Vehicle Control Unit Segmentation for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication and control systems for lightweight vehicles, such as pedal electric cycles and electric kick scooters, require advanced processing capabilities to determine and transmit status information, leading to increased costs and complexity in control units.
Innovation Solution
A method where a control unit receives sensor information and transmits it to a determination unit, which processes the status information and sends back reaction information, allowing the control unit to operate the vehicle without needing complex processing capabilities, thus reducing costs and enhancing communication through V2X and VRU messages over various radio channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the control unit determines status information based on sensor information, then the vehicle can operate autonomously, but the control unit requires advanced processing capabilities leading to increased costs and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the vehicle control system into two separate units: a control unit that handles basic vehicle control functions and a determination unit that handles complex status information determination. This segmentation allows the control unit to remain simple while the determination unit provides the necessary processing power for autonomous operation decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit acts as an intermediary between the sensors and the control unit. It receives sensor information, determines status information, and communicates this to the control unit, which then executes appropriate actions. This intermediary approach offloads complex processing from the control unit while maintaining autonomous operation capability.
2Reliability
If the control unit determines status information based on sensor information, then the vehicle can transmit accurate V2X messages, but the control unit requires costly processing capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the processing functions by placing the determination unit separately from the control unit. The determination unit handles the computationally intensive task of analyzing sensor data and determining status information, while the control unit handles vehicle actuation. This allows the control unit to be manufactured at lower cost while maintaining V2X message accuracy through the determination unit's processing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The determination unit creates a processed copy of the sensor information in the form of status information, which is then transmitted to the control unit for V2X messaging. This copying approach allows the control unit to work with simplified data structures while the determination unit performs the complex analysis, reducing the control unit's processing requirements and manufacturing cost.
3Speed
If the control unit processes and transmits status information, then real-time communication is achieved, but the control unit's processing burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The determination unit serves as an intermediary that pre-processes sensor information and prepares status information for transmission. This allows the control unit to focus on rapid transmission of pre-processed data, achieving real-time communication speed while reducing its processing burden. The determination unit handles the computationally intensive analysis, enabling the control unit to operate with lower complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a determination unit (DUb) of a personal mobile terminal or a device with a user interface (UIb). In one example, the method includes receiving, via at least one communication channel (CHb) between the determination unit (DUb) and a control unit (CUb) of a vehicle (BICb), at least one sensor information; determining at least one status information associated with the vehicle (BICb) based on the received at least one sensor information; and transmitting, via the at least one communication channel between the determination unit (DUb) and the control unit (CUb), the at least one determined status information associated with the vehicle (BICb).