Power and actuation control device for highly automated vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to a power and actuator control device for a highly automated vehicle (HAV). The device comprises a housing divided into 4 units. The first unit contains a connector for connection of a traction battery, a connector for connection of hydrogen fuel cells, a connector for connection to a traction motor inverter, a 12 V power supply and a 24 V power supply. The second unit contains a rechargeable lithium battery and a supercapacitor module. The third unit contains a high-level controller. The fourth unit contains an inverter. The power supplies are connected by their inputs to outputs of the connector for connection of a traction motor inverter and the connector for connection of hydrogen fuel cells. The inverter has an output for connection of a pneumatic system of the HAV and an input for connection of an onboard control computer. The rechargeable lithium battery and the supercapacitor module provide backup power for the high-level controller. The result is more reliable control of the electrical systems of a highly automated vehicle.

Claims

1. A power and actuation control device for a highly automated vehicle comprising a case divided into 4 blocks, wherein the first block contains a connector for a traction battery, a connector for hydrogen fuel cells, a connector for linking a traction motor to an inverter, a 12V power supply and a 24V power supply; the power supplies are connected by their inputs to the outputs of a traction battery and hydrogen fuel cells; the second block contains a lithium battery and a supercapacitor module to provide backup power to an upper-level controller; the third block contains the upper-level controller; the fourth block contains an inverter with an output for a HAV pneumatic system and an input for an on-board control computer.

2. The power and actuation control device for a highly automated vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the case is made waterproof.

3. The power and actuation control device for a highly automated vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a block status indicator and a switch are located on the cover of the first block.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a general view of the power and actuation control device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(2) The technical solution is a power and actuation control device that is a structurally separate and functionally complete, and it allows for the integration of functions designed for automatic control or actuation control to ensure the movement and operation of HAV.

(3) The power and actuation control device consists of four interconnected blocks, each comprising a case with a cover, combined into a single module. Each block case can also contain outputs and inputs for connecting HAV electrical systems; indicators, buttons and levers for controlling the block.

(4) The HAV power and actuation control device comprises as shown on FIG. 1:

(5) The first block with three external connectors: the first (1) one for connecting a traction battery, the second (2) one for connecting hydrogen fuel cells, and the third (3) one for connecting a traction motor to the inverter. The cover of the first block contains a block status indicator and a turn-on switch. 12V (4) and 24V (5) power supplies are located inside the case of the first block, and the wiring is disposed therein. This block is designed to convert the 400V DC voltage of the traction battery into 12V and 24V to provide power to HAV systems. The second block contains a lithium rechargeable battery (6), a supercapacitor module (7), which is a backup power source; and two control relays that function as breakers. This block provides backup power to the upper-level controller as part of the third module, in case of a traction battery power malfunction.

(6) The third block contains an upper-level controller (8) and at least one fuse panel (9). The upper-level controller in this module provides the following: setting the torque of the traction motor; power control of the entire HAV system; brake system control; control of steering rack rotation servo; switching of lighting devices; control of information coming from HAV sensors and transmission of data from sensors to the on-board control computer (HAV autopilot).

(7) The fourth block contains an inverter (10) that allows converting 24 V DC to 220 V AC to provide power to the HAV pneumatic systems; and two connectors for the on-board computer (hereinafter referred to as the control system) and the HAV pneumatic system.

(8) The essence of the claimed invention is demonstrated in FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 1 shows a general view of the power and actuation control device.

(10) The claimed technical solution is implemented as follows:

(11) The voltage from the traction battery is supplied to the first block input by linking the traction battery to the connector (1), then power units 2 and 3 convert the voltage to 12V and 24V, which is supplied to the input of the upper-level controller 11; in accordance with the signals received from the control system and the information from the sensors, the controller generates the appropriate signals to control the HAV actuators and monitors the execution of generated signals based on information received from the sensors.

(12) Therefore, the presented invention ensures increased reliability of control of HAV electrical systems due to the implementation of centralized control embodied in a single compact case.