ULTRASONIC METHODS FOR IMPROVING FUEL-LEVEL MEASUREMENT ACCURACY IN MOVING VEHICLES

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of contemporary ultrasonic techniques employed to measure fuel levels in truck fuel tanks under dynamic operating conditions. The study systematically examines a range of methods, including the pulse-echo technique, through-transmission, M-mode (motion-mode) imaging, phase-shift detection, and time-of-flight (TOF) measurements. For each method, the fundamental operating principles are described, alongside their respective advantages, limitations, and susceptibility to environmental and mechanical influences such as temperature fluctuations, tank inclination, and liquid sloshing during vehicle motion.

A comparative analysis table is included to illustrate that although certain methods demonstrate high precision in controlled laboratory environments, they often fail to maintain measurement stability when exposed to multiple simultaneous dynamic disturbances. To address this challenge, the paper proposes a hybrid approach informed by a critical review of existing literature and validated by consolidated experimental results. This approach integrates pulse-echo measurements with TOF estimations to rapidly assess distance, while M-mode imaging is utilized to mitigate the impact of surface turbulence and vibration-induced fluctuations.

The proposed hybrid strategy effectively reduces the root-mean-square (RMS) error to less than or equal to 1%, even under realistic conditions involving mechanical vibrations, angular deviations, and thermal variations—typical in heavy-duty vehicle applications. The findings offer a solid scientific foundation for advancing the development of robust ultrasonic fuel level sensors tailored for use in complex transportation environments.