Vehicle Control Unit Test Mode for Driving Dynamics Simulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern vehicle test benches face challenges in simulating realistic driving dynamics, leading to error conditions due to missing or implausible sensor variables, which limits the testing of vehicle functions dependent on acceleration states like lateral or longitudinal accelerations and yaw rates.

Innovation Solution

The control unit is switched to a test mode where calculated values of measured variables are used instead of sensor values, preventing plausibility checks and allowing realistic testing without interfering with the measuring sensors, thus enabling the simulation of driving dynamics states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control unit performs plausibility checks on sensor values during normal operation, then the reliability of vehicle function control is improved, but error conditions occur on test benches where not all sensors are available or plausible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of vehicle function controlVSAvoidadaptability to test bench environment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit dynamically switches between normal operation mode and test mode based on the operational context. In test mode, the plausibility check is selectively deactivated for specific measured variables that are expected to be unavailable or implausible during bench testing, while maintaining normal plausibility checking for other variables. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability in normal operation while becoming versatile enough for test bench environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If measuring sensors are removed or deactivated to simulate driving dynamics, then the ability to test driving dynamics functions is improved, but the complexity of the test setup increases and real sensor data is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to test driving dynamics functionsVSAvoidcomplexity of test setup
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of removing or deactivating real measuring sensors, the system creates virtual copies of sensor signals through a simulation unit. The simulation unit generates calculated measured variables that mimic the behavior of real sensors during driving dynamics, feeding these simulated signals to the control unit. This approach maintains the完整性 of the sensor network while enabling realistic testing of driving dynamics functions without increasing physical test setup complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Manufacturing precision

If a simulation unit generates calculated measured variables, then the realism of driving dynamics testing is improved, but the risk of contradictory signals and error states increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverealism of driving dynamics simulationVSAvoidrisk of error states
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different quality control rules to different measured variables based on their source. For simulated measured variables from the simulation unit, the plausibility check is selectively deactivated only for those specific variables during test mode, while plausibility checking remains active for other variables. This localized adjustment allows realistic simulation of driving dynamics without creating contradictory error states, as each variable type is evaluated according to its appropriate criteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3377871B1Control unit having a test mode for a vehicle, and method and test bench for performing a bench test for a test specimen
Publication Date: 2024.01.10 AVL LIST GMBH
  • EP3377871B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3377871B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The aim of the invention is to enable the realistic testing of a vehicle or of a sub-system of the vehicle by means of a control unit that processes sensor values (SWi) of a measured variable (MGi) on a test bench in consideration of the dynamic state of the vehicle. This aim is achieved, according to the invention, in that the control unit (11) is switched to a test mode in order to execute the bench test, calculation values (RWi) of the same measured variable (MGi) are calculated in a simulation unit (23), and the calculation values (RWi) of the measured variable (MGi) of the control unit (11) are supplied in addition to the detected sensor values (SWi) of the measured variable (MGi). The control unit (11) in test mode ignores the detected sensor values (SWi) of the measured variable (MGi) and omits the plausibility check of the calculation values (RWi) of the measured variables (MGi).