KR-20260064780-A - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TOWING MODE OF VEHICLE

Abstract

A towing mode control device for a vehicle and a method thereof are disclosed, comprising: a driving information detection unit configured to detect driving information of the towing vehicle from the towing vehicle while the towing vehicle and the towing vehicle are connected by a towing device and are connected in a manner that enables communication through a communication device, and a controller configured to receive driving information of the towing vehicle transmitted from the towing vehicle and to estimate the total weight of the towing vehicle and the towing vehicle based on the driving information of the towing vehicle and the driving information of the towing vehicle, wherein the controller adjusts the motor regenerative torque of the towing vehicle according to the estimated total weight during the towing of the towing vehicle.

Inventors

• 박세준

Assignees

• 현대자동차주식회사
• 기아 주식회사

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20241029

Claims (20)

1. A driving information detection unit configured to detect vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle from the towing vehicle while the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle are connected by a towing device and are connected in a manner that allows communication through a communication device, and It includes a controller configured to receive vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle transmitted from the towing vehicle and to estimate the total weight of the towing vehicle and the towing vehicle based on the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle and the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle. The above controller is a towing mode control device for a vehicle that controls the motor regenerative torque of the towed vehicle according to the estimated total weight during the towing of the towed vehicle.
2. In claim 1, A towing mode control device for a vehicle further comprising a driving information detection unit configured to detect vehicle driving information of the towed vehicle from the towed vehicle.
3. In claim 1, The above controller is, Determining whether the conditions for weight estimation are satisfied based on one or both of the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle and the vehicle driving information of the towed vehicle, and A towing mode control device of a vehicle configured to estimate the total weight of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle when it is determined that the above conditions for weight estimation are satisfied.
4. In claim 3, A towing mode control device for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle and the vehicle driving information of the towed vehicle for determining whether the above-mentioned weight estimation conditions are satisfied include a steering angle, a gradient of the road, vehicle speed, and vehicle longitudinal acceleration.
5. In claim 4, The above-mentioned conditions for estimating Jungnang are, Condition in which the vehicle is in a straight-line driving state with the above steering angle within a set range, Condition of the vehicle driving on flat ground where the above gradient is within the set range, Conditions where the above vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the set vehicle speed, and A towing mode control device for a vehicle that includes a condition in which the vehicle longitudinal acceleration is greater than or equal to a set acceleration.
6. In claim 5, The above controller is, If the steering angle, gradient, vehicle speed, and vehicle longitudinal acceleration detected in one of the above-mentioned towing vehicle and the above-mentioned towed vehicle satisfy all of the above conditions, or If the steering angle, gradient, vehicle speed, and vehicle longitudinal acceleration detected in both the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle each satisfy all of the above conditions, A towing mode control device for a vehicle configured to determine that the above-mentioned weight estimation conditions are satisfied.
7. In claim 5, The above controller is, If the average value of the steering angle detected in the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, the average value of the gradient detected in the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, the average value of the vehicle speed detected in the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, and the average value of the vehicle longitudinal acceleration detected in the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle satisfy all of the above conditions, A towing mode control device for a vehicle configured to determine that the above-mentioned weight estimation conditions are satisfied.
8. In claim 1, The above controller is, A towing mode control device for a vehicle configured to determine the total weight of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle by dividing the total wheel driving force of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle by the longitudinal acceleration of the vehicle.
9. In claim 1, The vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle and the vehicle driving information of the towed vehicle for estimating the above total weight are, A towing mode control device for a vehicle comprising the wheel torque and tire diameter of the towing vehicle, the wheel torque and tire diameter of the towed vehicle, and the final vehicle deceleration of one of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, or the average of the two.
10. In claim 9, The wheel torque of the above-mentioned towing vehicle is the driving wheel torque, and the wheel torque of the above-mentioned towed vehicle is the regenerative wheel torque. The above controller is, A towing mode control device for a vehicle configured to determine the total weight of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle according to the formula '{(drive wheel torque / towing vehicle tire diameter + regenerative wheel torque / towed vehicle tire diameter)} / vehicle final deceleration = total weight'.
11. In claim 1, The above controller is, The total weight of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle is compared with a set weight to determine the excess weight when the total weight exceeds the set weight, and Correcting the preset regenerative torque based on the above-determined excess weight, A towing mode control device for a vehicle configured to control the motor regenerative operation of the towed vehicle with the above-mentioned corrected regenerative torque.
12. In claim 11, The above controller is, Determine a correction factor corresponding to the weight excess amount determined above, and A towing mode control device for a vehicle configured to correct a preset regenerative torque by multiplying the preset regenerative torque by a determined correction factor.
13. In claim 11, A towing mode control device for a vehicle in which the larger the weight excess amount in the above controller, the smaller the corrected regenerative torque is determined to be.
14. A step in which, while the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle are connected by a towing device and are connected in a manner that enables communication through a communication device, and the towed vehicle is towed by the towing vehicle, vehicle driving information is transmitted from the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle; A step of estimating the total weight of the towing vehicle and the towing vehicle based on the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle received from the towing vehicle and the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle by means of a controller mounted on the towing vehicle; and A method for controlling a towing mode of a vehicle, comprising the step of adjusting the motor regenerative torque of the towed vehicle according to the estimated total weight by the controller during the towing of the towed vehicle.
15. In claim 14, The above controller further includes a step of determining whether a condition for weight estimation is satisfied based on one or both of the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle and the vehicle driving information of the towed vehicle. The above controller is, If it is determined that the above conditions for weight estimation are satisfied, A towing mode control method for a vehicle that performs the step of estimating the total weight of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle.
16. In claim 15, A method for controlling a towing mode of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle for determining whether the above-mentioned weight estimation conditions are satisfied includes a steering angle, a gradient of the road, vehicle speed, and vehicle longitudinal acceleration.
17. In claim 16, The above-mentioned conditions for estimating Jungnang are, Condition in which the vehicle is in a straight-line driving state with the above steering angle within a set range, Condition of the vehicle driving on flat ground where the above gradient is within the set range, Conditions where the above vehicle speed is greater than or equal to the set vehicle speed, and A towing mode control method for a vehicle that includes a condition in which the vehicle longitudinal acceleration is greater than or equal to a set acceleration.
18. In claim 14, The vehicle driving information of the towing vehicle and the vehicle driving information of the towed vehicle for estimating the above total weight are, A method for controlling a towing mode of a vehicle comprising the wheel torque and tire diameter of the towing vehicle, the wheel torque and tire diameter of the towed vehicle, and the final vehicle deceleration of one of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle, or the average of the two.
19. In claim 14, In the step where the regenerative torque of the towed vehicle is adjusted, The above controller is, The total weight of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle is compared with a set weight to determine the excess weight when the total weight exceeds the set weight, and Correcting the preset regenerative torque based on the above-determined excess weight, A towing mode control method for a vehicle that controls the motor regenerative operation of a towed vehicle with the above-mentioned corrected regenerative torque.
20. In claim 19, A towing mode control method for a vehicle in which the larger the weight excess amount in the above controller, the smaller the corrected regenerative torque is determined.

