Vehicle Range Maximization via Tire Pressure and Load Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle range estimation systems fail to accurately account for sudden changes in tire pressure and carried mass, leading to inaccurate range calculations and potential driver errors due to inappropriate performance parameter settings.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle range maximization system that includes tire pressure sensors, load carry sensors, and a vehicle control unit to detect and report changes in tire pressure and carried mass, and adjust braking, suspension, and engine parameters in real-time to optimize range, using data from various sensors and geographic information systems to calculate the impact on energy consumption and range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vehicle range estimation is based on expected parameters (stock mass, stock gas mileage), then calculations are simple and fast, but accuracy deteriorates when tire pressure or carried mass changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes the relationship between tire pressure/mass and range through physics-based models before actual operation. The VCU calculates rolling resistance coefficients and energy consumption relationships in advance, so when tire pressure or mass changes, the system can quickly apply the pre-established model rather than performing complex real-time simulations, thus improving accuracy without proportionally increasing computational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual tire pressure and carried mass through sensors, feeding this information back to the VCU which then updates the range estimation in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the range calculation adapts to changing conditions (tire inflation, passenger/cargo changes) while maintaining a manageable computational structure based on established physical relationships
2Adaptability or versatility
If selectable performance modes (Sport, Economy, Traction) are used, then vehicle performance is optimized for specific conditions, but range deteriorates when tire pressure or mass changes and modes remain inappropriate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts performance parameters (braking, suspension, engine) based on real-time tire pressure and carried mass detection. Rather than relying on static selectable modes, the VCU continuously modifies control parameters to match current vehicle conditions, ensuring optimal energy efficiency regardless of whether the vehicle is lightly or heavily loaded or has varying tire pressures
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical and control parameters (brake stiffness, suspension preload, engine fuel/air ratios, gear shift points) based on detected tire pressure and mass conditions. For example, when mass increases, the system adjusts engine mapping and transmission shift points to optimize torque delivery while minimizing energy loss, and modifies brake parameters to account for changed vehicle dynamics
3Use of energy by moving object
If tire pressure is not monitored and adjusted, then operation is simple, but range and energy efficiency deteriorate due to rolling resistance changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors tire pressure through integrated sensors and uses this information to calculate and communicate the impact on range and energy consumption to the driver. The VCU self-adjusts performance parameters based on tire pressure data without requiring driver intervention, while still providing information to the driver about the relationship between tire pressure and efficiency, thus improving energy efficiency while maintaining operational simplicity
Data Source
AI summary
A range maximization system for a vehicle accounting for external factors may include a tire pressure sensor and a load carry sensor configured to detect information relevant to a load on the vehicle. A vehicle control unit may be configured to receive detected information from the tire pressure and load carry sensor, and configured to determine a) an expected range for the vehicle with the detected information relevant to the load and the detected tire pressure, b) a contribution of the detected information relevant to the load and the detected tire pressure to the vehicle range, and c) braking parameters, chassis parameters, and engine parameters that maximize vehicle range based on the load and tire pressure. The system may also include a display configured to display the contribution of the detected load and the detected tire pressure to the vehicle range.