Autonomous Vehicle Rocking via Velocity-Acceleration Ratio
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traction control systems can hinder efforts to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition by reducing wheel spinning, which is necessary to rock the vehicle free from ruts with low traction surfaces like snow, mud, or sand.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that automatically detects a stuck condition, deactivates traction control, and shifts the transmission alternately between reverse and forward gears to rock the vehicle, using a ratio of velocity to acceleration to time the gear shifts and torque application, allowing for autonomous extrication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traction control is activated to reduce wheel slippage, then vehicle safety is improved, but the ability to extricate the vehicle from stuck conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts traction control status based on detected driving conditions. When a stuck condition is detected (wheels spinning without vehicle movement), the system automatically deactivates traction control to enable wheel spinning for extrication. When normal driving conditions are detected, traction control is reactivated for safety. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by having the system switch between safety mode and extrication mode based on real-time conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the transmission is shifted alternately between reverse and forward gears to rock the vehicle, then the vehicle can be extricated from stuck conditions, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the vehicle's own motion parameters (velocity and acceleration) to automatically time the gear shifts. The control unit calculates the ratio of velocity to acceleration to determine the optimal moment for shifting between reverse and forward gears, eliminating the need for complex external timing mechanisms or manual driver coordination. This self-service approach enables automated extrication while keeping the control system relatively simple.
3Ease of operation
If manual intervention is required to shift gears and manage traction control, then the driver has direct control, but the productivity of extrication process decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors vehicle motion parameters (velocity and acceleration) and uses this feedback to automatically control transmission shifting and traction control status. The control unit calculates the velocity-to-acceleration ratio in real-time to determine optimal shift timing, creating a closed-loop control system that automatically manages the extrication process without requiring manual driver intervention, thereby significantly improving extrication efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus to extricate a vehicle from a stuck condition, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed. An example apparatus includes: a user interface to receive a command to place a vehicle in an autonomous control mode of the vehicle; and a stuck mode controller to autonomously shift a transmission of the vehicle alternately between a reverse gear and a forward gear of the vehicle when in the autonomous control mode to autonomously rock the vehicle back and forth. A timing of the shifting of the transmission is based on a ratio of a velocity of the vehicle to an acceleration of the vehicle.