Hierarchical Vehicle De-rate Notification System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle systems fail to provide a comprehensive treatment of de-rate causes, levels, types, and related notifications to operators, leading to inadequate communication and resolution of vehicle performance issues.

Innovation Solution

A hierarchical vehicle de-rate and notification system that classifies de-rates by cause, type, and level, providing escalating levels of feedback and notifications to operators, including mappings of de-rate causes to starting levels and slew rates, to address durability, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a vehicle de-rate is imposed to reduce emissions or protect the vehicle, then environmental compliance and vehicle durability are improved, but operator awareness and ability to resolve the issue are worsened due to inadequate communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle durability and emissions complianceVSAvoidoperator awareness of de-rate cause
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a notification mechanism that provides feedback to the operator about the de-rate condition. The notification includes information about the de-rate cause, which enables the operator to understand and potentially resolve the issue. This feedback loop addresses the information loss by making de-rate information available to the operator while maintaining the protective de-rate function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If comprehensive de-rate information is provided to operators, then operator ability to resolve issues is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator ability to resolve de-rate issuesVSAvoidnotification system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system segments information about the de-rate condition into distinct components: de-rate status, de-rate cause, and optional resolution guidance. This segmentation allows the system to provide comprehensive information without creating an overwhelming complex interface, as each piece of information can be presented separately and clearly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses a notification as an intermediary between the vehicle's control system and the operator. Rather than requiring direct complex interactions between the operator and multiple vehicle systems, the notification mediates by consolidating relevant de-rate information from various sources and presenting it in a unified, easily understandable format.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2971711B1Hierarchical vehicle de-rate and notification system
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 PACCAR INC
  • EP2971711B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2971711B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2971711B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

An on-board vehicle computer system is configured to detect a condition of a vehicle; identify a de-rate cause for the vehicle in a hierarchical set of de-rate causes, wherein the de-rate cause is associated with the condition; select a de-rate type from a set of possible de-rate types based at least in part on the de-rate cause; select an initial de-rate level from a set of possible de-rate levels based at least in part on the de-rate cause; present an operator notification associated with the de-rate cause via an operator interface; activate a de-rate for the vehicle according to the de-rate type and the initial de-rate level; detect a change in the vehicle condition; and update the initial de-rate level based at least in part on the change in the vehicle condition.