Vehicle Vertical Control System Fault Compensation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vertical control systems in vehicles are prone to breakdown due to single errors in multiple control devices, leading to reduced user acceptance and increased traffic risk, as they severely impair driving stability and can result in vehicle failure.

Innovation Solution

A method and compensation device that monitor and adapt the control parameters of functional vertical control devices to compensate for error states in others, allowing the vehicle to continue operating by adjusting control parameters of remaining devices, such as air suspension, damping, and roll stabilization, to maintain driving stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple vertical control devices are used to improve driving stability and driving dynamics, then the vehicle's vertical control performance is enhanced, but the system becomes more error-prone and the risk of vehicle breakdown increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving stabilityVSAvoidnumber of vertical control devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously monitors the operational status of all vertical control devices before failures occur. When a defect is detected in one device, the system proactively adapts the control parameters of other functional devices to compensate for the defect, preventing complete system failure and maintaining vehicle stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the control parameters (such as damping coefficients, spring rates, or actuator forces) of functional vertical control devices to compensate for defects in other devices. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains overall vehicle stability despite individual component failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If vertical control systems are monitored for error states, then fault detection capability is improved, but the driving stability is severely impaired in error states leading to vehicle breakdown

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror state detectionVSAvoiddriving stability in error state

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit continuously receives feedback signals from sensors monitoring the operational status of vertical control devices. When a defect is detected, the system immediately adjusts the control parameters of functional devices based on this feedback, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains stability even in error states.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of a defect in one vertical control device into a beneficial compensation mechanism by adjusting other devices. The defect becomes an opportunity to activate the compensation mechanism, which maintains overall system functionality and prevents complete breakdown.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If complex vertical control systems with multiple devices are implemented, then driving dynamics are improved, but user acceptance decreases due to increased traffic risk from broken-down vehicles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving dynamicsVSAvoidtraffic risk from breakdown

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares compensation measures in advance by continuously monitoring the status of all vertical control devices. When a defect occurs, the compensation mechanism is already activated, cushioning the impact of the failure and preventing sudden vehicle breakdown that would create traffic hazards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2754574B1Method for controlling a vertical regulating system of a vehicle

Publication Date: 2017.04.12 AUDI AG

AI summary

The method involves monitoring functionality of two vertical control devices (20) such as roll control and damping control (20d), using sensor devices of a respective control unit, and detecting fault condition of one of the two vertical control devices. Control parameters of the other vertical control device are adjusted so as to partially compensate the fault condition of the former vertical control device. The fault condition is displayed to a driver of a vehicle (100) as a warning signal. An independent claim is also included for a compensating device.