Vehicle Speed Control via Satellite and Onboard Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for controlling axle speeds in vehicles are unreliable, particularly at low speeds and under heavy loads, due to inaccuracies in speed measurement caused by slippage and mechanical failures in radar systems and wheel speed sensors.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that combines off-board and onboard input speeds to determine a vehicle reference speed, allowing for precise control of axle torque and rotation speed, reducing slippage and improving efficiency by using satellite-based and sensor-based data to adjust throttle settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If radar systems are used to measure vehicle speed, then speed measurement is performed, but reliability deteriorates due to mechanical failure and poor accuracy at low speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses satellite-based positioning systems (GPS/GLONASS) as an intermediary to measure vehicle speed indirectly through position changes over time, rather than directly measuring wheel or axle rotation. This intermediary approach provides reliable speed data without the mechanical failure issues of radar systems and maintains accuracy at low speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical speed measurement systems (radar, wheel speed sensors) with satellite-based electronic positioning systems. This substitution eliminates mechanical components prone to failure and provides more reliable speed measurement across all operating conditions.
2Reliability
If wheel speed sensors are used to measure axle rotation speeds, then speed control is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to slippage between wheels and track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces satellite-based positioning as an intermediary measurement method that does not depend on wheel-track contact. By calculating speed from position changes rather than wheel rotation, the system eliminates slippage errors entirely while maintaining reliable speed control.
3Measurement precision
If Sampled Axle Speed algorithm is used to sample axle speed for accurate measurement, then measurement precision improves, but productivity deteriorates due to decreased tractive effort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses satellite-based positioning as an intermediary that provides accurate speed measurement without requiring any manipulation of axle torque or sampling operations. This eliminates the need to decrease tractive effort for measurement purposes, maintaining full productivity while achieving high measurement precision.
4Device complexity
If exclusive use of wheel speed sensors is made for speed measurement, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to slippage during motoring and braking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges satellite-based positioning data with wheel speed sensor data to create a hybrid speed measurement system. This combination leverages the simplicity of sensor-based measurement while compensating for slippage errors through satellite data, achieving both low complexity and high precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a vehicle system includes determining a vehicle reference speed using an off-board-based input speed and an onboard-based input speed. The off-board-based input speed is representative of a moving speed of the vehicle system and is determined from data received from an off-board device. The onboard-based input speed is representative of the moving speed of the vehicle system and is determined from data obtained from an onboard device. The method includes using the vehicle reference speed to at least one of measure wheel creep for one or more wheels of the vehicle system or control at least one of torques applied by or rotational speeds of one or more motors of the vehicle system.