SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR VEHICLE LOAD DETECTION AND RESPONSE

• US 20160355189A1
• Filed: 06/03/2016
• Published: 12/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gogoro Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Kai-Chiang, Lin, Sung-Ching
• Granted Patent: US 10,421,462 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/20 for control of the vehicle or its driving motor to achieve a desired performance, e.g. speed, torque, programmed variation of speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/12 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/642 Slope of road
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/167 of motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/0061 relating to electrical machines
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/06 Limiting the traction current under mechanical overload conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/12 Recording operating variables ; Monitoring of operating variables
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/365 Scooters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/13 Load or weight
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A torque-speed curve or data of load that is used as a standard to determine an external condition in which an electric vehicle is operating such as incline or no incline, head wind or no headwind, high temperature or low temperature. The system compares samples of actual torque-speed of load data to the standard. Based on the comparison, the system determines the external condition (going up a hill, traveling into a headwind, operating at high temperature) or an abnormal operation of the vehicle powertrain, for example, low tire pressure, elevated friction, wheels out of alignment. Based on the determination, the system takes an action to govern a maximum torque output of the motor to control temperature of the vehicle battery; to raise a wind deflector; to govern maximum speed of the vehicle to reduce danger resulting from low tire pressure, elevated powertrain friction or out of alignment wheels; or to initiate an indication of abnormal conditions.

Claims

1. A method of determining a particular type of load of an electric vehicle, the method comprising:

obtaining real-time data regarding powertrain operation of a vehicle over a period of time; and

determining whether the vehicle is subject to the particular type of load over the period of time based on comparing the obtained real-time data regarding the powertrain operation of the vehicle to reference data, the reference data including data regarding powertrain operation that is characteristic of when the vehicle is subject the particular type of load.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein obtaining the real-time data regarding powertrain operation of a vehicle includes:

obtaining real-time data over the period of time from a power transmission system of the vehicle, the real-time data including data indicative of current motor torque of a motor of the vehicle as motor speed increases.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the reference data includes data indicating motor torque as motor speed increases that is characteristic of when the vehicle is subject to the particular type of load.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein determining whether the vehicle is subject to a particular type of load over the period of time includes:

sampling the real-time data from the power transmission system at a particular sampling rate over a particular period of time;

for each sampling of the real time data during the particular period of time;

comparing the sampled real-time data from the power transmission to the reference data;

determining whether the vehicle is currently being subject to the particular type of load at a time of the sampling based on the comparison made to the reference data at the sampling; and

determining whether to increment a counter initialized at the beginning of the particular period of time based on the determination of whether the vehicle is currently being subject to the particular type of load at a time of the sampling;

after the particular period of time has lapsed, comparing a value of the counter to a threshold value; and

determining whether the vehicle was subject to the particular type of load over the particular period of time based on whether the value of the counter is greater than or equal to the threshold value based on the comparison.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on the determination whether the vehicle was subject to the particular type of load over the particular period of time.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein determining whether the vehicle was subject to the particular type of load over the particular period of time includes determining whether the vehicle was climbing an inclined surface or traveling on a flat surface based on the comparing of the sampled real-time data from the power transmission to the reference data.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

repeating, over multiple periods of time of length equal to the particular period of time, the sampling, comparing the sampled real-time data, determining whether the vehicle is currently being subject to the particular type of load at a time of the sampling, determining whether to increment the counter, comparing the value of the counter to a threshold value after the particular period of time has lapsed and the determining whether to limit an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle based at least in part on the determination whether the vehicle was subject to the particular type of load.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the particular sampling rate is once every second.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the particular period of time is one minute.

10. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

if it was determined the vehicle was subject to the particular type of load over the particular period of time, causing the vehicle to take an action at least in part in response to the determination the vehicle was subject to the particular type of load over the particular period of time.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein causing the vehicle to take an action includes to causing the vehicle to take an action to cause the motor torque of the vehicle to be at a particular amount of torque according to motor speed.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein causing the vehicle to take an action includes limiting an operational characteristic of a prime mover of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein limiting an operational characteristic of the prime mover of the vehicle includes limiting an operational characteristic of a prime mover of the vehicle to cause the motor torque of the vehicle to be at a particular amount of torque according to motor speed.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the particular amount of torque according to motor speed is defined by a derating curve indicative of desired motor torque versus motor speed.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the vehicle to take an action includes causing the vehicle to raise a wind deflector.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the vehicle to take an action includes governing max torque output of motor.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein causing the vehicle to take an action includes governing max torque output of motor to control temperature of a battery of the vehicle powering a prime mover of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein governing max torque output of motor to control temperature of the battery of the vehicle powering the prime mover is performed in response to the battery temperature reaching a particular battery temperature threshold.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the particular battery temperature threshold is about 57 degrees Celsius.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein causing the vehicle to take an action includes one or more of:

