Vehicle Sensor Drift Detection via Cross-Sensor Comparison

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing anomalies in vehicle control units due to sensor malfunctions are inefficient, leading to wasted time and vehicle downtime, as they often require analyzing the control unit and sensors after anomalies are detected, and faulty sensors can behave unpredictably, making systematic monitoring difficult.

Innovation Solution

A predictive diagnosis method that uses comparisons between similar sensors to detect drifts over time, particularly when the engine is stopped or has been stopped for a predetermined period, allowing for early detection of anomalies before they affect vehicle functionalities, and includes sending warnings to the driver or operator about potential future issues.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sensor monitoring is performed continuously during vehicle operation, then anomaly detection capability is improved, but false alarms increase due to unpredictable sensor behavior under various operating conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanomaly detection capabilityVSAvoidfalse alarm rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs sensor drift detection during engine stop periods before the vehicle operation begins. By conducting measurements when the engine is stopped or has been stopped for a predetermined number of hours, the system establishes baseline sensor readings under stable conditions, enabling early anomaly detection without the interference of dynamic operating conditions that cause unpredictable sensor behavior.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If diagnostic analysis is performed after anomaly detection, then root cause identification is achieved, but vehicle downtime and operator time are significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroot cause identificationVSAvoidvehicle downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system proactively detects sensor drifts during engine stop periods before anomalies affect vehicle functionalities. By monitoring sensor measurements over time and comparing them against reference values or other sensor readings, the system identifies drifts early, allowing for scheduled maintenance during convenient times rather than emergency repairs that cause vehicle downtime and operator time waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If multiple sensors are monitored simultaneously, then system coverage is improved, but complexity of the monitoring system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem coverageVSAvoidmonitoring system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system uses a universal approach by comparing sensor readings against reference values that can be derived from other sensors measuring the same physical quantity. This multi-functional comparison method can be applied to various sensor types (temperature, pressure, flow, etc.) using the same basic algorithm, enabling broad system coverage without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2747038B1System for the predictive diagnosis of sensor-related anomalies on vehicles
Publication Date: 2018.05.30 IVECO SPA
  • EP2747038B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2747038B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

System for the predictive diagnosis of sensor-related anomalies of vehicles comprising the steps of comparing between each other measurements of similar sensors, namely of sensors which measure the same physical magnitudes, over time, in order to detect variations indicating a drift of one of the sensors.