Apparatus and Method for Predicting and Avoiding Degradation of Electrical Drive Components in a Vehicle

Abstract

A system and method for predicting and avoiding degradation of an electrical drive component in a vehicle. A determination unit determines road attributes of a planned route of the vehicle. A prediction unit continuously predicts a type of degradation of an electrical drive component in the vehicle with respect to the determined road attributes. In response to the prediction unit predicting the type of degradation of the drive component, a control unit anticipatorily controls the drive component such that the predicted type of degradation of the drive component does not occur.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A system for predicting and avoiding degradation of an electrical drive component in a vehicle, the system comprising: a determination unit configured to determine road attributes of a planned route of the vehicle; a prediction unit configured to continuously predict a type of degradation of an electrical drive component in the vehicle with respect to the determined road attributes; and a control unit configured to, in response to the prediction unit predicting the type of degradation of the drive component, anticipatorily control the drive component such that the predicted type of degradation of the drive component does not occur.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the electrical drive component comprises at least one of: a high-voltage store of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage store comprises: degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage store; degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of predefined critical state-of-charge of the high-voltage store; and/or degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a further appropriate and predefined operating status variable of the high-voltage store; an electrical machine, or e-machine, of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the e-machine comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of a component of the e-machine; drive electronics of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of drive electronics comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the drive electronics; a high-voltage cable harness of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage cable harness comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage cable harness; and a further electrical drive component of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the further electrical drive component comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of an appropriate and predefined critical operating status variable of the latter.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the continuous prediction of a type of degradation by the prediction unit comprises at least one of: categorization of the planned route by reference to road attributes, wherein road attributes comprise: a rising gradient along the route, an anticipated speed of the vehicle along the route, a road type, a road surface, applicable speed limits along the route, a curvature of the route, and/or current impairments along the route; division of the route into sections for each road attribute; and prediction of a degradation of the electrical drive component of the vehicle for each road attribute.

12. The system according to claim 9, wherein continuous prediction of the type of degradation of the electrical drive component by the prediction unit is executed in consideration of a current driving style of a driver of the vehicle.

13. A method for predicting and avoiding degradation of an electrical drive component in a vehicle, the method comprising: determining, via a determination unit, road attributes of a planned route of the vehicle; continuously predicting, via a prediction unit, a type of degradation of an electrical drive component with reference to the determined road attributes; and in response to predicting the type of degradation of the drive component by the prediction unit: anticipatorily control the drive component, via a control unit, such that the predicted type of degradation of the drive component does not occur.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the electrical drive component comprises the following: a high-voltage store of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage store comprises at least one of: degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage store, degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of predefined critical state-of-charge of the high-voltage store, degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a further appropriate and predefined operating status variable of the high-voltage store; an electrical machine, or e-machine, of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the e-machine comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of a component of the e-machine; drive electronics of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of drive electronics comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the drive electronics; a high-voltage cable harness of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage cable harness comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage cable harness; and/or a further electrical drive component of the vehicle, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the further electrical drive component comprises: a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of an appropriate and predefined critical operating status variable of the latter.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein continuous prediction of a type of degradation by the prediction unit comprises at least one of: categorization of the planned route by reference to road attributes, wherein road attributes comprise: a rising gradient along the route, an anticipated speed of the vehicle along the route, a road type, a road surface, applicable speed limits along the route, a curvature of the route, and/or current impairments along the route; division of the route into sections for each road attribute; and prediction of a degradation of the electrical drive component of the vehicle for each road attribute.

16. The method according to one of claim 13, wherein continuous prediction of the type of degradation of the electrical drive component by the prediction unit is executed in consideration of a current driving style of a driver of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system for predicting and avoiding degradation of an electrical drive component in a vehicle;

[0031] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary influencing of an electrical drive component for the prevention of degradation of the electrical drive component in the vehicle;

[0032] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary continuous prediction of the type of degradation of an electrical drive component by the prediction unit;

[0033] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method for predicting and avoiding degradation of an electrical drive component in a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system 100 for predicting and avoiding degradation of an electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N in a vehicle 110.

