Vehicle Obstacle Maneuver Control for Underbody Strike Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles' underbody components are prone to damage from obstacles during driving, especially when there are abrupt changes in vehicle height, leading to unexpected repairs, delays, and poor user experience due to strikes from objects like rocks, debris, and curbs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a Macro Capacitive Sensor (MCS) system that detects and avoids obstacles by defining 'no or low impact zones' on the vehicle's underbody, using sensing technologies and automated driving features to adjust vehicle direction, speed, and ride height to prevent damage, and sharing obstacle information via Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication to optimize navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If vehicle height is reduced to improve ground clearance and off-road capability, then off-road performance is improved, but underbody components become more vulnerable to impact damage from obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of obstacles using sensors (camera, LIDAR, ultrasonic, radar) before the vehicle reaches them. The controller processes this information in advance and calculates optimal path adjustments or speed reductions to prevent underbody component impact, allowing the vehicle to maintain low ride height for off-road capability while avoiding damage through proactive obstacle management
Solution Approach 2:
The obstacle avoidance system acts as an intermediary between the vehicle's propulsion system and the underbody components. By detecting obstacles and automatically adjusting vehicle parameters (steering angle, speed, ride height), the system mediates the interaction between the vehicle and obstacles, preventing direct harmful contact while maintaining the vehicle's off-road operational characteristics
2Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted on the vehicle underside to detect obstacles, then detection capability is improved, but sensors become exposed to mud, dirt, snow, and debris that may obscure them
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is divided into multiple segments located at different positions on the vehicle (front bumper, rear bumper, sides). This segmentation allows the vehicle to detect obstacles from multiple perspectives and maintain detection capability even when individual sensors are partially obscured by environmental conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary that processes data from multiple sensor types (camera, LIDAR, ultrasonic, radar) and fuses this information to compensate for individual sensor obscuration. When one sensor is blocked by mud, dirt, or snow, the controller relies on data from other sensors to maintain accurate obstacle detection
3Object-affected harmful factors
If automated obstacle avoidance maneuvers are implemented, then damage prevention is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it processes data from various sensor types, determines obstacle characteristics, calculates optimal avoidance maneuvers, controls suspension ride height, and interfaces with the driver. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be multiple separate systems into a single integrated control unit, managing complexity while providing comprehensive obstacle avoidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects obstacles and executes avoidance maneuvers without requiring driver intervention. The controller self-manages the entire obstacle avoidance process, from sensing to maneuver execution, reducing the burden on the driver and simplifying the user interface while maintaining sophisticated avoidance capabilities
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively prevents damage to sensitive underbody components by providing timely obstacle detection and avoidance maneuvers, reducing the risk of strikes and minimizing repair costs through proactive navigation and crowd-sourced obstacle information.
Implementation Method 1
Macro Capacitive Sensor (MCS) in the detection, avoidance, and/or mitigation of impacts from defined objects
Data Source
AI summary
An example vehicle can include a sensor platform and a controller that is configured to determine an object that is in front of the vehicle, determine the object as a hazard by at least one of determining, using dead reckoning, that the object is in a path of travel of the vehicle that will cause the object to travel under a restricted zone of the vehicle and/or the object has a height that is higher than a vehicle ride height.