A watchdog controller for an electric vehicle compares an observed vehicle dynamic response to an expected range of vehicle dynamic responses calculated based on one or more vehicle control inputs. In the event that the observed dynamic response is not within expected range of dynamic responses the controller is operable to cause the vehicle to operate in a safe mode in which functionality of the vehicle is at least partially limited. The electric vehicle may comprise a controller 208 provided with a dynamic watchdog controller 218 to detect an error state in the controller or in one of the motors 204A-D that are controlled by the controller, and to open switch 210 to inhibit the controller upon detection of the error state. The dynamic watchdog controller 218 may receive inputs indicative of the vehicle acceleration and rotation about three mutually perpendicular axes (X, Y, Z) from six degree of freedom accelerometer 220 and inputs indicative of the position of the accelerator pedal 214, the position of the brake pedal 216, the current vehicle speed and a current steering input.
Watchdog controller
2018-02-28
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60L PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES , Antrieb von elektrisch angetriebenen Fahrzeugen |