Electric Traction Control on Uphill Slopes With Low Battery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric traction motors in working vehicles face challenges with power consumption management, particularly on uphill gradients and low battery charge, leading to potential undervoltage events that can damage the motor and circuitry.
Innovation Solution
A controller limits power consumption by restricting the electric traction motor's power and speed demand based on the vehicle's tilt angle and battery state of charge, using a 2D function or lookup table to adjust power consumption levels dynamically.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the electric traction motor operates at maximum power consumption to maintain productivity on uphill gradients, then the vehicle can overcome the gradient, but the battery voltage drops causing undervoltage events that damage the motor and circuitry
Solution Approach 1:
The controller dynamically adjusts the power consumption of the electric traction motor based on real-time detection of uphill gradients and battery state of charge. When an uphill gradient is detected and battery charge is below the threshold, the controller automatically reduces power consumption to prevent undervoltage events, thereby protecting the motor and circuitry while maintaining operational capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the uphill gradient detector and battery state of charge sensor to continuously monitor conditions. When the battery state of charge falls below the predetermined threshold during uphill operation, the controller receives feedback and automatically limits power consumption to a restricted level, preventing voltage drops that would cause undervoltage events.
2Reliability
If the controller limits power consumption to restricted levels to prevent undervoltage events, then the motor and circuitry are protected, but the vehicle's speed and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The power consumption limitation is not static but dynamically applied only when specific conditions are met (uphill gradient detected and battery charge below threshold). When conditions improve or battery charge increases above the threshold, the controller restores normal power levels, thereby minimizing the impact on productivity while maintaining protection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes the power consumption parameter from maximum to restricted levels based on detected conditions. This parameter change is reversible and conditional, allowing the system to optimize between reliability and productivity by adjusting power consumption levels according to real-time battery state and terrain conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A working vehicle including a ground-engaging propulsion structure, an electric traction motor for driving the ground-engaging propulsion structure, a battery for powering the electric traction motor, and a controller. The controller is configured to: a) determine whether the working vehicle is positioned on an uphill gradient; b) determine whether a state of charge of the battery is below a charge threshold; and c) when it is determined that the working vehicle is positioned on an uphill gradient and the state of charge is below the charge threshold, limit a power consumption of the electric traction motor to a restricted power consumption which is less than a maximum power consumption of the electric traction motor.