Vehicle Emergency Stop System Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for transferring semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicles to a safe state often rely on simple drive shutdown, which is inefficient and may not quickly eliminate hazards, and lack comprehensive control over additional potentially dangerous systems.

Innovation Solution

An emergency stop system that utilizes an actuating device to generate a control signal for the control device, which activates an emergency braking device to decelerate the vehicle using existing braking systems and can also engage external components like the drive train for additional braking, while an operating mode setting device manages activation and deactivation of emergency braking and transmission modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If simple drive shutdown is used to transfer vehicle to safe state, then system complexity is reduced, but stopping speed and hazard elimination time are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestopping speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The emergency stop function is segmented into independent control channels: actuating device for initiation, control device for signal processing, and emergency braking device for execution. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while achieving high stopping speed without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control device stores predefined operating modes and braking parameters in advance. When an emergency stop is triggered, the pre-stored braking characteristics are immediately activated without requiring real-time calculation, enabling rapid deceleration while keeping the control logic simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If drive is switched off to reach safe state, then hazard elimination is achieved, but generator operation stops and battery load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety state achievementVSAvoidbattery load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically manages the drive state during emergency stop. Instead of a simple on/off switch, the control device can maintain generator operation at reduced load while applying braking forces, allowing continuous power generation to support battery charging even during emergency deceleration, thus reducing overall battery load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The generator continues to operate and generate electricity throughout the emergency stop process rather than being shut off. This continuous operation ensures that power generation persists, maintaining energy supply to the battery and other vehicle systems, thereby reducing the net battery load even while the vehicle is decelerating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Stability of the object's composition

If operating mode setting device prevents emergency braking activation, then vehicle destabilization is prevented, but emergency stop response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle stabilityVSAvoidemergency stop response time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control device continuously monitors vehicle operating conditions and compares them against stability criteria. When an emergency stop request is received, the system provides feedback on whether activation would cause destabilization. This real-time feedback allows the system to make rapid decisions about whether to activate or inhibit emergency braking, maintaining stability without significant response delay.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3707038B1Emergency stop system for a vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
  • EP3707038B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3707038B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to an emergency stop system for transferring an at least partly autonomously operable vehicle into a safe state. The emergency system has an actuating device for outputting an actuating signal, a control device for receiving the actuating signal and for outputting a control signal, and an emergency braking device. The emergency braking device is configured for active braking of the vehicle and, to this end, actuates a brake system provided in the vehicle on the basis of the control signal and a predefined operating mode.