Remote optical wind detection and aerodynamic control system for ground vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019367104-A1
Application number	US-201815993421-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 30, 2018
Priority date	May 30, 2018
Publication date	Dec 5, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aerodynamic control system for a ground vehicle comprises a LiDAR module including at least one LiDAR sensor configured to obtain wind data upstream of the ground vehicle; a computing device; an aerodynamic device controller; and an aerodynamic device including a control surface. The computing device is configured to receive the wind data from the LiDAR module and generate output signals based on the wind data. The aerodynamic device controller is configured to receive the output signals from the computing device and generate control signals to control the aerodynamic device to adjust aerodynamic properties of the ground vehicle based at least in part the wind data. Changes to the configuration of the control surface may include increasing or decreasing a deflection angle of the at least one aerodynamic device. The aerodynamic device may include, e.g., a pneumatically actuated aerodynamic device or an electro-mechanically actuated aerodynamic device.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1 . A method for changing a configuration of a control surface of an aerodynamic device on a ground vehicle, the method comprising:
by a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) module including at least one LiDAR sensor mounted on the ground vehicle, obtaining wind data for a location upstream of the ground vehicle; and changing the configuration of a control surface of at least one aerodynamic device based at least in part on the wind data obtained by the LiDAR module.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the configuration of the control surface comprises:
receiving, by a computing device, the wind data from the LiDAR module; generating, by the computing device, output signals based on the wind data; transmitting, by the computing device, the output signals to an aerodynamic device controller; and generating, by the aerodynamic device controller, control signals based at least in part on the output signals received from the computing device, wherein the control signals are configured to change the configuration of the control surface to adjust aerodynamic properties of the ground vehicle based on the wind data.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the configuration of the control surface is further based on a trailer gap distance.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the configuration of the control surface comprises increasing or decreasing a deflection angle of the at least one aerodynamic device.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aerodynamic device comprises a pneumatically actuated aerodynamic device.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein changing the configuration of the control surface comprises adjusting a valve to increase or decrease pressure in the pneumatically actuated aerodynamic device in response to at least one of the control signals.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aerodynamic device comprises an electro-mechanically actuated aerodynamic device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein changing the configuration of the control surface comprises increasing or decreasing a deflection angle of the at least one aerodynamic device.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the wind data comprises a wind vector field.

10 . An aerodynamic control system for a ground vehicle, comprising:
a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) module including at least one LiDAR sensor configured to obtain wind data; a computing device including a processor and memory, wherein the computing device is configured to receive the wind data from the LiDAR module and generate output signals based on the wind data; an aerodynamic device controller; and an aerodynamic device including a body defining a control surface, wherein the aerodynamic device controller is configured to receive the output signals from the computing device and generate control signals to control the aerodynamic device to adjust aerodynamic properties of the ground vehicle based at least in part the wind data.

11 . The aerodynamic control system of claim 10 further comprising a pneumatic system configured to receive and respond to the control signals, and wherein the aerodynamic device comprises a pneumatically actuated aerodynamic device.

12 . The aerodynamic control system of claim 11 , wherein the pneumatic system is configured to change the configuration of the control surface by increasing or decreasing pressure in the pneumatically actuated aerodynamic device in response to at least one of the control signals.

13 . The aerodynamic control system of claim 10 , wherein the aerodynamic device comprises an electro-mechanically actuated aerodynamic device.

14 . The aerodynamic control system of claim 10 , wherein the wind data is obtained from a remote location upstream of the ground vehicle.

15 . The aerodynamic control system of claim 10 further comprising a trailer gap distance sensor, wherein the control signals are further based on a trailer gap distance.

16 . The aerodynamic control system of claim 10 , wherein the control signals are configured to increase or decrease a deflection angle of the aerodynamic device.

17 . A method for modifying operation of a surface vehicle to improve aerodynamic performance of the ground vehicle, the method comprising:
by a LiDAR (light detection and ranging) module including at least one LiDAR sensor mounted on the surface vehicle, obtaining wind data for a location upstream of the surface vehicle; and automatically altering the operation of the surface vehicle based at least in part on the wind data obtained by the LiDAR module such that the aerodynamic performance of the surface vehicle is improved.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the surface vehicle is a tractor-trailer combination comprising a tractor articulatedly connected to a trailer, wherein the wind data indicates a flanking wind gust, and wherein automatically altering the operation comprises leaning a cab of the tractor into the flanking wind gust to shield a corner of the trailer.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the surface vehicle is a ground vehicle, wherein the wind data indicates a flanking wind gust, and wherein automatically altering the operation comprises activation of a steering-assist mechanism to counter-steer the ground vehicle into the flanking wind gust.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the wind data indicates a platoon wake, and wherein automatically altering the operation comprises locating and maintaining a position of the ground vehicle in the platoon wake.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the wind data indicates a headwind ahead of the surface vehicle, and wherein automatically altering the operation comprises reducing cruise speed in order to reduce effective air speed to mitigate fuel economy deterioration.

Assignees

• Damon Kenneth H
• Smith Jeffrey P
• Ellis Clifton
• Paccar Inc

Inventors

• Damon Kenneth H
• Smith Jeffrey P
• Ellis Clifton

Classifications

• G01S17/931

  of land vehicles · CPC title

• B62D35/001 Primary

  For commercial vehicles or tractor-trailer combinations, e.g. caravans · CPC title

• G01S17/95

  for meteorological use · CPC title

• B62D37/02 Primary

  by aerodynamic means · CPC title

• B62D35/008

  Side spoilers (B62D35/001 takes precedence) · CPC title