[0035] The system 100 comprises a determination unit 120, which is designed to determine road attributes of a planned route of the vehicle 110. Road attributes can comprise the following: a rising gradient along the route; and/or an anticipated speed of the vehicle 110 along the route; and or a road type, wherein the definition of a road type can include classification as a state highway, a motorway, a federal highway, an inner city road, etc.; and/or a road surface along the route; and/or applicable speed limits along the route; and/or a road curvature along the route; and/or current impairments along the route, including e.g. current information on congestion, current roadworks, current accident information, current weather information, etc.; and/or further relevant road attributes which can describe a property of the route.

[0036] For the determination of road attributes, the determination unit 120 can employ navigation data or route data. These can be saved locally in the vehicle 110, for example in a navigation unit of the vehicle 110. Additionally or alternatively, navigation data or route data can be sourced from a backend 160, for example via a cellular network 150. To this end, the vehicle 110 can comprise a communication unit which is designed to set up a communication link with other communication subscribers, for example with the backend 160. The communication unit can comprise a subscriber identity module or SIM card, the function of which is the set-up of a communication link via a cellular network 150. The subscriber identity module unambiguously identifies the communication unit in the cellular network 150. The communication link can be a data link (e.g. for packet switching) and/or a hard-wired communication link (e.g. for line switching). Communication can be executed in accordance with the cellular vehicle-to-X (C-V2X) paradigm, as per LTE Standard Version 14. Moreover, the communication unit, independently of the cellular network or the availability of sufficient capacities on the currently accessible cellular network, can communicate via another air interface, for example a WLAN. To this end, IST-G5 or IEEE 802.11p can be employed for vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. The vehicle 110 can comprise a navigation module, which is designed to detect current positional data for the vehicle 110. For the detection or determination of a geographical location, the navigation module can determine or detect current positional data by means of a navigation satellite system. The navigation satellite system can be any current or future Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for positional identification and navigation by the reception of signals from navigation satellites and/or pseudolites. These can include, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS), the GLObal Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), the Galileo positioning system and/or the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. In the exemplary case of GPS, the navigation module can comprise a GPS module, which is designed to determine current GPS positional data for the vehicle 110. By means of the navigation modules of the vehicle 110, the planned route of the vehicle 110 can be determined.

[0037] The system 100 further comprises a prediction unit 130, which is designed to continuously predict a type of degradation of an electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N in the vehicle 110. The electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N can comprise a high-voltage store of the vehicle 110. The predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage store can comprise a (predicted) degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage store. Additionally or alternatively, the predicted type of degradation can comprise a (predicted) degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical state-of-charge of the high-voltage store. Additionally or alternatively, the predicted type of degradation can comprise a (predicted) degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a further and appropriate predefined critical operating status variable of the high-voltage store.

[0038] Additionally or alternatively, the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N can comprise an electrical machine, or e-machine, of the vehicle 110. The predicted type of degradation of the e-machine can comprise a (predicted) degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of a component of the e-machine. A component of the e-machine can comprise, for example, a stator, a rotor, a transmission and/or power electronics of the e-machine.

[0039] Additionally or alternatively, the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N can comprise drive electronics of the vehicle 110. The predicted type of degradation of drive electronics can comprise a (predicted) degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the drive electronics.

[0040] Additionally or alternatively, the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N can comprise a high-voltage cable harness of the vehicle 110. The predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage cable harness can comprise a predicted degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage cable harness.

[0041] Additionally or alternatively, the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N can comprise any further electrical drive component of the vehicle 110, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the further electrical drive component can comprise a (predicted) degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of an appropriate and predefined critical operating status variable.

