Torque Control System for Vehicle Traction and Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle stability and traction control systems often result in wheel slip, leading to component wear and energy loss through heat dissipation when mitigating slip with brake applications, and fail to efficiently manage torque to prevent slip effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system that estimates and limits maximum applicable positive and negative torque based on driver requests, using a controller to allocate torque between electric motors and internal combustion engines, and communicates with vehicle-to-vehicle systems to optimize traction management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If brake applications are used to mitigate wheel slip, then wheel slip is reduced, but component wear and energy loss increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel slip mitigationVSAvoidenergy loss through heat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system estimates maximum applicable torque before wheel slip occurs and proactively limits the driver torque request to this estimated maximum. By taking preliminary action to prevent wheel slip rather than reacting after slip occurs, the system avoids the need for brake applications and their associated energy loss and component wear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If brake applications are used to mitigate wheel slip, then wheel slip is reduced, but component wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel slip mitigationVSAvoidcomponent wear

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If torque is not limited to maximum applicable torque, then driver torque request is maintained, but wheel slip occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriver torque requestVSAvoidwheel slip prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors vehicle operating conditions (wheel speeds, vehicle speed, engine torque, motor torque) and uses this feedback to dynamically estimate the maximum applicable torque. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and maintain optimal torque limits to prevent wheel slip while maximizing usable torque.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system estimates maximum applicable torque before wheel slip occurs and proactively limits the driver torque request to this estimated maximum. By taking preliminary action to prevent wheel slip rather than reacting after slip occurs, the system maintains ease of operation while preventing wheel slip.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11731640B2Energy saving traction and stability control

Publication Date: 2023.08.22 FORD GLOBAL TECH LLC

AI summary

Controlling maximum appliable positive and negative torque for a vehicle is provided. Vehicle data indictive of a driver torque request is received. Maximum appliable positive and negative torques for the vehicle are estimated. Responsive to the driver torque request being positive, the driver torque request is limited to the maximum appliable positive torque. Responsive to the driver torque request being negative, the driver torque request is limited to the maximum appliable negative torque.