Trailer Electric Drive Control Using Mass and Drive Force Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for actuating electric drives in trailer vehicles are inefficient and require additional sensor equipment, leading to delayed regulation and limited support in stability-critical situations, resulting in higher costs and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the current mass and drive force of the towing vehicle and trailer, using existing sensor equipment to calculate an acceleration demand for the electric drive, allowing for precise actuation without additional sensors, thereby optimizing drive support and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensor equipment is mounted on the towing vehicle to monitor the actual reaction of the trailer vehicle's drive, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer vehicle's control unit independently determines its own acceleration demand based on data from its own sensors (acceleration sensor, drive force sensor, mass input) without requiring additional monitoring sensors on the towing vehicle. The system serves itself by using internally available information to make control decisions, eliminating the need for external observation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The acceleration sensor and drive force sensor in the trailer vehicle serve multiple functions: they provide data for determining the acceleration demand, monitoring the actual drive behavior, and enabling iterative regulation. This multi-functional use of existing sensors eliminates the need for dedicated additional monitoring equipment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If iterative regulation is used to adjust the trailer vehicle's deceleration or acceleration via its electric drive, then stability is improved, but response time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit continuously receives actual data from the acceleration sensor and drive force sensor, compares it with the desired acceleration demand, and iteratively adjusts the actuating signal to the electric drive. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures stable regulation while maintaining responsive adjustment of the trailer's drive support.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the actuating signal for the electric drive based on real-time feedback from sensors and changing driving conditions. The iterative regulation process continuously adapts the drive support level, enabling both stability and responsive time-adjusted control rather than fixed static regulation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the towing vehicle communicates with the trailer vehicle to transmit drive requests, then coordination is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer vehicle's control unit independently determines the acceleration demand and actuating signal based on its own sensor data and pre-stored maps, without requiring complex real-time communication protocols with the towing vehicle. The trailer serves itself by using its own information to make drive decisions, simplifying the communication requirements to basic data exchange.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit uses pre-stored maps and algorithms to quickly determine the actuating signal from available sensor data, eliminating the need for complex real-time calculations and communication iterations. The preliminary preparation of control logic and parameter maps enables rapid local decision-making without heavy reliance on continuous towing vehicle communication.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for actuating an electrical drive of a trailer vehicle with a towing vehicle. According to an embodiment, the method include the steps of: determining a current mass of the towing vehicle; determining a current drive force of the towing vehicle; determining an acceleration demand in dependence upon the current mass and the current drive force; and, actuating the electric drive via an actuating signal in dependence upon the acceleration demand. The disclosure also relates to a control device for executing the method, a towing vehicle, a trailer vehicle and a semi-trailer truck.