Vehicle Assembly Test Cycle Compression via Transition Probabilities
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Solution Overview
Problem
The lengthy process of performing multiple test drive cycles during vehicle development is time-consuming and does not efficiently represent the performance of a vehicle assembly during validation testing, making it challenging to calibrate and configure components to meet legislated performance requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to determine a first time series of an operating parameter for a drive cycle, identify ranges and transition probabilities, and generate second time series with varying durations based on these probabilities, allowing the vehicle assembly to perform shorter or longer drive cycles that are controlled to mimic the original cycle, thereby reducing testing time while maintaining performance data quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple test drive cycles are performed during vehicle development, then performance parameters can be accurately calibrated to meet legislated requirements, but the testing process becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the original drive cycle by identifying key operating ranges and their transition probabilities. Instead of performing multiple complete drive cycles, the system generates a condensed test cycle that replicates the essential operational characteristics and statistical properties of the original cycle, achieving the same calibration accuracy in reduced time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the drive cycle representation by changing from time-based continuous data to probability-based discrete ranges. By identifying operating ranges and their transition probabilities, the system compresses the drive cycle information into a more efficient format that maintains performance characterization while reducing test duration
2Productivity
If the drive cycle is shortened to reduce testing time, then development efficiency improves, but the representativeness of performance data may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters used to represent the drive cycle from continuous time-based values to discrete probability distributions of operating ranges. This transformation allows the condensed cycle to maintain statistical representativeness by preserving the likelihood of transitioning between different operating conditions, ensuring reliability while improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the identified transition probabilities as feedback to construct the condensed drive cycle. By incorporating the statistical patterns of how the vehicle transitions between operating ranges, the shortened cycle maintains faithful representation of actual vehicle behavior, ensuring that performance data remains reliable despite reduced duration
Data Source
AI summary
Controlling a vehicle assembly can include determining a first time series of an operating parameter of the vehicle assembly defining a first drive cycle, the first drive cycle for testing one or more performance parameters of the vehicle assembly; identifying a plurality of ranges of the operating parameter during the first drive cycle; determining probabilities of the vehicle assembly operating in and/or transitioning between the ranges of the operating parameter during the first drive cycle; determining one or more second time series of the operating parameter defining one or more second drive cycles, the one or more second time series having a different duration from the first time series, wherein the one or more second time series are determined based on the determined probabilities of the vehicle assembly operating in and/or transitioning between the ranges of the operating parameter during the first drive cycle; and controlling the vehicle assembly and/or a further vehicle assembly to perform one or more of the second drive cycles using the determined second time series.