Vehicle Speed Control Profiles for Target Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles face challenges in adjusting their speed to reach a target speed or position relative to other traffic participants, such as obstacles, pedestrians, and speed limits, while also considering optimal acceleration and deceleration profiles to ensure safe lane changes and integration into platoons.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for determining and applying control profiles to adjust vehicle speed, comprising control parameters for acceleration and deceleration, with switching points and end points defined by time, speed, or distance, allowing the vehicle to reach a target speed and position, taking into account external sources like traffic signs and other vehicles' speeds, and optimizing for time, wear, and energy efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the vehicle uses a single control profile to adjust speed, then the control system is simple, but it cannot optimize for both time efficiency and energy efficiency simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed adjustment timeVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the speed adjustment process into multiple control profile parts (first control profile part for time-optimal adjustment, second control profile part for energy-optimal adjustment). This segmentation allows the system to switch between different optimization goals at different stages, achieving both time efficiency and energy efficiency that would be impossible with a single control profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the vehicle accelerates and decelerates aggressively to reach target speed quickly, then productivity improves, but wear on vehicle components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespeed adjustment speedVSAvoidcomponent wear
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the speed adjustment into distinct phases: an initial aggressive acceleration/deceleration phase for quick response, followed by a gentler adjustment phase to reduce wear. This allows the system to prioritize speed when needed while minimizing harmful effects during the transition to target speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The control system prepares for the upcoming speed adjustment by selecting appropriate control profile parts in advance. The second control profile part is designed to cushion the transition and reduce wear on components during the deceleration phase, preventing excessive stress on the vehicle's mechanical systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the vehicle adjusts speed to reach target position in a platoon, then integration into traffic flow improves, but the control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatoon integration capabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic control system that automatically selects between different control profile parts based on the vehicle's current state and target requirements. The system transitions from time-optimal control to energy-optimal control as the vehicle approaches the target speed and position, providing adaptive platoon integration without requiring overly complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3967564B1Method for adjusting the speed of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.05.22 KNORR BREMSE SYSTEME FUER NUTZFAHIZEUGE GMBH
  • EP3967564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3967564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3967564B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method is disclosed for adjusting the speed (vego) of a vehicle (EGO) moving with an initial speed (vego, 0) to a target speed (vego, target), comprising the steps: - step (S14): determining a control profile comprising at least one control profile part, wherein the control profile is comprising at least one control parameter for the vehicle (EGO) and allowing the vehicle (EGO) to change its speed (vego) from the initial speed (vego, 0) to the target speed (vego, target); - step (S16): adjusting the speed (vego) of the vehicle (EGO) according to the control profile. A further method is disclosed for leading a vehicle (EGO) that is moving on a lane into a target position (dego, target) with respect to at least one other vehicle (1, 2, 3, 4), wherein the method above is used to adjust the speed of the vehicle (EGO) to reach the target position (dego, target). Further, a device, a system, a vehicle, a computer program product and a storage medium are disclosed.