Vehicle Minimum-Time Path Control for High-Acceleration Driving
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems lack the capability to optimize acceleration and speed on operable roadways without governmental speed limits, such as raceways or private property, to achieve the minimum travel time from a starting point to a destination point.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that includes a computer with a processor and memory, capable of executing instructions to operate vehicle systems such as propulsion, braking, steering, and suspension in a minimum time mode. The system collects roadway data to determine a minimum time path and speed, maximizing torque transmission based on vehicle performance and roadway conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a human driver manually controls acceleration and speed, then the vehicle can operate on various roadways, but the travel time from starting point to destination point cannot be optimized to minimum
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle system performs self-optimization of acceleration and speed by automatically calculating the minimum time path and controlling propulsion/braking systems based on collected roadway data, eliminating the need for complex manual control while achieving minimum travel time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical control with an automated computer system that collects roadway data, determines optimal paths using algorithms, and electronically controls vehicle systems to achieve minimum time travel
2Loss of time
If the system optimizes for maximum acceleration and speed, then minimum travel time is achieved, but the system complexity increases due to multiple vehicle systems integration
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system serves multiple functions: collecting roadway data from various sensors, determining the minimum time path through calculations, and controlling multiple vehicle systems (propulsion, braking, steering) to execute the optimized trajectory, consolidating complexity into a single multi-functional control unit
3Loss of time
If the system collects and processes roadway data to determine minimum time path, then optimal speed and acceleration are achieved, but the computational requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system collects roadway data (surface conditions, curves, elevation changes) before determining the minimum time path, allowing pre-calculation of optimal acceleration and speed profiles that maximize torque transmission while accounting for upcoming road conditions
Data Source
AI summary
A system has memory that stores instructions executable by the processor to instruct operation of at least one vehicle system (e.g., braking system, propulsion system, steering system, suspension system) in a minimum time mode for travel of the vehicle from a starting point to a destination point of a roadway. The system collects roadway data for the roadway from the starting point to the destination point. Based on the roadway data, the system determines a minimum time path from the starting point to the destination point and speed along the minimum time path. In response to a maximum acceleration input from a human driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is at the starting point, the system initiates the minimum time mode and instructs operation of at least one vehicle system to pursue the minimum time path and speed along the minimum time path from starting point to destination point.