Vehicle Control System With Redundant Algorithms And Check Means

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current vehicle control systems for safety devices lack complete fault-tolerance, particularly in electronic braking systems where a fault can lead to a loss of functionality without a mechanical backup, necessitating a system that is both fail-safe and fault-tolerant with minimal components.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising at least two interconnected control means, each with a check means to suppress faulty data, and a redundant control means with an equivalent algorithm, connected through a decision means to ensure fault-free operation, implemented across multiple subsystems with independent power and algorithm implementations to minimize failure risk.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant control means with equivalent algorithms are implemented, then fault-tolerance and fail-safety are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault-toleranceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into multiple independent control means (first control means, second control means, third control means), each capable of independent operation. This segmentation allows the system to isolate faults to specific segments while maintaining overall functionality through the remaining segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements parameter changes by using different algorithm implementations across redundant control means. The first and second control means use different algorithms to achieve the same control function, providing diversity-based fault tolerance without requiring identical hardware configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If check means are added to suppress faulty data, then system safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem safetyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A decision means is introduced as an intermediary component that receives control signals from multiple control means and determines which signals to forward to the actuator. This intermediary selectively suppresses faulty data by comparing inputs from redundant control means and choosing the valid control signal, thereby improving safety without requiring complex fault detection circuits in each control means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2190712B1A control system for vehicles
Publication Date: 2013.02.27 AUTOLIV DEV AB
  • EP2190712B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2190712B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2190712B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a control system for vehicles comprising at least two control means which each communicate with at least one operating means, with the control means each being connected to a check means which can suppress the forwarding of check means data. In accordance with the invention, a redundant control means can be associated with each control means and has a control algorithm which is equivalent to the control algorithm of the control means.