Vehicle Control Device for Sequential Braking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Small- and medium-sized trucks or buses face challenges with hydraulic brakes in securing sufficient deceleration for collision avoidance, leading to increased braking distances and potential discomfort for drivers and damage to loaded objects, as air brakes are difficult to handle and require additional equipment.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that performs sequential initial and main braking based on the estimated weight of the vehicle and its load, adjusting the timing of initial braking without altering the main braking timing to minimize driver discomfort and prevent collision damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If air brake is used to secure sufficient deceleration amount, then deceleration performance is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the air brake system with a hydraulic brake system that uses a brake pressure increasing mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for complex air compression equipment (compressor, air tank, air meter) while achieving sufficient deceleration through hydraulic pressure amplification. The brake pressure increasing mechanism uses a motor-driven pump and pressure control valve to generate high braking force on demand, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles to achieve high deceleration forces. The brake pressure increasing mechanism uses a hydraulic pump driven by a motor to generate high-pressure brake fluid, which is then applied to the brake calipers. This hydraulic system provides sufficient deceleration for heavy vehicles without requiring the complex pneumatic infrastructure of air brakes.
2Speed
If brake pressure increasing speed is increased to reduce braking distance, then deceleration performance is improved, but driver discomfort and influence on loaded objects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the braking process into two distinct phases: initial braking and main braking. The initial braking phase applies a moderate deceleration force to begin reducing speed, while the main braking phase applies maximum deceleration force to achieve rapid stopping. This segmentation allows the system to optimize braking distance without subjecting the driver and loaded objects to excessive sudden forces throughout the entire braking process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary braking action through the initial braking phase, which activates before the main braking phase. This preliminary action begins the deceleration process gradually, allowing the driver and loaded objects to adjust to the braking force before maximum deceleration is applied. This staged approach reduces driver discomfort and prevents damage to loaded objects while still achieving sufficient overall braking distance.
3Reliability
If main braking deceleration amount is increased to prevent collision damage, then safety is improved, but driver discomfort and influence on loaded objects increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the braking force application into two phases with different deceleration characteristics. The initial braking phase uses moderate deceleration to prepare the system, while the main braking phase uses high deceleration to ensure collision avoidance. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high safety performance through the main braking phase while minimizing driver discomfort during the initial phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The initial braking phase serves as a preliminary action that prepares the driver and loaded objects for the subsequent main braking phase. By applying moderate deceleration first, the system reduces the shock and discomfort experienced during the high-deceleration main braking phase, thereby improving overall safety while minimizing harmful effects on the driver and cargo.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle control device that can reduce the discomfort to the driver and the influence on an object to be loaded and prevent collision damage. A vehicle control device 100 controls the deceleration of a vehicle 1 based on the distance and the relative speed between the vehicle 1 and an obstacle in front of the vehicle. The vehicle control device 100 includes a control unit 101 that sequentially performs initial braking and main braking on the vehicle 1. The control unit 101 controls a timing of the initial braking based on the estimated weight of the vehicle including the weight of an object to be loaded without changing a timing of the main braking.