Torque Control System for Electric Vehicle Motor Fault Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicles with multiple in-wheel electric motors, torque imbalances can occur if one motor develops a fault, requiring continuous corrective steering to maintain straight-line drive stability.

Innovation Solution

A torque control system with a master controller and distributed motor drive controllers that adjust torque generation across in-wheel electric motors to maintain balance, even if one motor fails, by reducing torque demand in healthy motors to compensate for faulty ones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If one in-wheel electric motor develops a fault preventing it from providing requested torque, then the faulty motor cannot deliver full torque, but this causes torque imbalance between wheels requiring continuous corrective steering action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor fault toleranceVSAvoidsteering operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The master controller receives feedback signals from motor drive controllers indicating fault conditions, and automatically adjusts torque distribution to compensate for faulty motors, eliminating the need for driver corrective steering actions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the torque parameter dynamically by reducing torque demand to healthy motors when faults are detected, thereby maintaining torque balance between wheels without requiring manual steering intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If torque is continuously adjusted to compensate for motor faults, then drive stability is maintained, but this requires complex torque control systems with master controllers and distributed motor drive controllers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrive stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into a master controller and distributed motor drive controllers, where each motor drive controller independently manages torque for its associated motor based on fault status, simplifying the overall control architecture while maintaining stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The motor drive controllers automatically detect their own fault conditions and self-adjust torque output without requiring complex centralized control, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining drive stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2459411B1Torque control system
Publication Date: 2021.07.07 PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED
  • EP2459411B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP2459411B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2459411B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A torque control system for a vehicle having a plurality of wheels, wherein at least two of the wheels are arranged to be driven by separate electric motors, the system comprising a master controller arranged to monitor the torque generated by at least one of the electric motors and upon a determination that the torque produced by the at least one electric motor is reduced as a result of a predetermined condition the master controller is arranged to adjust the torque generated in the at least one electric motor and/or another electric motor so that the torque generated by the at least one electric motor and the another electric motor are substantially the same.