Vehicle Contact Patch Control Across Changing Terrain
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicular technologies fail to effectively manage contact patches to reduce environmental impact as vehicles transition between different terrains, leading to unnecessary disturbance of the terrain and increased environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A vehicular control system that uses sensors and processors to monitor forces and terrain changes, adjusting operational parameters to maintain a desirable contact patch state and reduce environmental impact by transitioning smoothly through target operational states when shifting from one terrain to another.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle operates with fixed operational parameters across different terrains, then the vehicle structure and control system are simple, but the terrain disturbance increases and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts operational parameters based on real-time terrain detection. The system transitions from static fixed parameters to dynamic adaptive parameters by continuously monitoring terrain attributes through sensors and modifying vehicle operation accordingly, thereby reducing terrain disturbance while managing complexity through automated adaptation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (speed, torque, suspension stiffness) based on detected terrain attributes. By implementing parameter adaptation rules that map terrain conditions to optimal operational settings, the system reduces harmful terrain impact without requiring overly complex control architecture
2Productivity
If the vehicle quickly transitions between operational states during terrain changes, then productivity is improved, but terrain disturbance increases and sustainability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary terrain detection and pre-adjusts operational parameters before the vehicle fully encounters the terrain change. By anticipating terrain transitions through sensor data and proactively modifying operation, the system maintains productivity while minimizing sudden disturbances that would harm the terrain
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements periodic monitoring of terrain attributes and smooth, phased transitions between operational states rather than abrupt changes. This periodic adjustment approach maintains vehicle productivity while reducing terrain disturbance through controlled, incremental parameter modifications
3Stability of the object's composition
If contact patch forces are increased to improve vehicle stability, then stability is improved, but environmental impact increases due to greater terrain disturbance
Solution Approach 1:
The system adapts contact patch forces by changing operational parameters based on terrain type. On stable terrains, higher forces maintain stability, while on sensitive terrains, the system reduces forces to minimize environmental impact, achieving a dynamic balance between stability and sustainability
Solution Approach 2:
The control system applies different force levels to different wheels based on local terrain conditions detected by individual wheel sensors. This localized adjustment maintains overall vehicle stability while minimizing disturbance in environmentally sensitive areas, allowing stability without uniform high impact
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular control system is presented where the contact patches of the vehicle have reduced impact on an environment. Vehicular control systems include force sensors and terrain sensors that provide real-time or near real-time information about the operating environment of a vehicle. The force sensor data may be used to derive one or more forces which can be used to infer the nature of the vehicles contact patches. As the vehicular control system detects changes in a terrain attribute from the terrain sensors, the vehicular control system determines what the contact patches should be to address the terrain change and determines the necessary forces to give rise to the target contact patches. The vehicular control systems may then adjust the operational parameter values of the vehicle to generate the target contact patches to thereby reduce the impact on the environment.