Description

System and Method for Controlling Towing Mode of Vehicle The present invention relates to a vehicle towing mode control device and method capable of solving the problem of insufficient acceleration and starting sensation of a vehicle due to EV towing charging when the weight of the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle is heavy. Eco-friendly vehicles are vehicles that use electric driving force for propulsion and driving, and utilize a motor as the drive unit to power the vehicle. Eco-friendly vehicles are equipped with a motor that generates driving force as a major power component, an inverter for driving and controlling the motor, and an Energy Storage System (ESS) that stores electrical energy for driving the motor. The inverter is an important component that controls the current applied to the motor, and the energy storage system is the main source of electrical energy, which may include a conventional high-voltage battery installed in an eco-friendly vehicle. In eco-friendly vehicles that are driven and operated by electric power (i.e., power generated by a motor), the battery, which is an energy storage system, is connected to the motor via an inverter to enable charging and discharging. In a vehicle driven by a motor, regenerative braking can be performed by using the motor as a generator to recover the vehicle's kinetic energy into electrical energy during braking or coasting. It operates the motor as a generator using the rotational force of the drive wheels to produce electrical energy, and charges the battery with the generated electrical energy. Meanwhile, for owners of two or more vehicles, when it is necessary to use all of them to reach a desired destination, they can use the Neutral Towing function to transport all of the vehicles to that destination. For example, one vehicle is designated as the towing vehicle where actual driving takes place, and another vehicle is designated as the towed vehicle connected to the rear of the towing vehicle; the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle are then connected using a towing device such as a tow bar and moved together to a desired destination. At this time, the towing vehicle generates driving force for driving, and the towed vehicle sets and maintains the gear in neutral (N), so that the towing vehicle pulls the towed vehicle from the front and moves it. The neutral towing function is a feature that enables easy towing of a towed vehicle by setting the gear of the towed vehicle to neutral (N) and maintaining the towed vehicle in an unloaded state. Recently, a Flat Tow Mode is under development that enables EV towing charging by utilizing the regenerative braking of the towed vehicle to charge its battery when the towed vehicle is connected to a towing vehicle and towed. For example, when towing in flat tow mode after connecting an electric vehicle (EV) as a secondary vehicle to a camper van, the battery of the electric vehicle can be charged using the regenerative braking of the towed vehicle. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an EV towing charging state in which battery charging is performed through regenerative braking control in the electric vehicle (EV) being towed (200) when a towing vehicle (100) tows the electric vehicle (EV) in flat tow mode. Flat tow mode is a towing mode in which the towing vehicle (100) pulls the towed vehicle (200) while all four wheels of the towed vehicle (200) are in contact with the ground as described, and if the towed vehicle (200) is an electric vehicle, EV towing charging can be performed. Conventionally, when towing an electric vehicle, there is a risk that the PE (Power Electric) components of the electric vehicle may be damaged, so it was recommended that when the vehicle towed is an electric vehicle, the wheels of the electric vehicle be towed without contact with the ground. When using Flat Tow mode, the towing vehicle (100) and the towed vehicle (200) are connected via a towing device, and after the user (driver) turns on the vehicle ignition ('EV Ready') of the towed vehicle (200), the Flat Tow mode is selected and activated via the AVN (Audio, Video and Navigation). At this time, the target SOC (State of Charge) can be set in the towed vehicle (200). Afterwards, when the driver boards the towing vehicle (100) and starts driving, control for the flat tow mode is initiated in the towed vehicle (200), and subsequently, during the flat tow mode while the vehicle is being towed and towed, the battery (not shown) of the towed vehicle can be charged to a target SOC through regenerative braking control of the electric vehicle, which is the towed vehicle (200). At this time, the electric vehicle (towed vehicle) connected by the towing device is set to a neutral (N) state, and when being towed by the towing vehicle (100) in the neutral state, the electric vehicle, which is the towed vehicle (200), coasts. In this way, when the electric vehicle coasts, regenerative braking by the motor is performed through PWM (Pulse