Wheel Vibration Baselines for Accurate Vehicle Imbalance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles face challenges in detecting wheel imbalances, which can cause vibrations and tire wear, especially when operated autonomously, as distinguishing between imbalanced wheels and transient vibrations from external sources is difficult, and human occupants may not perceive conventional symptoms.
Innovation Solution
A system using a computer with sensors to detect body vibration, calculate wheel vibration, and apply tuned filters to identify first-order vibrations, comparing wheel vibration data with baseline values to identify imbalances, and sending notifications when thresholds are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional vibration detection methods are used, then wheel imbalances can be detected, but it is difficult to distinguish between imbalanced wheels and transient vibrations from external sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vibration detection process into distinct phases: baseline vibration characterization during normal operation, and deviation detection when vibrations exceed thresholds. This segmentation allows the system to distinguish between normal transient vibrations and abnormal wheel imbalance vibrations by comparing current vibrations against established baselines for each wheel
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by establishing baseline vibration characteristics for each wheel during normal operation before imbalance occurs. These baselines are stored and used for future comparison, enabling the system to detect deviations that indicate wheel imbalance rather than transient external vibrations
2Productivity
If autonomous vehicle operation is implemented, then productivity increases, but human occupants are less likely to perceive conventional symptoms of wheel imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by autonomously monitoring wheel vibrations, comparing them against baselines, detecting imbalances, and generating maintenance notifications without human intervention. This allows autonomous vehicles to self-diagnose wheel issues that would otherwise go unnoticed by absent or inattentive human occupants
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where wheel vibration data is continuously collected, compared against baselines, and used to generate alerts when imbalances are detected. This feedback mechanism ensures that wheel imbalance symptoms are reliably detected and communicated even when no human occupant is present to perceive conventional symptoms
3Reliability
If wheel imbalance detection is improved, then tire wear is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using existing vehicle sensors (accelerometers, wheel speed sensors) for multiple purposes: normal vehicle operation monitoring and wheel imbalance detection. This multi-functionality allows the system to detect wheel imbalances and prevent tire wear without adding dedicated specialized hardware, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a computer including a processor and memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor. The instructions include instructions to detect body vibration of a vehicle body over time and to calculate wheel vibration of each wheel of the vehicle over time. In response to detection of body vibration under a first body vibration threshold, the computer calculates a baseline wheel vibration value for each wheel based on the calculated wheel vibration for each wheel, respectively. In response to detection of body vibration above a second body vibration threshold, the computer compares the calculated wheel vibration for each wheel with the baseline wheel vibration value of each wheels, respectively. The computer identifies a wheel imbalance in one of the wheels when a difference between the wheel vibration of the wheel and the baseline wheel vibration value of the wheel exceeds a wheel vibration threshold.