Vehicle Speed Control Using Elevation Data from Other Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cruise control systems in vehicles are reactive, leading to system latency and inefficiencies in fuel economy due to delays in throttle adjustments in response to changes in loading, and they often result in overspeeding on declines and underspeeding on inclines, requiring driver intervention.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle speed control system that uses wireless communication to receive position information, including elevation, from other vehicles to proactively adjust the speed setting based on elevation changes, thereby reducing system latency and improving fuel efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cruise control system reacts to speed errors by adjusting throttle, then speed error is corrected, but system latency increases and fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting elevation changes of upcoming road sections in advance and proactively adjusting the throttle before the vehicle actually enters the incline or decline. This anticipatory adjustment eliminates the reactive delay inherent in traditional cruise control, allowing the system to maintain set speed without waiting for speed errors to occur.
2Reliability
If cruise control system adjusts throttle reactively, then speed error is corrected, but fuel economy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By detecting elevation changes beforehand and adjusting throttle proactively, the system avoids the excessive throttle corrections required by reactive systems. The preliminary adjustment optimizes fuel consumption by preparing the engine for upcoming grade changes rather than reacting to speed deviations after they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from elevation data of upcoming road sections to continuously optimize throttle positioning. This feedback mechanism allows the cruise control to anticipate and prepare for grade changes, maintaining speed stability while minimizing fuel consumption through optimized throttle management.
3Speed
If vehicle travels on significant decline, then gravity causes acceleration past set speed, but driver intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects elevation decreases indicating upcoming declines and proactively reduces throttle positioning before the vehicle enters the downward grade. This preliminary action counteracts the gravitational acceleration that would otherwise cause speed to exceed the set point, eliminating the need for driver brake intervention.
4Speed
If vehicle travels on significant incline, then vehicle drops below set speed, but throttle adjustment causes overspeed at top of hill
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects elevation increases indicating upcoming inclines and proactively increases throttle positioning before the vehicle enters the upward grade. This preliminary action ensures the vehicle maintains set speed throughout the incline by preparing sufficient power in advance, rather than reacting with excessive throttle adjustments that would cause overspeed at the crest.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for controlling a speed of a vehicle includes detecting whether a cruise control setting of a first vehicle is active and receiving, at the first vehicle, position information of a second vehicle, the position information of the second vehicle including an elevation of the second vehicle. A value is determined that is representative of a difference in elevation between the first vehicle and the second vehicle based on the received position information of the second vehicle and an elevation of the first vehicle. A speed setting of the first vehicle is adjusted based on the determined value if the detected cruise control setting of the first vehicle is active.