Vehicle management system

The invention relates to a vehicle management system.

include such known vehicle management systems individual aspects of vehicle management, z. B. the force fuel injection, anti-lock brakes, the air-cond tion of the vehicle interior, etc. The individual system parts operate independently.

For some applications, particularly the transport industry, it would now be desirable to be in the vehicle from supported management system could intervene. So could it z. B. refrigerated transport of fruit or vegetables his interest, the temperature of the cold room during transportation specifically to control a predetermined Subsequent maturation of the transported fruit or vegetable while driving to achieve the goal. In such a Controlling the ripening has the remaining driving time course be taken into account. This depends not only on the current speed from the vehicle, but also of what distances before the vehicle are (jams, Ortsdurchfahrten,...). In such Control tasks can also be mitzuberücksichtigen, that it is more advantageous during transport it turns the vehicle in another way than on provided to guide the original to a part To delete the charge prematurely or other charge take. In some cases it would also be wishing, worth externally intervene in engine management to can to the driver when no hurry present, a impose fuel-saving driving style.

To solve such tasks is the invention created a vehicle management, in which vehicle sided specifications and commanded by a control center Specifications can equally be considered.

In the present specification and the accompanying Claims, the terms "short-term" and "long-term" used. These are firstly a relative negative resigned to express: "long-term" is clearly longer than "short-term". These terms include but also a reference to set up in view of the Hardware differently to-handle tasks. "Long time "is what about cost and without special handled outlay available data channels can be. "Short-term" is what so frequent Data Out exchange requires that common cheap data channels not . sufficient This aspect of "short-term" and "long-term" can thus with the development of telecommunications change. In the current state of the radio data links corresponds to "short-term" periods of less than a few Minutes, eg., Less than 15 minutes, "long-term" times of more than a few minutes, eg., greater than 15 minutes. As the limit is determined in detail exactly is the practical design of a vehicle management before reserve, can optionally also specified by the user are, where not even to a fixed limit work needs, but in determining what in a Control center is to manage and what abzuarbei in vehicle th is also variable, taking into account the specific can proceed fishing task.

Advantageous developments of the invention are in sub stated claims.

The holding of the invention as defined in claim 2 recur frequently the monitoring station of unnecessary the control and regulation tasks.

The legal development of the invention according to claim 3 provides a simple means and without the use of Parallel computers, the processing of various CONTROLLED reNCy and control tasks in a predetermined priority.

It is in accordance with the development of the invention Claim 4 ensures that low-ranking tasks can only block upper-level tasks at short notice.

allowed the development of the invention according to claim 5 a quasi-parallel execution of tasks among United use linear in time expiring programs.

The development of the invention according to claim 6 is turn in terms of priority of execution Tasks of high priority with simple programming and low hardware cost advantage.

allowed the development of the invention according to claim 7 it, long-term tasks of the control center forth at low carry out intensity in the data transmission.

The development of the invention according to claim 8 advantageous for such applications in which the elaboration th a control unit with the work of another Control unit at least to be partially linked. It may, for. Example refrigerated transport of fruit (eg. As bananas) or vegetables be useful, the temperature in the interior the cooling chamber and the feeding of the tires Promotional tune treatment gas in a certain way to each other. In emergency situations, it may be of interest, the Steering and braking of a vehicle couple, z. B. in loss of traction on steered wheels perceived by the driver on the steering wheel reaction forces to increase, so that the driver, the steering wheel in panic situations tions not vorlie too far from the front traction loss ing position rotates out what the re-gripping the wheels would be detrimental.

In a vehicle management system according to claim 9 the various driving data depending the place where the vehicle is straight, are recorded and controlled.

The development of the invention according to claim 10 ver avoiding manipulation of the control computer and the data transmission path.

According to claim 11 can travel to the invention convincing management system at the same time for recording use of accidents.

The development of the invention according to claim 12 ge equips it to the driver, released him for modifications at the different in the control computer and the Steuerein make units running programs and / or other to load programs. The driver can also easily Way to settle written messages to the monitoring station receive or her.

The development of the invention as claimed in claim 14 is a simple data exchange with the managing spot with low transmission requirements. The ASCII Zei let chenketten implemented messages of the driver also be stored well in small stores and for further use to evaluate. The driver can thus z. B. Messages on road conditions and the like for other drivers of the same company useful observation notified obligations in a simple manner the control center without that this appreciably his attention would take.

In a management system according to claim 13 can the Control center informed of the current travel and transport inform conditions.

allowed the development of the invention according to claim 15 the realization of control units and using robust and cost-effective standard components.

The development of the invention according to claim 16 in view of the rapid exchange of data within the vehicle-side portion of the vehicle management system advantageous. The carbon black structure also allows a problem Loose expand an already installed car Manage management system to further control units, work units and sensor.

