Vehicle Speed Control System for Slope Crest Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle speed control systems are ineffective in congested traffic conditions and off-road environments, as they often require manual intervention and are not designed to handle varying terrain, leading to reduced driver confidence and vehicle control.
Innovation Solution
A speed control system that automatically adjusts vehicle speed by applying positive and negative torque to the wheels based on terrain gradient information, detected using sensors and cameras, to maintain a predetermined crest speed when approaching slopes, enhancing vehicle composure and driver confidence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cruise control systems are set with a minimum speed requirement, then the likelihood of low speed collision is reduced, but the systems become ineffective in congested traffic conditions and off-road environments
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the minimum speed threshold based on detected terrain type. On highways, a higher minimum speed maintains safety, while in congested or off-road conditions, the threshold is lowered or disabled, allowing the vehicle to operate effectively across diverse environments without compromising collision prevention where it matters most.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system modifies operational parameters (speed thresholds) according to environmental conditions. By detecting terrain characteristics and adjusting the minimum speed parameter accordingly, the system resolves the contradiction between maintaining safe speeds on highways and adapting to lower speed requirements in congested or off-road settings.
2Reliability
If cruise control systems are designed for on-road use, then speed maintenance is reliable, but the systems require manual intervention in off-road conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects terrain type and adjusts control parameters without user input. The terrain detection system and adaptive controller work together to self-adjust the minimum speed threshold, eliminating the need for manual intervention when transitioning between on-road and off-road conditions while maintaining reliable speed control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically modifies control parameters based on detected terrain characteristics. This adaptive parameter adjustment allows the cruise control to maintain its reliability in speed maintenance while removing the burden of manual intervention, as the system autonomously adapts to different operating environments.
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle maintains a pre-set cruise speed, then driver workload is reduced, but the system is automatically disabled in circumstances that may not be desirable
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors terrain conditions and provides feedback to the adaptive controller. This feedback loop allows the system to intelligently determine when to maintain cruise control operation and when to disable it, ensuring both driver workload reduction and appropriate system availability based on actual driving conditions rather than rigid predetermined rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The adaptive controller dynamically adjusts the operational status of cruise control based on terrain parameters. By changing the system's operational parameter (enabled/disabled state) according to detected conditions, the system achieves both reduced driver workload and improved reliability by remaining available in appropriate circumstances.
Data Source
AI summary
A speed control system (12) for a vehicle (100), the speed control system (12) being configured to: automatically cause application of positive and negative torque, as required, to one or more wheels of a vehicle (100) to cause a vehicle to travel in accordance with a target speed value, the target speed value being stored in a memory of the control system (12); and detect a crest of a slope ahead of the vehicle (100); wherein the speed control system (12) is configured automatically to attempt to adjust a speed of the vehicle (100) to cause the vehicle (100) to travel at a predetermined crest speed value when a crest of a slope is detected ahead of the vehicle (100), the predetermined crest speed value being determined in dependence at least in part on terrain gradient information respect of terrain prior to the crest.