared
Solution Approach 1:
The controller disables the power steering system in advance of the anticipated stop, ensuring that when the engine shuts down, the steering system is already in the appropriate state. This preliminary disabling prevents any potential steering assist availability issues while enabling earlier engine shutdown for fuel savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller continuously monitors vehicle speed, brake status, and intersection approach conditions to determine the optimal timing for disabling the power steering system. This feedback mechanism ensures the steering system is disabled at the precise moment that allows earlier engine shutdown while maintaining system reliability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If sensors and predictive algorithms are added to anticipate intersection stops, then fuel economy improves through earlier shutdown, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller leverages existing sensors (cameras, GPS, LiDAR, RADAR) that are already part of modern vehicles for other functions like collision avoidance and navigation. By repurposing these existing sensors for intersection detection and stop anticipation, the system achieves fuel economy improvements without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing sensor suite and processing capabilities to autonomously detect intersections, anticipate stops, and adjust power steering disable timing. This self-service approach minimizes the need for additional dedicated hardware, reducing the complexity increase associated with the predictive functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller in a stop/start vehicle may anticipate a vehicle stop and engine shutdown event in response to detecting a vehicle approach to an intersection. The controller may disable a power steering system or otherwise prepare vehicle subsystems for shutdown prior to the anticipated shutdown event. The controller may also enable the power steering system in response to anticipating an automatic restart event.