Vehicle Running Pattern Calculator for Fuel Efficiency Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for optimizing fuel efficiency in vehicles face challenges due to discontinuous engine characteristics, leading to local minimum problems and inefficient fuel usage, especially at low engine speeds, and fail to coordinate driver operations effectively with vehicle control to achieve total optimization.
Innovation Solution
A running pattern calculating apparatus and method that predicts vehicle states, divides the road into sections based on predicted states, sets evaluation functions for each section, and calculates optimal running patterns to improve fuel efficiency by avoiding local minimum issues and coordinating driver and vehicle control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the optimization method repeatedly transforms the given operating pattern to arrive at the optimum solution, then the running pattern should approach the ideal solution, but the discontinuous engine efficiency characteristic causes the optimization to fall into local minimum and reject patterns with low vehicle speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the continuous optimization process into discrete evaluation steps, dividing the running pattern evaluation into multiple candidate patterns that are assessed independently. This allows the system to evaluate patterns with engine stopped states separately from continuous running patterns, avoiding the local minimum trap caused by discontinuous efficiency characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the evaluation parameters by introducing a comprehensive evaluation function that explicitly accounts for engine stopped states (zero rpm) as valid operating conditions. This parameter change allows the optimization to consider patterns where the engine stops during coasting, rather than continuously transforming patterns within the same operational regime.
2Loss of energy
If the evaluation function process is repeated in an attempt at total optimization, then the running pattern should improve fuel efficiency, but the engine efficiency conversely decreases in the region where engine speed decreases toward zero
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the evaluation function adaptive to different operating regions. The system dynamically adjusts the evaluation criteria based on whether the engine is running or stopped, allowing optimal evaluation of patterns that include engine stop states without penalizing the natural discontinuity in engine efficiency characteristics.
3Productivity
If the optimization method assumes there must be a pattern C that is ultimately better than pattern B which is better than pattern A, then the optimization should converge to the optimum solution, but the discontinuous characteristic prevents reaching the ideal running pattern with alternating acceleration and coasting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by evaluating multiple candidate running patterns simultaneously and selecting the optimal one based on comprehensive fuel efficiency assessment. This feedback mechanism allows the system to learn from the discontinuous efficiency characteristics and adjust the pattern selection to achieve true optimization, rather than following a predetermined transformation sequence.
Data Source
AI summary
A running pattern calculating apparatus and running pattern calculating method that stores road information; predicts a running state when the vehicle will travel on a road, based on the stored road information; divides the road into a plurality of sections based on the predicted running state and sets an evaluation function for each road section; and calculates a running pattern of the vehicle that will travel on the road, based on the evaluation function set for each road section.