Electric Vehicle Virtual Gear Control for Gearshift Sensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric powertrain systems in vehicles reduce driver involvement and driving pleasure, especially in high-performance sports cars, as they eliminate the need for gearshifts, leading to a lack of the engaging sensations associated with conventional gearshifts.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling an electric road vehicle using virtual gears and additional torque profiles to simulate the sensations of conventional gearshifts, allowing drivers to manually adjust torque through upshift and downshift controls, enhancing driving pleasure without requiring physical modifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical gearbox is used to provide gearshift sensations, then driving pleasure is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical gearbox system with an electric powertrain system that uses electronic control to simulate gearshift sensations. The electric motor delivers torque directly to the wheels without mechanical transmission components, and the control unit manages torque delivery to create virtual gearshift effects through software algorithms rather than physical gear changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the gearshift experience by using software algorithms to generate accelerometric sensations that mimic traditional gearshift behavior. The control unit processes torque requests and generates virtual gearshift effects that replicate the feeling of mechanical gear changes without requiring actual mechanical gears or clutches.
2Productivity
If electric powertrain systems are used to eliminate mechanical limitations, then productivity and speed range are improved, but driving engagement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the electric powertrain system dynamically adjustable by implementing a control unit that can modify torque delivery characteristics in real-time. The system establishes virtual gears with different torque profiles and dynamically switches between them based on driver input and driving conditions, creating an engaging driving experience that adapts to various situations while maintaining the broad speed range capability of electric motors.
3Ease of operation
If virtual gear simulation is implemented, then driving pleasure is improved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it manages the electric motor torque delivery, processes driver requests from the operating interface, establishes and manages virtual gear profiles, and generates the simulated gearshift sensations. This multi-functional approach consolidates control complexity into a single unit that handles all aspects of the virtual gearsystem, avoiding the need for separate control systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
Method to control an electric road vehicle having the steps of: detecting a position of an accelerator pedal; detecting an activation of an upshift control and of a downshift control; establishing a plurality of virtual gears, each capable of being selected by acting upon the upshift control and upon the downshift control; determining the selected virtual gear depending on the actions exerted upon the upshift control and upon the downshift control; determining a torque objective to be applied to the drive wheels depending on the position of the accelerator pedal and depending on the selected virtual gear; and adding, at each change of the selected virtual gear, to the torque objective an additional torque profile which is impulsive and temporary and temporarily changes the development of the torque objective.