[0042] Continuous prediction of the type of degradation by the prediction unit 130 can comprise categorization of the planned route by reference to road attributes. For the categorization of the planned route by reference to the above-mentioned road attributes, the prediction unit 130 can employ navigation data or route data. In the next step, the prediction unit 130 can divide the route into sections for each road attribute. In a next step, the type of degradation of the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N for each road attribute can be predicted by the prediction unit 130. This can be executed by means of appropriate machine learning algorithms. Continuous prediction of a type of degradation of the electrical drive component is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to FIG. 3.

[0043] For the continuous prediction of the type of degradation by the prediction unit, an appropriate machine learning algorithm can be employed.

[0044] In the training phase of the machine learning algorithm, firstly, a map can be generated which represents how much energy has been consumed by vehicles, for example of a vehicle fleet, per road segment of a route, for example per 100 m of the route. The map can be generated by the consolidation of energy consumption data for the vehicle fleet and/or by the consolidation of speed and acceleration data for the vehicle fleet. Further road attributes, as described above, including e.g. gradients, road categories, etc., can be considered in the determination of energy consumption. In a next step, the machine learning algorithm can be trained, wherein a time series comprised of an energy consumption, a speed, a gradient and a segmental length of the route of the vehicle fleet is employed as an input. As an output, the machine learning algorithm generates a time series of predicted types of degradation of the electrical drive components 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N.

[0045] In practice, the energy map can be transmitted, for example from a backend 160, to the vehicle 110. The vehicle 110 determines energy consumption along the route. As an input, the machine learning algorithm receives a predicted energy consumption, in consideration of road attributes along the route. As an output, types of degradation of the electrical drive components along the route 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N are predicted (see column 1 of table 350 in FIG. 3).

[0046] The prediction unit 130, for the prediction of the type of degradation, can consider a current driving style of a driver of the vehicle 110.

[0047] To this end, for each journey, a current driving style of the driver of the vehicle 110 can be determined. For example, in advance, a reference value or average value for the driving style of a plurality of drivers of a vehicle fleet can be determined. During the travel of the vehicle along the route, any deviation of the driving style of the driver of the vehicle from the reference value or average value for the vehicle fleet thus determined can be identified. The prediction unit 130 can consider the deviation of the driving style of the driver of the vehicle from the reference value thus determined in the prediction of the type of degradation of the electrical drive component.

[0048] The system further comprises a control unit 140, which is designed, in response to the type of degradation predicted by the prediction unit 130, to control the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N such that the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . , 112 N is influenced in an anticipatory manner with respect to the predicted type of degradation, such that the predicted type of degradation does not occur, as described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 2.

[0049] Advantageously, by means of an anticipatory influence of the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N, the predicted degradation of the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N predicted by the prediction unit 130 is prevented. The performance capability of the overall system of the vehicle 110 is maintained accordingly.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary prevention of the degradation of 228 of an electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N in the vehicle 110 by the anticipatory influence of the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N.

[0051] The upper diagram, by way of a selected exemplary road attribute, shows an altitude profile along a planned route. The y-axis 210 shows an exemplary altitude in metres, and the x-axis shows the exemplary route 212. In the central region of the route, a critical region 214 can be seen, which incorporates a rising gradient of 12% along the route. In the lower diagram, along the y-axis 220, by way of exemplary loading index, a maximum temperature or maximum temperature value of an exemplary drive component of a rotor is plotted with respect to the rotor temperature. The x-axis 224 shows the exemplary route corresponding to the altitude profile represented in the upper diagram. The maximum loading index of the rotor is the maximum permissible temperature thereof 222, as represented by the broken line. The upper curve 228 represents the temperature characteristic of the rotor associated with degradation, as known from the prior art. Degradation of the rotor thus occurs upon the achievement of the maximum loading index 226 or an overshoot of the maximum temperature or of a maximum temperature value. In other words, the rotor is running hot. By means of an appropriate function, the achievement of the maximum loading index or the overshoot of the maximum or minimum temperature value can be detected or determined. In consequence, the capacity of the e-machine is reduced, in order to prevent any damage to the rotor by the excessively high temperature. This impacts strongly upon the driving capacity of the vehicle 110.

