Vehicle Speed Optimization Using Energy Loss Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle speed control systems optimize distance-specific fuel consumption without considering energy losses, leading to biased user expectations and requirements, particularly regarding fuel consumption and vehicle energy changes.
Innovation Solution
A more appropriate optimization approach that uses a cost function considering energy losses by subtracting fuel-energy parameters required for changes in kinetic and potential energy of the vehicle, thereby correcting the fuel mass flow signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If distance-specific fuel consumption is optimized without considering energy losses, then fuel consumption metrics are improved, but measurement precision of true energy consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates the energy loss components from the total fuel consumption measurement. By identifying and removing the biased portions (kinetic and potential energy changes) from the fuel mass flow signal, the system obtains a corrected measurement that reflects true energy consumption rather than total fuel usage, thereby resolving the contradiction between fuel consumption metrics and energy loss consideration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary correction mechanism that processes the fuel mass flow signal. This intermediary system calculates energy losses based on vehicle dynamics parameters and applies corrections to the raw fuel consumption data, serving as a mediator between the uncorrected fuel consumption measurement and the true energy consumption metric
2Device complexity
If fuel mass flow signal is used directly for optimization, then optimization simplicity is improved, but measurement precision of energy consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary correction actions to the fuel mass flow signal before it is used in optimization calculations. By pre-calculating and subtracting the kinetic and potential energy components from the fuel consumption data in advance, the system prepares corrected energy consumption metrics that can be directly used in optimization without adding complexity during the optimization process itself
3Productivity
If vehicle energy changes are not considered in optimization, then computational efficiency is improved, but measurement precision of user expectations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the vehicle energy change components (kinetic and potential energy) from the overall optimization problem. By separating these measurable physical quantities from the optimization calculations, the system maintains computational efficiency while incorporating accurate energy consumption data that reflects true user expectations regarding fuel usage and vehicle performance
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and approach for a vehicle system. The vehicle system may include a vehicle (10), a propulsion device (14) (e.g., a combustion engine or electric motor), and a controller (16). The propulsion device (14) may at least partially power the vehicle (10). The controller (16) may be in communication with the propulsion device (14) and may control the propulsion device according to a target speed of the vehicle. The controller may include a model (30) of energy balances of the vehicle and may use the model to estimate energy losses over a travel horizon of the vehicle. The controller may optimize a cost function (28) over the travel horizon of the vehicle based at least in part on the estimated energy losses to set an actual speed for the vehicle. The estimated energy losses may include one or more of aerodynamic drag, vehicle friction, and conversion efficiency from the propulsion device.