Vehicle Control Device Fail-Safe for Shift Range Abnormalities
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle control systems fail to ensure safety when an abnormality occurs in the shift range switching system, especially when the driver is absent, as they lack a distinct fail-safe process to address such situations effectively.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control device that includes a drive control unit, an abnormality monitoring unit, and a presence determination unit, which monitors the shift range switching system and determines the driver's presence, executing a different fail-safe process when an abnormality occurs and the driver is absent, involving the electric brake system to prevent unintended vehicle movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional shift range switching system is used without driver presence detection, then the system structure remains simple, but safety cannot be ensured when the driver is absent and an abnormality occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of driver presence using a weight sensor on the driver's seat before an abnormality occurs. This advance detection allows the control unit to prepare and execute appropriate fail-safe processes based on whether the driver is present or absent, thereby ensuring safety without requiring complex additional safety systems.
Solution Approach 2:
A weight sensor serves as an intermediary device to detect driver presence. This simple sensing mechanism provides critical information to the control unit, enabling it to differentiate between scenarios where the driver is present versus absent, and accordingly select appropriate fail-safe responses without directly adding complex safety systems.
2Reliability
If a single fail-safe process is used for all abnormality scenarios, then the control logic remains simple, but unintended vehicle movements may occur when the driver is absent
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit applies different fail-safe processes based on the local condition of driver presence. When the driver is detected as present, one fail-safe process is executed; when absent, a different fail-safe process is executed. This localized adaptation of control strategy ensures appropriate safety responses for each scenario without requiring a completely complex control system.
Solution Approach 2:
The fail-safe process dynamically changes based on the detected driver presence status. The control unit adjusts its response strategy in real-time according to whether the driver is present or absent, allowing the system to adapt its safety measures to the current operational context without requiring overly complex predetermined control logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control device controls a vehicle control system, which includes a shift range switching system configured to switch a shift range by controlling a drive of a shift actuator, and an electric brake system configured to brake a vehicle by controlling a drive of a brake actuator. The vehicle control device includes a drive control unit, an abnormality monitoring unit, and a presence determination unit. The drive control unit controls a drive of a shift actuator. The abnormality monitoring unit monitors an abnormality of the shift range switching system. The presence determination unit determines whether the driver is in the driver's seat. When the abnormality of the range mismatch, which the actual shift range does not match the target shift range in a state where the driver is absent, the vehicle control device executes the fail safe process different from the fail safe process when the driver is present.