Vehicle-Trailer Threshold Speed Control for Sway Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driver assistance systems do not effectively modify vehicle speeds when towing a trailer, leading to increased likelihood of trailer sway, understeer, and oversteer, which affects maneuverability and increases stopping distance.
Innovation Solution
Implement programmable circuitry in vehicles to determine a threshold speed for vehicles and trailers using calibrated models, such as linear regression or LSTM networks, based on sensor data and external inputs, and adjust vehicle controls to prevent travel above this speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vehicle and trailer travel speed is increased, then productivity is improved, but maneuverability deteriorates and stability worsens due to trailer sway, understeer, and oversteer
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary determination of threshold speed using calibrated models before actual vehicle operation. By pre-calculating the safe speed threshold based on vehicle-trailer configuration, environmental conditions, and road characteristics, the system enables operators to maintain optimal speeds that prevent instability issues before they occur, rather than reacting after problems arise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the threshold speed based on real-time conditions including environmental factors, road conditions, and vehicle-trailer configuration. This dynamic approach allows the speed limit to adapt to changing conditions, maintaining optimal maneuverability and stability while maximizing productivity across varying operational scenarios.
2Productivity
If vehicle and trailer travel speed is increased, then productivity is improved, but stopping distance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-determines safe operating speed thresholds that account for stopping distance requirements. By calculating threshold speeds that incorporate braking distance considerations into the speed limit determination, the system ensures that even at maximum safe speeds, the vehicle-trailer combination can stop within acceptable distances, preventing loss of time while maintaining safety.
3Stability of the object's composition
If driver assistance systems modify vehicle speed controls, then maneuverability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a universal calibrated model framework that can determine threshold speeds for various vehicle-trailer configurations using the same underlying methodology. The calibrated models serve multiple functions including speed threshold determination, stability assessment, and adaptive speed recommendation across different operational scenarios, reducing overall system complexity through multi-functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the determined threshold speed is communicated to the driver or integrated with vehicle control systems. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain improved maneuverability by continuously monitoring actual speed against the threshold and providing corrective guidance, while the structured feedback architecture prevents excessive complexity through standardized information flow.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, apparatus, and articles of manufacture to determine threshold speed for a vehicle and trailer are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes memory, instructions, and programmable circuitry to execute the instructions to access information associated with at least one of a vehicle or a trailer coupled to the vehicle, determine, by executing a model based on the information, a threshold speed for the vehicle and the trailer, and prevent, by activating at least one vehicle control, the vehicle and the trailer from travelling at or above the threshold speed.