Multi-Chamber Undertray Sensing for Battery Impact Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing underbody components for motor vehicles lack effective and lightweight protection with integrated damage detection capabilities, particularly for vehicle components like traction batteries, and do not efficiently monitor structural integrity.
Innovation Solution
A multi-chamber underbody component with a plate-like element and supporting elements, equipped with a sensor device using electrically conductive sensor wires to detect deformation and resistance changes, allowing for precise damage assessment and localization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional underbody components are used without integrated sensors, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to detect and monitor damage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the underbody component structure with a sensor device into a single integrated unit. The sensor device is embedded within the underbody component, allowing simultaneous structural protection and damage detection functions without requiring separate monitoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The underbody component serves multiple functions: mechanical protection of the underbody, structural support, and damage detection through the integrated sensor device. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components while enhancing monitoring capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If multiple supporting elements are added to create multi-chamber structure, then the protection capability and damage localization are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The underbody component is divided into multiple chambers separated by supporting elements. Each chamber contains sensor elements that can independently detect and localize damage in specific regions, improving measurement precision through spatial segmentation of the monitoring function.
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
Provides lightweight, effective protection with integrated damage detection, enabling precise monitoring of structural integrity and initiating appropriate safety measures, such as warning messages or vehicle shutdown, to prevent further damage.
Implementation Method 1
Deformation of the plate element results in a corresponding deformation, in particular lengthening or stretching, of the sensor wire and in a detectable change, in particular increase, of the electrical resistance of the sensor wire
Data Source
AI summary
An underbody component for a motor vehicle, with a plate element which has a lower side and an upper side; at least one supporting element arranged on the upper side of the plate element, which is intended to support the plate element against a vehicle side structure and to space it apart. The supporting element is also designed as a partition, which divides the area above the plate element into multiple chambers; a sensor device which is intended to detect intrusion of the plate element into at least one of the chambers caused by an external force action on the lower side.