Vehicle Handling Control Configuration via External Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of coordinating driving assistants and dynamics controls in motor vehicles makes it difficult for drivers to create or adapt configurations tailored to specific driving situations using the usual onboard controls.

Innovation Solution

The Autonomous Configuration of Adjustable Environments (AKEU) system, which enables users to configure driving behavior settings outside the vehicle using a smartphone or computer, with a server managing and synchronizing settings, ensuring secure data connections and prioritization of configurations based on conditions like time, location, and environmental factors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If drivers use usual onboard controls to configure driving behavior settings, then the vehicle can provide basic control functions, but the complexity of coordinating multiple driving assistants and dynamics controls makes it difficult to create or adapt configurations tailored to specific driving situations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to driving situationsVSAvoidcomplexity of driving behavior control
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the driver and the vehicle's driving behavior control systems. The server receives configuration requests from the driver's mobile device, processes the complex coordination of multiple driving assistants and dynamics controls, and sends commands back to the vehicle. This mediator handles the complexity of integrating multiple control systems, allowing the driver to access adapted configurations for specific driving situations without directly managing the complex interactions between systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves the configuration interface from the traditional onboard vehicle controls to an external mobile device dimension. By allowing drivers to configure driving behavior settings via smartphone applications, the system accesses a different operational dimension with greater computational power and user interface capabilities. This external dimension enables drivers to create and adapt complex configurations for specific driving situations without being constrained by the limited onboard control interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides detailed configuration options for multiple driving assistants and dynamics controls, then the system can be highly adaptable to different driving situations, but the time required to configure these settings becomes unreasonably long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides pre-configured driving behavior profiles that have been prepared in advance for common driving situations (e.g., sport mode, comfort mode, eco mode). When a driver needs configuration for a specific situation, they can select from these pre-prepared options rather than configuring each parameter from scratch. The server also maintains historical configuration data and can automatically suggest or apply previously used configurations, significantly reducing the time required to adapt to different driving situations while maintaining high configurability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automatic configuration selection and application based on detected driving conditions. The server monitors vehicle sensors and environmental data to automatically determine the appropriate driving behavior configuration and applies it without requiring manual driver input. This self-service capability allows the system to maintain high adaptability to different driving situations while eliminating the time loss associated with manual configuration, as the system autonomously selects and applies the most suitable settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system allows configuration from external sources, then users can access more configuration options, but misconfiguration or misuse is not actively prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accessibilityVSAvoidconfiguration correctness
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The server implements a feedback mechanism that validates configuration requests before applying them to the vehicle systems. When a driver submits a configuration request through the mobile application, the server checks whether the requested settings are compatible with the vehicle's current state, capabilities, and safety requirements. The system provides feedback to the driver about potential issues with the configuration and can automatically adjust or reject configurations that would result in misconfiguration or misuse. This feedback loop maintains configuration accessibility while ensuring reliability by preventing harmful or incorrect settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3259164B1Configuring the handling control of a motor vehicle
Publication Date: 2023.04.26 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP3259164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3259164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3259164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a device (110) for configuring a motor vehicle (105). The device (110) comprises: a communication device for receiving a configuration from a central component (115), said configuration comprising at least one parameter related to the handling control (102) of the motor vehicle (105); and a processing device designed to activate the configuration by setting at least one parameter of the configuration in the motor vehicle (115).