Vehicle Combination Force Allocation Under Safety Constraints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle combinations face challenges in controlling force distribution between the tractor and trailer, particularly in scenarios involving electric motors for propulsion and braking, which require efficient energy management and safety compliance.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling vehicle combinations by determining if a desired force can be provided by a unique dedicated unit (tractor or trailer) while meeting safety requirements, and operating only those units if possible, otherwise distributing the force across both units to meet safety criteria.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the desired force is provided by a unique dedicated unit (tractor or trailer) only, then the system complexity is reduced and energy management is simplified, but the ability to meet safety requirements may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the force distribution between tractor and trailer based on real-time safety requirement assessments. The system transitions between different operational modes (tractor-only, trailer-only, or combined) depending on whether safety requirements can be met with a single unit, making the force distribution adaptive rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors safety requirements and provides feedback to the force distribution control. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines whether a unique dedicated unit can satisfy safety constraints, and adjusts the force allocation accordingly to maintain both simplicity and safety compliance.
2Reliability
If force is distributed across both tractor and trailer motion support devices, then safety requirements are more likely to be met, but energy management efficiency decreases and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines the optimal force distribution between tractor and trailer based on real-time assessment of safety requirements. When safety requirements allow, the system concentrates force on a single dedicated unit to maximize energy efficiency. When safety requirements demand, the system distributes force across both units, creating a dynamic balance between efficiency and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the force distribution parameters (force magnitude and direction) between tractor and trailer motion support devices based on safety requirement assessments. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize energy usage by minimizing the number of active motion support devices while ensuring safety compliance.
3Reliability
If multiple motion support devices are operated simultaneously, then the desired force can be more reliably provided, but the cooling requirements of service brakes become more challenging to meet
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts or isolates the braking function to specific units (tractor or trailer) based on safety requirement assessments. By concentrating braking operations on a single dedicated unit when possible, the system reduces the thermal load on brake systems and facilitates cooling, while still maintaining reliable force provision through the selected unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts which motion support devices are active based on thermal management considerations. When safety requirements and cooling constraints allow, the system operates fewer devices to reduce brake heating. When higher reliability is needed, the system activates additional devices, creating a dynamic response to both performance and thermal management requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a vehicle combination includes receiving a request that a desired force imparted on the vehicle combination should be provided by the set of motion support devices of a unique dedicated unit of the vehicle combination, the unique dedicated unit being either the tractor or the trailer. Upon determining that the desired force imparted on the vehicle combination can be provided by the set of motion support devices of the unique dedicated unit whilst fulfilling each safety requirement in a predetermined set of safety requirements of the vehicle combination, the predetermined set of safety requirements includes at least one safety requirement, operating the set of motion support devices of the unique dedicated unit only so as to provide the desired force, otherwise operating one or more of the tractor motion support devices as well as one or more of the trailer motion support devices in order to provide the desired force imparted on the vehicle combination.