Vehicle controls including dynamic vehicle parameter determination

• US 10,000,214 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2015
• Issued: 06/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cummins Incorporated
• Inventors: Puri, Anant, Tulpule, Pinak J., Sujan, Vivek A., Follen, Kenneth
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Jacob S.
• Application Number:
  US14/976,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0039 of the propulsion unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0041 of the drive line
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0088 Adaptive recalibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/085 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0644 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0677 Engine power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/076 Slope angle of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/12 related to parameters of the vehicle itself , e.g. tyre models
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, systems and controls including dynamic vehicle parameter determination are disclosed. One embodiment is a method of operating a vehicle system including a powertrain comprising a prime mover structured to propel the vehicle, and an electronic control system in operative communication with the prime mover and the transmission. The method includes estimating a plurality of coefficients of a vehicle loss model, evaluating a convergence criterion for the plurality of estimated coefficients, setting converged values of the plurality of coefficients if the convergence criterion is satisfied, determining a vehicle powertrain command utilizing the converged values of the plurality of coefficients, and transmitting a vehicle powertrain command to control operation of one or more powertrain components.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

operating a vehicle system including a powertrain comprising a prime mover and an electronic control system in operative communication with the powertrain, the electronic control system being structured to perform the acts of;

repeatedly estimating a plurality of coefficients of a vehicle loss model, the vehicle loss model being structured to describe a total loss of power or energy attributable to operation of the powertrain to propel the vehicle;

evaluating a convergence criterion for the plurality of estimated coefficients;

setting converged values of the plurality of coefficients if the convergence criterion is satisfied;

determining a vehicle powertrain command utilizing the converged values of the plurality of coefficients;

transmitting the vehicle powertrain command to control operation of one or more powertrain components;

evaluating a reset condition using one of a variation between the repeatedly estimated coefficients and a variation between a power or energy value determined using the converged coefficients and a power or energy value determined using information observed during operation of the vehicle; and

if the reset condition is satisfied, repeating from a reset starting point the acts of repeatedly estimating a plurality of coefficients, evaluating a convergence criterion, setting converged values, determining a vehicle powertrain command, and transmitting the vehicle powertrain command.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of determining the vehicle powertrain command utilizes a predicted future engine power determined utilizing the converged values of the plurality of coefficients.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

evaluating a second reset condition using variation between a power value determined using current estimated coefficients and a power value determined using converged estimated coefficients; and

repeating the act evaluating a convergence criterion from a reset starting point if the second reset condition is satisfied.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the vehicle powertrain command controls one or more of a prime mover speed and a prime mover torque.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of evaluating the convergence criterion includes evaluating variation between a current coefficient estimate and a prior coefficient estimate relative to a variation criterion.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the act of evaluating the convergence criterion includes evaluating a difference between an observed power and an estimated power relative to a power difference criterion.

7. A method comprising:

operating a powertrain including a prime mover structured to propel a vehicle; and

operating an electronic control system in operative communication with the powertrain to perform the acts of;

estimating a plurality of coefficients of a vehicle loss model, the vehicle loss model being structured to describe a total loss of power or energy attributable to operation of the powertrain to propel the vehicle,

identifying converged values for the coefficients,

predicting a future prime mover power utilizing the converged values of the plurality of coefficients and values for one or more future conditions predicted to be encountered by the vehicle, and

controlling operation of one or more powertrain components utilizing the predicted future prime mover power.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the predicted future conditions include predicted future road grade and predicted future vehicle velocity.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the predicted future conditions are determined using information received from an intelligent transportation system external to the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the predicted future engine power is utilized in correcting error in estimating the plurality of coefficients.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the predicted future engine power is utilized to change operation of the prime mover in anticipation of one or more of a change in vehicle velocity, a change in road grade, and a change in vehicle acceleration.

12. The method of claim 7 comprising:

evaluating a reset condition using one of a variation between the repeatedly estimated coefficients and a variation between a power or energy value determined using the converged coefficients and a power or energy value determined using information observed during operation of the vehicle; and

repeating the acts of repeatedly estimating a plurality of coefficients and identifying converged values from a reset starting point if the reset condition is satisfied.

13. The method of claim 7 comprising:

evaluating a reset condition using variation between a power value determined using current estimated coefficients and a power value determined using converged estimated coefficients; and

repeating the act identifying converged values from a reset starting point if the reset condition is satisfied.

14. A vehicle comprising:

a prime mover structured to propel the vehicle; and

an electronic control system in operative communication with the prime mover, the electronic control system being structured to;

repeatedly estimate a plurality of coefficients of a vehicle loss model, the vehicle loss model being structured to describe a total loss of power or energy during operation of the prime mover to propel the vehicle,

identify converged values for the plurality of coefficients using a convergence criterion,

predict a future prime mover power utilizing the converged values of the plurality of coefficients and values for one or more future conditions predicted to be encountered by the vehicle, and

control operation of the prime mover utilizing the predicted future prime mover power.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the predicted future conditions include predicted future road grade and predicted future vehicle velocity.

16. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the predicted future conditions are determined using information received from an intelligent transportation system external to the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the predicted future engine power is utilized to correct error in estimating the plurality of coefficients.

18. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the predicted future engine power is utilized to change operation of the prime mover in advance of one of a change in vehicle velocity, a change in road grade, and a change in vehicle acceleration.

19. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the electronic control system is structured to evaluate a reset condition using one of a variation between the repeatedly estimated coefficients and a variation between a power or energy value determined using the converged coefficients and a power or energy value determined using information observed during operation of the vehicle, and re-estimate the plurality of coefficients and re-identify the converged values from a reset starting point if the reset condition is satisfied.

20. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the electronic control system is structured to evaluate a reset condition using variation between a power value determined using current estimated coefficients and a power value determined using converged estimated coefficients, and re-identify the converged values from a reset starting point if the reset condition is satisfied.