System and method for analyzing a powertrain configuration

• US 10,089,670 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Slaton, Zachary, Hampson, Richard, Wickstrum, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, William J
• Application Number:
  US14/997,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20160132951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0621 Item configuration or customization
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0641 Shopping interfaces

Abstract

A powertrain optimization device and method that compares a predicted performance of customer-selected vehicle components to a customer-selected optimization goal. The optimization goal is used to determine dynamic performance thresholds. The method compares gradability at cruise, gradability at peak torque, engine speed, and startability to the dynamic thresholds to determine whether the vehicle performance will be satisfactory. The customer selections of vehicle components, selections of optimization goals, and any acknowledgements of failed performance checks are stored for later use.

Claims

1. A system for verifying use data of a configured powertrain, the system comprising:

one or more computing devices configured to enable configuration of a powertrain, the one or more computing devices configured to;

obtain a set of specification values and an optimization goal achievable for at least one expected use value;

obtain a set of additional configuration options compatible with the set of specification values;

for each additional configuration option of the set of additional configuration options, calculate a test value associated with the additional configuration option based on the optimization goal;

present the set of additional configuration options along with an indication of which additional configuration options of the set of additional configuration options are associated with a positive test value; and

cause the powertrain to be configured according to one or more additional configuration option selections received by the computing device; and

a vehicle comprising the configured powertrain and an electronic control unit (ECU);

wherein the ECU is configured to;

obtain use data comprising at least one of vehicle speed data and engine speed data; and

output the obtained use data for comparison to the at least one expected use value for determining whether actual operation of the vehicle is consistent with the expected use value.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein calculating a test value further comprises calculating a gradability at peak torque test value, and wherein the test value is based on the gradability at peak torque test value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein calculating a test value further comprises calculating a gradability at cruise test value, and wherein the test value is based on the gradability at cruise test value.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein calculating a test value further comprises calculating an engine speed test value, and wherein the test value is based on the engine speed test value.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein calculating the engine speed test value includes calculating a minimum engine speed and a maximum engine speed based on the set of specification values and the optimization goal.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein calculating a test value includes computing threshold values based on the set of specification values and the optimization goal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more computing devices are further configured to obtain the at least one expected use value.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein calculating a test value includes computing threshold values based on the at least one expected use value.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein calculating a test value includes calculating test values for more than one transmission gear ratio in response to detecting an extreme use case.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises at least one of a vehicle speed sensor or an engine speed sensor.