[0052] The lower curve 232 represents the temperature characteristic of the rotor along the same route, with the execution of an anticipatory influence upon the electric drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N, as described with reference to FIG. 1. At an early time point 230, the prediction unit 130 executes a prediction of the type of degradation (degradation of the e-machine associated with an anticipated overshoot of a maximum temperature value of the rotor), in response to which the control unit 114 controls the e-machine of the vehicle such that the maximum temperature of the rotor is not achieved. For example, early cooling of the rotor, as a component of the e-machine, and thus an exemplary drive component, can be executed. The control unit 114 thus actuates, for example, a cooler or a cooling unit, such that cooling of the rotor or of the e-machine is initiated at time point 230. By means of the anticipatory influence of the electrical drive component, the predicted type of degradation 226 is prevented.

[0053] The influence of the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N by the cooling of the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N is an exemplary influence of the latter. Any appropriate influence of the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N for the prevention of the predicted type of degradation can be employed or executed.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary continuous prediction of a type of degradation of an electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N by the prediction unit 130. The planned route 310 is categorized by the prediction unit 130 with reference to the gradient 320, by way of an exemplary road attribute, and the temperature of an electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N. Consideration of an anticipated speed of the vehicle, which can be determined, for example, from a driver profile of the user of the vehicle 110 and/or from an average value for a vehicle fleet completing the route, is executed by means of an appropriate computing unit. The route 310 is divided by the prediction unit 130 into sections for each road attribute, i.e., in the present example, into sections per gradient 320 and into sections per anticipated speed 330. The prediction unit 130 can now execute, for each road attribute, a prediction of a type of degradation with respect to the temperature or temperature value 340 along the planned route 310.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary method 400 for predicting and avoiding the degradation of an electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N in a vehicle 110, which can be executed by a system 100 as described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0056] The method 400 comprises: determination 410, by means of a determination unit 120, of road attributes of a planned route of the vehicle 110; continuous prediction 420, by means of a prediction unit 130, of a type of degradation of an electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N, with reference to the road attributes thus determined; and in response to the type of degradation of the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N predicted by the prediction unit 130: control 430 of the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N by a control unit, such that the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N is influenced in an anticipatory manner, such that the predicted type of degradation of the drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N does not occur.

[0057] The electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N can comprise the following: a high-voltage store of the vehicle 110, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage store comprises the following: degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage store; and/or degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of predefined critical state-of-charge of the high-voltage store; and/or degradation associated with an overshoot or undershoot of a further appropriate and predefined operating status variable of the high-voltage store; and/or an electrical machine, or e-machine, of the vehicle 110, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the e-machine comprises a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of a component of the e-machine; and/or drive electronics of the vehicle 110, wherein the predicted type of degradation of drive electronics comprises a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the drive electronics; and/or a high-voltage cable harness of the vehicle 110, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the high-voltage cable harness comprises a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of a predefined critical temperature of the high-voltage cable harness; and/or a further electrical drive component of the vehicle 110, wherein the predicted type of degradation of the further electrical drive component comprises a degradation associated with the overshoot or undershoot of an appropriate and predefined critical operating status variable of the latter.

[0058] Continuous prediction 420 of a type of degradation by the prediction unit 130 can comprise the following: categorization of the planned route by reference to road attributes, wherein road attributes comprise: a rising gradient along the route, an anticipated speed of the vehicle along the route, a road type, a road surface, applicable speed limits along the route, a curvature of the route, and/or current impairments along the route; division of the route into sections for each road attribute; and prediction of a degradation of the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B, . . . 112 N of the vehicle 110 for each road attribute.

[0059] Continuous prediction 420 of the type of degradation of the electrical drive component 112 A, 112 B . . . 112 N by the prediction unit 130 can be executed in consideration of a current driving style of a driver of the vehicle 110.