Vehicle Stability via Selective Wheel Braking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle combinations comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer linked by an articulated connection can become unstable during fast downhill driving, strong side winds, or uneven roads, leading to swerving and loss of control due to yaw rate differences between the two vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for stabilizing the vehicle combination by determining the yaw rate difference between the tractor and trailer vehicles, activating wheel brakes on one side to counter orientation deviations, and optionally accelerating wheels on the unbraked side, using sensors and a control unit to maintain the intended travel direction, allowing for autonomous control without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If wheel brakes are activated on one side to counter orientation deviation, then vehicle stability is improved, but the complexity of the braking control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The braking control system is segmented by independently controlling wheel brakes on different sides of the vehicle. The control unit selectively activates brakes on individual wheels or sides based on detected orientation deviation, dividing the braking function into independent controllable segments rather than applying uniform braking to all wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
The braking intervention is applied locally to specific wheels or sides of the vehicle rather than uniformly to all wheels. The control unit determines which side requires braking based on the orientation deviation direction, applying brake force only where needed to counter the specific deviation, thus improving stability with targeted local action.
2Measurement precision
If yaw rate sensors are installed on both tractor and trailer vehicles to accurately determine yaw rate difference, then measurement precision is improved, but the cost and complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The solution extracts the yaw rate measurement function from the trailer vehicle by determining the trailer's yaw rate based on the tractor vehicle's yaw rate and the articulation angle. This eliminates the need for a separate yaw rate sensor on the trailer, reducing system complexity while maintaining measurement capability through mathematical derivation from available sensor data.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulation angle sensor serves multiple functions: it directly measures the relative angle between tractor and trailer, and its time derivative provides the trailer vehicle's yaw rate information. This multi-functional use of a single sensor type reduces the overall sensor count and system complexity while maintaining the necessary measurement precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces orientation deviations and stabilizes the vehicle combination by applying torque through selective braking and acceleration, enabling better control and preventing swerving, even in challenging conditions, and allows for autonomous operation.
Implementation Method 1
activating a wheel brake of the vehicle on only one side of the vehicle in order to counter the orientation deviation of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle combination comprising a tractor vehicle and a trailer vehicle, each vehicle including wheels on different sides of the vehicle and wheel brakes associated with the wheels. A method for controlling the vehicle combination includes determining a yaw rate difference between a yaw rate of the tractor vehicle and a yaw rate of the trailer vehicle; determining, on the basis of the yaw rate difference, that an orientation of one of the vehicles deviates from an intended travel direction of the vehicle combination; and activating a wheel brake of the vehicle on only one side of the vehicle in order to counter the orientation deviation of the vehicle relative to the intended travel direction.