With the development of the invention according to claim 17 it is ensured that the control computer also to off case the vehicle battery remains functional. This is particularly important in order advantageous messages on attempted theft to the control center to settle may, even if the vehicle battery by thieves is disconnected.

The development of the invention according to claim 18 ge equips setting up the data transmission path between vehicle and control center at low cost using standard Telekommunikationsein units.

The invention will be with reference to an embodiment example with reference to the drawing, in which explained. Therein:

<b>Fig.</b> 1 is a schematic side view of the train engine of a tractor-trailer and the front Portion of a spreader and the vehicle side part and the control center side part a vehicle management system;

<b>Fig.</b> 2 is a flowchart of a main program of a Control computer of in <b>Fig.</b> 1 shown driving convincing management system;

<b>Fig.</b> 3 is a flowchart of a subroutine for controlling driving data; and

<b>Fig.</b> 4 is a flowchart of a subroutine for sequenced tial performing predetermined work.

In <b>Fig.</b> 1 is <b>10</b> overall the tractor of a Semitrailer referred. is on the tractor the foremost portion of a spreader <b>12</b> reproduced.

The tractor has a diesel engine <b>14</b> with flanged manual transmission <b>16th</b> vehicle wheels <b>18</b> are each provided with Disc <b>20</b> rotatably connected, with calipers <b>22</b> Collaborate.

The steering of the front vehicle wheels <b>18</b> done by Steering cylinder <b>24th</b> The latter are by a steering control unit <b>26-1</b> operated. The steering control unit<b>26-1</b> receives a setpoint signal for the position of front vehicle wheels <b>18</b> the mechanical Ausgangssig nal of a steering wheel <b>28</b>Which only schematically given is.

Similarly, controls a transmission control unit <b>26-2</b> the Works of semiautomatic gearbox <b>16</b> in Depending on the mechanical output of a switching lever <b>30</b>,

A motor control unit <b>26-3</b> operates in response to the mechanical output of an accelerator pedal <b>32</b>,

One with the calipers <b>22</b> associated brake Steuerein ness <b>26-4</b> operates in response to the mechanical Output of a brake pedal <b>34</b>,

The aforementioned control units <b>26-</b>i and further more are to be discussed control and data acquisition units via a data bus <b>36</b> with a central control computer <b>38</b> connected. This may be an industrial act single board, which consists of an integ in him tured long-life battery <b>39</b> is fed, which in turn Loading of the vehicle battery ago via diodes.

The control computer <b>38</b> is via the data bus <b>36</b> with a Input / output unit <b>40</b> connected, the display and a keypad comprises.

Further, the control computer <b>38</b> via the data bus <b>36</b> connected to the following units: a GPS unit <b>42</b>Which place, time, speed and driving direction the vehicle provides; a modem part<b>44</b>which z. B. by a data transmission capable radiotelephone can be formed, a black box <b>45</b> for recording the driving data as a predetermined time before a Accident templates, a control unit <b>26-5</b> for an air investment <b>46</b> for the trailer <b>12</b>, A voice recognition unit <b>48</b>That with a microphone <b>50</b> is connected, the so in the cab <b>52</b> the vehicle is appropriate that it is easily reached by the driver of the spoken words. The voice recognition unit <b>48</b> puts the words of the driver in to ASCII strings.

On the data bus <b>36</b> are further connected a sensor <b>54</b> for the temperature inside of the spreader <b>12</b> and a downstream A / D converter <b>56</b>; a sensor<b>58</b> For the composition of the atmosphere inside the In legers <b>12</b> together with a downstream A / D converter; an acceleration sensor <b>62</b> and to this is Schlos sener A / D converter <b>64</b>; and a position sensor<b>66</b> and a this downstream A / D converter <b>68</b>,

Finally, to the data bus <b>36</b> another digital working sensors connected, eg. B. probe <b>70</b>. <b>72</b>. responsive when the driver door is opened; a sensor <b>74</b>Which responds when the trailer <b>12</b> from the tractor <b>10</b> is separated, a sensor <b>76</b>, of the responds when the door of the trailer <b>12</b> opens and a sensor <b>78</b>Responsive, when in the Floor of the trailer <b>12</b> Fluid accumulates.

This can total the data continuously detected and be possibly transmitted to a control center, which for Safety of the vehicle and its cargo and the Transport monitoring and transport planning are relevant.

As in <b>Fig.</b> 1 schematically shows the control are calculator <b>38</b>, The GPS unit <b>42</b> and the modem part <b>44</b> between the roof <b>80</b> the driver's cab and a thereto parallel spaced shroud <b>82</b> arranged, so that they are not visible and only by destroying the shroud <b>82</b> can be removed or manipulated. This makes manipulation of these units largely locked out.

Preferably, the antenna of the GPS unit are <b>42</b> and the modem part <b>44</b> below the roof <b>80</b> arranged, for which purpose the roof as a whole or at least the above the Antennas lying roof section of a for electrostatic magnetic wave permeable produces plastic material are provided.

