Smart Battery Health Algorithm & Tire Information System

Driving Safety will benefit from utilizing vehicle data in innovative ways: Algorithm-based smart digital solutions interpret data to generate new value. Continental Automotive has developed sensors and utilizes them as data source to monitor elements of safety such as tire wear and the status of the 12 Volt starter battery. Both types of data have proven highly useful to avoid battery-related breakdowns and to contribute to safe driving in general.

Yet, the power of data goes beyond this: Continental Automotive is now ready to harvest this potential by turning sensor data into richer and predictive information. Innovative algorithms utilize the computing power and data storage of, e.g., the Continental Cloud. The results delivered by the algorithm are provided to drivers or fleet owners to avoid breakdowns and potential safety threats.

In short: Algorithms turn vehicle data into new services creating additional customer benefit and stronger brand loyalty.

Enter the Cloud

Sensors provide a vehicle driver with important information on the status of the car. For instance, tire data can now be used for Tread Depth Monitoring (TDM) which helps to avoid accidents and to optimize the tire lifecycle. The same applies to battery monitoring: By detecting signs of degradation the driver can go to the garage in time. This predictive quality takes out stress plus it can save cost.

By creating a data flow from the car to the cloud, algorithms interpreting the data work with a much bigger database – not just data from one car. This is part of a learning-system approach constantly improving the analysis. By using the computing power and data storage capacity of the cloud, the incremental cost of installing more computing power and memory in every vehicle can be avoided.

In short: Compared to embedded systems, cloud-based computing provides better information with a longer horizon to avoid problems early on.

New Value Built on Existing Tools

Continental Automotive is in a perfect situation to create such value by linking in-vehicle technology to cloud-based solutions. Within Continental there is the full scope of detailed know-how, ranging from individual products such as tires and sensors, on to vehicle architectures, telemetry, and right up to state-of-the-art software, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and neural networks. By bringing these “tools” together, vehicle diagnostics, driving safety, comfort, and cost reduction are advanced altogether.

In short: Utilizing the power of data is the logical next step for safety and motion expert Continental.

The AI algorithm-based path to new services and additional customer benefit starts with two pivotal applications relevant to all vehicles. It makes no difference whether a car has a combustion engine or whether it is a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV): Tires and the lead-acid battery remain essential and will continue to require servicing.

In short: Continental’s new smart digital solutions are future-proof.

Smart Battery Health Algorithm

Roughly half of all vehicle breakdowns are caused by a failure of the lead-acid (starter) battery (1). There are many reasons for this and the list is only getting longer. Take fuel-saving systems such as start-stop. They increase the number of driving phases during which the battery alone needs to supply the complete 12 Volt power net. As a result, starter batteries are often run at the limit of their capabilities – and sometimes beyond.

Continental Automotive has brought the Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) to the market to monitor core battery parameters such as State of Charge (SOC), State of Function (SOF) and State of Health (SOH). This serves to warn the driver about a degradation of the battery before the car will refuse to start. The clear benefit of this solution has made Continental an IBS market leader.
 

(1) 2022 figures: https://www.adac.de/rund-ums-fahrzeug/unfall-schaden-panne/adac-pannenstatistik/

Linking Battery Data to the Cloud

By utilizing the proven IBS as data source and linking it, e.g., to the Continental Cloud via the vehicle’s internet connection or fleet owner’s dongle, battery condition monitoring is greatly expanded. The battery data gets stored in the cloud to enable a long-time observation. In addition, the IBS data is analyzed by the Continental Cloud Battery Model which detects anomalies and makes predictions about the remaining useful life of the battery. This information is then provided to the driver, fleet owner and/or OEM to enable preventive action and targeted development.

The data base and algorithms in the Cloud are instrumental in creating value: Additional types of information like the field use patterns of cars and cross-correlations with other vehicles can now be factored in, other sources such as regional weather and the vehicle’s geo position can be cross-referenced with battery data to further improve the algorithms’ predictive quality.

Features of the Smart Battery Health Algorithm

  • The communication channel for transmitting sensor data to the algorithm and the allocation, i.e., hosting (Continental or Customer Cloud), of the algorithm can be flexibly defined.
  • Possibilities of the Cloud outperform microcontroller (µC) capabilities in IBS.
  • Fleet owners get a dashboard which provides a fast overview of required service actions.
  • Software parameter settings can be downloaded to the car to improve on-board sensor data processing.
  • Algorithm increases the energy reliability also in BEVs.
  • Autonomous Driving (AD) requires a particularly high level of energy reliability to which the algorithm contributes.
  • Customer loyalty to authorized repair shops is strengthened by the new service.

Data-driven Tire Information System

With its sensor-based Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Continental Automotive already has a track record since 2002 in preventing consequences to unnoticed tire pressure loss or an increase in tire temperature. Warning the driver about these problems contributes to driving safety, to fuel-efficient driving, and to driving comfort in general.

Again, linking sensor information to the Cloud and adding a predictive model to the solution brings about a new level of safety and vehicle availability: The precise Real Time Tread Depth Monitoring of Tires via an algorithm is a breakthrough achievement.
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This new Tire Information System (TIS) solution connects information of tire sensors (pressure) and telemetry data from the vehicle with a powerful algorithm in the cloud. The algorithm calculates the tire tread depth in real time based on sensor signals   – with a tread depth accuracy of below one millimeter. As a result, drivers and fleet owners know what kind of tire service will be needed when – without abrupt failure, subsequent safety risks and the general inconvenience of sudden tire problems. This saves cost and optimizes service time. The other big benefit of this forward planning is an intensified relationship with the car dealer as the natural service-point to turn to.

Features of the Algorithm-based Tire Information System

  • The channel for transmitting sensor data to the algorithm and the allocation of the algorithm can be flexibly defined.
  • Possibilities of the Cloud outperform onboard analysis.
  • Fleet owners get a dashboard which provides a fast overview of available vehicles and required service actions.
  • With rental cars in particular availability equals money.
  • Tire Tread Depth status is precisely calculated based on pressure, temperature, acceleration, and vehicle dynamics data.
  • Individual, vehicle-specific load profiles are factored in.
  • Cloud-based central software development is agile.
  • Open-loop and closed-loop neural network concepts are possible.
  • Customer loyalty to authorized repair shops is strengthened by the new service.

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