limiting a voltage supplied to the electric motor of the vehicle;

limiting an acceleration of the vehicle;

limiting a current supplied to the electric motor of the vehicle;

adjusting a temperature of a battery powering the prime mover of the vehicle.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the particular type of load is associated with one or a combination of one or more of:

a condition external to the vehicle;

climbing an incline;

climbing an incline of a particular gradient;

traveling on a flat surface;

weight of the vehicle;

carrying additional weight;

carrying a particular amount of additional weight;

carrying a particular number of people;

rolling resistance;

a particular type of rolling resistance;

type of tire;

air pressure of one or more tires;

nature of a ground surface on which the vehicle is traveling;

friction between the vehicle and the ground surface;

air resistance;

size and shape of the vehicle;

degree of streamlining of the vehicle;

wind speed;

crosswind speed;

crosswind direction;

headwind;

headwind speed;

problem of a power transmission system of the vehicle;

problem with the powertrain of the vehicle;

abnormality of the power transmission system of the vehicle;

an abnormality of the powertrain of the vehicle;

amount of resistance in the power transmission system of the vehicle;

amount of resistance in the powertrain of the vehicle;

amount of friction between moving components in the power transmission system of the vehicle;

amount of friction between moving components in the powertrain of the vehicle;

vehicle battery temperature;

alignment of wheels; and

abnormality of wheel alignment.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the reference data is in a form of a data curve showing reference motor torque versus reference motor speed that is characteristic of when the vehicle is subject to the particular type of load.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein whether the vehicle is subject to a particular type of load over the period of time includes:

determining whether the vehicle is traveling on a flat surface or an incline based on comparing the obtained real-time data regarding the powertrain operation of the vehicle to reference data; and

determining whether there is an abnormality of the power train or power transmission system of the vehicle based on the determining whether the vehicle is traveling on a flat surface or an incline and on the comparing the obtained real-time data regarding the powertrain operation of the vehicle to reference data.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

if it was determined there is an abnormality of the power train or power transmission system of the vehicle, causing the vehicle to take an action to cause the motor torque of the vehicle to be at a particular amount of torque according to motor speed at least in part in response to the determination that there is an abnormality of the power train or power transmission system of the vehicle.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the obtained real-time data regarding the powertrain operation of the vehicle to reference data includes data obtained from one or more sensors, the one or more sensors including sensors operable for gathering information regarding one or more of:

vehicle acceleration, vehicle location, vehicle elevation, vehicle incline data, vehicle temperature, vehicle temperature, vehicle battery temperature, vehicle system component temperature, gyroscopic data;

vehicle telematic data, vehicle telemetric data, wind speed, wind direction, accelerometer data, vehicle weight, tire air pressure and change in vehicle elevation.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining air tire pressure based on the determining whether the vehicle is subject to a particular type of load over the period of time.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a decrease of vehicle efficiency caused by a mechanical problem based on the determining whether the vehicle is subject to a particular type of load over the period of time.

29. The vehicle of claim 20 wherein the controller further performs the acts of claim 2.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 30 wherein the computer executable instructions, when executed, further cause at least one processor to perform the acts of claim 2.

28. A vehicle, comprising:

a prime mover coupled to drive at least one wheel of the vehicle;

a main electrical power storage device that stores power;

a power supply coupled and operable to selectively transfer electrical power between the main electrical power storage device and the prime mover; and

a controller communicatively coupled to control the power supply, wherein the controller;

obtains real-time data regarding powertrain operation of a vehicle over a period of time; and

determines whether the vehicle is subject to a particular type of load over the period of time based on comparing the obtained real-time data regarding the powertrain operation of the vehicle to reference data, the reference data including data regarding powertrain operation that is characteristic of when the vehicle is subject the particular type of load.

30. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:

obtain real-time data regarding powertrain operation of a vehicle over a period of time; and

determine whether the vehicle is subject to a particular type of load over the period of time based on comparing the obtained real-time data regarding the powertrain operation of the vehicle to reference data, the reference data including data regarding powertrain operation that is characteristic of when the vehicle is subject a particular type of load.