Tire Sensor Redundancy for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Motion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy-duty vehicles face challenges in implementing efficient and cost-effective redundant control systems to maintain rudimentary control functions in case of primary system malfunctions, particularly due to the inefficiencies and space constraints of duplicating critical components like braking systems.
Innovation Solution
A redundant motion control system utilizing tire sensors and control units, which interpret output signals from tire-mounted sensors, including accelerometers, strain gauges, and optical sensors, to provide independent and robust control functions for ABS, traction control, and brake control, leveraging machine learning algorithms for efficient signal processing and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If two or more separate and independent braking systems are deployed to provide redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tire sensor system serves multiple functions: it provides redundancy for the primary sensor system, enables ABS control, and supports vehicle motion management. By making the tire sensor system multi-functional, the patent avoids the need for completely separate redundant braking systems, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability through functional redundancy
2Reliability
If two or more separate and independent braking systems are deployed to provide redundancy, then reliability is improved, but space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the redundant sensor system with the existing tire structure by mounting sensors directly on the tires. This integration allows the redundant sensing function to be embedded within the existing vehicle components rather than requiring separate dedicated space for redundant systems, thereby providing reliability without increasing space requirements
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional primary sensor systems are used without tire sensor integration, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but reliability during primary system malfunction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tire sensor system is installed and configured in advance as a backup that can immediately take over when the primary sensor system fails. The preliminary setup includes mounting the sensors on the tires and integrating them with the vehicle's control systems, so that when malfunction occurs, the redundant system is already in place and operational, providing reliability without complicating the manufacturing process
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
This solution enables a low-cost, reliable, and space-efficient redundant control system that can fall back on tire sensor data in case of primary system failures, ensuring continued vehicle stability and control, even in autonomous or semi-autonomous modes.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more tire sensor devices comprises an accelerometer
Implementation Method 2
the one or more tire sensor devices comprises a strain gauge
Data Source
AI summary
A motion control system for controlling one or more torque generating devices on a heavy-duty vehicle, the system comprising a primary sensor system with a primary sensor control unit configured to interpret an output signal of the primary sensor system, one or more tire sensor devices mounted on, in, or in connection to, one or more tires of the heavy-duty vehicle, and a tire sensor control unit configured to interpret an output signal of the one or more tire sensor devices, wherein the motion control system is arranged to base motion control of the heavy-duty vehicle on output data of the tire sensor control unit in case of malfunction in the primary sensor system and/or in the primary sensor control unit, and on output data of the primary sensor control unit otherwise.