The modem part <b>44</b> operates with a control station at a arranged modem part <b>84</b> together, which to a control center computer <b>86</b> connected. This has as a peripheral devices a mass storage <b>88</b> and a monitor <b>90</b> and keypad <b>92</b>,

The control center computer <b>86</b> serves roughly to Data of interest from the truck (and other retrieve and new vehicles of the same company) Setpoints and control tasks, the truck to be transmitted.

The control computer <b>38</b> perform substantially in accordance the in <b>Fig.</b> 2 flowchart shown his Hauptpro grammes:

In management program blocks <b>94-1</b> to <b>94-5</b> be Rege control tasks for the steering management, the brake management, the engine management, transmission management and Accessories Management (here air conditioning of the interior of the trailer <b>12</b>) Perceived. The program blocks<b>94-5</b> each obtained from actual value sources <b>96-</b>i (i = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) the actual values ​​of the controlled size, while in setpoint sources <b>98-</b>i the desired value of the variable to be regulated is filed. The program blocks<b>94</b> need it not to be simple rule blocks, the target value sources <b>98-</b>i can in practice by a Majority be constituted by data that the management be considered. Thus, for. Example, the brake management work depending on the steering angle, the motor management function of the brake management, etc. Thus, in practice, the signal sources <b>94</b> and <b>96</b> gebil respectively by a plurality of signal sources be det, the then program instructions inside of each program block in a desired value to be sammengerechnet.

The program blocks <b>94-</b>i have roughly the in <b>Fig.</b> 3 structure shown. In a branch<b>100</b> it is determined whether the target state already reached is. If this is the case, the program proceeds to the exit the program block on. If the actual value of Target value is carried out, in a program block <b>102</b> the Adjust it the actual value to the target value. The duration, which is provided for this adjust it available, may be limited, so that the program block <b>102</b> rapidly will leave to possibly higher rank accomplishing tasks by the control computer. The for Readjustment provided time does the program block <b>94-1</b> the program block <b>94-5</b> constantly decreasing, so that priority always use the steering management is operated. second Of the hierarchy is the brake management. There the higher-level management tasks apart from emergency situations require little time, represents the lower-management tasks in normal operation from sufficient time available.

Additional program blocks <b>104-1</b> and <b>104-2</b> serve the measurement value acquisition and the implementation of traffic with the control center. The program blocks<b>104-</b>i have to in <b>Fig.</b> 4 were ensured by the is that about the same amount of time for the sensor Manage management and traffic management available ge provides is. The program in the blocks<b>104-1</b> and <b>104-2</b> shown variables i and Z are each block own Variables, global variables.

In an input counter <b>106</b> a variable I at each activation of the program block <b>104</b> by one hochge counts. In a subsequent branching<b>108</b> it is checked whether I is an even or odd number. If I is an even number, the program block exits. I is an odd number, a number Z which the Work performed each characterized (eg. B. the number of each queried sensor indicating) in a block <b>110</b> incremented by one, and in one of closing statement block <b>112</b> is the respective working executed. After implementation of this work is then carried out again, a return to the beginning of the main program.

Are the currently prevailing conditions in the program blocks <b>94</b>i perform any work reaches, the program right back to the input of the considered program block <b>104-</b>i, which is now on the I-branch will leave again, and the next program block <b>104-</b>i + 1 is activated, similarly as described above. Thus are the embodiment considered here, Sensor management and traffic management in wesent union with equal weighting performed.

It is understood that also a larger number of one program blocks <b>104-</b>i may provide, in which case there in the branch <b>108</b> you receive the check whether I a multiple of three and four, etc. or not.

Within the data traffic management, the managing Change stelle specifications for the vehicle management and settle messages to the driver of the vehicle.

The various program blocks <b>94-1</b> and <b>104-</b>I can one each to a programmable logic controller delegate. This frees the central control computer<b>38</b> control tasks and allows a largely parallel performing the various management Tasks. Also, programmable logic controllers under harsh industrial conditions proven construction units, which are also suitable for use in Automotive witness well suited. The distribution of the control and regulation tasks to different PLCs also has the Advantage that a high failure safety is given, because the individual controls for a them each Own emergency program independently in case of need the control computer <b>38</b> can work.

The invention has been described above with reference to a truck and its management described. It ver is understood that the invention is equally at shooting nengebundenen vehicles, ships and aircraft used can be.

So you can z. B. in trains means for lubricating of rims depending on location and geschwindigkeitsab pending operate so that the rims on reaching a Curve has a speed calculation tra lowing lubricant layer are provided. Similarly, one track depends automatically the sands of the rail control.

For trains can gyro-stabilized platforms and Acceleration sensor in the tunnel the last measured GPS location for the duration of the journey in the tunnel advancing ben.

An output signals from position sensors and acceleration can feelers to hazards and accidents automatically recognize and take appropriate relief.