Vehicle Control Device Regenerative Braking Force Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional vehicle control systems face instability due to excessive regenerative braking force on low μ roads, leading to early locking of drive wheels and understeer tendencies, especially when there is no significant speed difference between front and rear wheels.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle control apparatus comprising an electric motor for regenerative braking, a friction braking device for trailer wheels, and a behavior estimation unit that reduces regenerative braking force and increases friction braking when understeer is estimated, using sensors for yaw rate, steering angle, and wheel speed to adjust braking force allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If regenerative braking force is generated by the electric motor, then energy recovery efficiency is improved, but drive wheels may lock at an early stage causing vehicle instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy recovery efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control device dynamically changes the regenerative braking force parameter based on vehicle behavior state. When understeer is detected, the regenerative braking force is reduced below the commanded value to prevent drive wheel locking and maintain vehicle stability, while still recovering energy during normal braking conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from the vehicle behavior estimation unit to continuously monitor for understeer conditions. Based on this feedback, the control device adjusts the regenerative braking force in real-time, reducing it when understeer is detected and maintaining normal levels when vehicle behavior is stable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Power

If regenerative braking force is excessively allocated to drive wheels, then braking efficiency is improved, but understeer tendency occurs on low μ roads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebraking efficiencyVSAvoidvehicle behavior stability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control device modifies the braking force distribution parameter by reducing regenerative braking force when understeer is detected. This parameter change prevents excessive braking force allocation to drive wheels on low μ roads, eliminating the understeer tendency while maintaining overall braking efficiency through coordinated friction braking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If regenerative braking force is reduced to prevent drive wheel locking, then vehicle stability is improved, but braking force allocation becomes less optimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidbraking force allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic braking force allocation that adapts to real-time vehicle behavior. The regenerative braking force is reduced only when understeer is detected, while friction braking on trailer wheels is increased dynamically. This dynamic adjustment maintains optimal overall braking performance while preventing drive wheel locking and ensuring vehicle stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

This solution stabilizes vehicle behavior by reducing regenerative braking and increasing friction braking, preventing early locking of drive wheels and understeer, even on low μ roads, by dynamically adjusting braking force based on estimated vehicle behavior.

Implementation Method 1

an electric motor configured to provide a regenerative braking force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a friction braking device configured to provide a friction braking force

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3127738B1Vehicle control device and vehicle control method
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYST LTD
  • EP3127738B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3127738B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3127738B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle control apparatus capable of stabilizing a behavior of a vehicle when a regenerative braking force is generated. To achieve this object, a vehicle control apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes an electric motor configured to provide a regenerative braking force to left and right drive wheels that are one of front wheels and rear wheels, a friction braking device configured to provide a friction braking force to left and right trailer wheels that are the other of the front wheels and the rear wheels, and a behavior estimation unit configured to estimate a behavior of a vehicle. The vehicle control apparatus reduces the regenerative braking force and increases the friction braking force provided by the friction braking device, if the behavior estimation unit estimates a preset behavior when the regenerative braking force is generated.