Vehicle Sensor Redundancy for Engine Derating Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current control systems in powered machines, such as vehicles, often derate engine performance based on environmental factors due to sensor inaccuracies or failures, leading to unnecessary reductions in output capacity, which can result in road failures even if conditions do not warrant it.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a first sensor onboard a vehicle to sense environmental parameters and a second sensor, potentially on a separate vehicle, with a controller that switches to using the second sensor's data if the first sensor fails or provides inaccurate readings, allowing for continuous operation at optimal capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the controller uses a single sensor to measure environmental parameters, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates when the sensor fails or provides inaccurate readings
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures a secondary sensor as a backup before the primary sensor fails. The controller is programmed in advance to monitor primary sensor data and automatically switch to the secondary sensor when failure or inaccuracy is detected, ensuring continuous reliable operation without requiring manual intervention or system reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the primary and secondary sensors, monitoring the primary sensor's output quality and mediating the transition to the secondary sensor when necessary. This intermediary function allows the system to maintain reliability by selecting the most trustworthy sensor data source while managing the complexity of having multiple sensors through centralized control logic.
2Reliability
If the controller defaults to derating the engine when sensor data is questionable, then the reliability is improved by avoiding potential damage, but the productivity deteriorates due to unnecessary reduction in output capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors environmental parameter measurements from the primary sensor and compares them against expected ranges and patterns. When readings fall outside acceptable parameters or show signs of sensor failure, the feedback mechanism triggers a switch to the secondary sensor rather than immediately derating the engine. This feedback-based decision process ensures the engine maintains optimal output capacity while reliability is preserved through intelligent sensor selection.
3Reliability
If the system switches to a secondary sensor when the primary sensor fails, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for sensor switching logic
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is pre-programmed with the switching logic and criteria for when to transition from the primary to the secondary sensor. This preliminary configuration of failure detection thresholds and switch protocols eliminates the need for complex real-time decision algorithms, reducing controller logic complexity while ensuring reliable automatic switching when sensor failure or inaccuracy is detected.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor system for a vehicle includes first and second sensors onboard different vehicles. The sensors sense one or more environmental parameters. A controller receives a first signal output by the first sensor that indicates a value of the one or more environmental parameters sensed by the first sensor. The controller may control operation of a power component of the first vehicle using the value of the one or more environmental parameters received from the first sensor. The controller may detect undesirable operation of the first sensor and transition to receiving a second signal output by the second sensor that indicates the value of the one or more environmental parameters. The controller may control the operation of the power component of the first vehicle using the value of the one or more environmental parameters received from the second sensor.