Battery replacement method, device, control apparatus, and battery replacement station

Abstract

This application provides a battery replacement method, apparatus, control device, and battery swapping station. The method includes: acquiring first battery information for each battery in a target vehicle, the first battery information including first battery identifiers and first battery locations associated with each first battery identifier; determining second battery information for target batteries to be placed in each battery storage location in the target vehicle based on acquired battery swapping requirements; and replacing the batteries to be swapped in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information. By obtaining the battery distribution in the vehicle in advance, the efficiency of battery swapping can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of control technology for battery swapping stations, and more specifically, to a battery swapping method, apparatus, control equipment, and battery swapping station. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, electric vehicles are generally charged by charging when the battery is low, but the charging time for electric vehicles is currently quite long.

[0003] Given the current situation, battery swapping stations have emerged, which can directly replace the batteries in vehicles, and the time required for battery swapping is much shorter than the time required for charging. However, the current method of handling batteries is to replace all batteries at once, which is difficult to meet the needs of more scenarios. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, the purpose of this application is to provide a battery swapping method, apparatus, control device, and battery swapping station to improve the problem of low battery swapping efficiency.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a battery replacement method, comprising: acquiring first battery information of each battery in a target vehicle, the first battery information including a first battery identifier and a first battery location associated with each first battery identifier; determining second battery information of the target battery to be placed in each battery storage location in the target vehicle based on the acquired battery replacement requirements; and replacing the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information.

[0006] In an optional implementation, replacing the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information includes: Based on the first battery information and the battery type of the target battery, the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle is determined; Based on the second battery information and the target storage location of the target battery, the battery to be replaced on the target vehicle is replaced.

[0007] In an optional implementation, determining the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the battery type of the target battery includes: Based on the first battery information, the required battery type for each battery storage location of the target vehicle is determined; Based on the battery type currently stored in the battery storage location and the battery type of the target battery, the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle is determined.

[0008] In an optional implementation, replacing the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information includes: Obtain the i-th target battery from the battery storage location of the target battery; Replace the battery to be replaced in the i-th battery storage position with the i-th target battery, where i is a positive integer greater than or equal to one and less than the number of target batteries required by the target vehicle.

[0009] In an optional implementation, replacing the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information includes: Based on the second battery information, obtain the target power supply battery in the target battery; The m-th storage location on the target vehicle is determined based on the first battery information; Replace the battery to be replaced at the m-th storage location on the target vehicle with the target power supply battery; Based on the second battery information, obtain the target simulated battery in the target battery; Replace the battery to be replaced at the nth storage location on the target vehicle with the target simulated battery, where m and n are both positive integers less than or equal to the total number of battery storage locations on the target vehicle.

[0010] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: Obtain the target vehicle information of the target vehicle; Based on the target vehicle information, a first type of storage location for the target vehicle is determined, wherein the first type of storage location is a storage location for storing the power supply battery.

[0011] In an optional implementation, the method further includes: Obtain the battery swapping demand; Determine whether the battery swapping demand includes a demand for power supply batteries and a demand for analog batteries; If the battery swapping requirement includes a requirement for a power supply battery and a requirement for a simulated battery, then the step of obtaining the first battery information of each battery on the target vehicle is performed.

[0012] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a battery replacement device, comprising: The first acquisition module is used to acquire the first battery information of each battery on the target vehicle. The first battery information includes the first battery identifier and the first battery location associated with each first battery identifier. The first determining module is used to determine the second battery information of the target battery to be placed in each battery storage position on the target vehicle based on the first battery identifier and the first battery position; A replacement module is used to replace the battery to be replaced on the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information.

[0013] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a control device, including: a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor, and when the control device is running, the machine-readable instructions are executed by the processor to perform the steps of the above-described method.

[0014] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program that, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of the method described above.

[0015] Fifthly, embodiments of this application provide a battery swapping station, including: a conveying system, a battery compartment, and the aforementioned control equipment.

[0016] The battery replacement method, apparatus, control device, and battery swapping station provided in this application can improve battery replacement efficiency by determining the battery installation status on the vehicle before replacing the battery, and can appropriately replace the vehicle battery based on the existing battery installation status.

[0017] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments are described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0018] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the operating environment for the battery replacement method provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a battery swapping station provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A flowchart of a battery replacement method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 A detailed flowchart of step 460 of the battery replacement method provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 5Another detailed flowchart of step 460 of the battery replacement method provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 6 A further detailed flowchart of step 460 of the battery replacement method provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 7 This is a partial flowchart of a battery replacement method provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 This is another part of the flowchart of the battery replacement method provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the functional modules of the battery replacement device provided in the embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation The embodiments of the technical solution of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are only used to more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application and are therefore merely examples, and should not be used to limit the scope of protection of this application.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application; the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification, claims, and foregoing description of the drawings are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0021] In the description of the embodiments of this application, technical terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish different objects and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number, specific order, or primary and secondary relationship of the indicated technical features. In the description of the embodiments of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly defined.

[0022] In this document, the term "embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this application. The appearance of this phrase in various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor is it a separate or alternative embodiment mutually exclusive with other embodiments. It will be explicitly and implicitly understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein can be combined with other embodiments.

[0023] In the description of the embodiments in this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0024] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the term "multiple" refers to two or more (including two), similarly, "multiple sets" refers to two or more (including two sets), and "multiple pieces" refers to two or more (including two pieces).

[0025] In the description of the embodiments of this application, the technical terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the embodiments of this application and simplifying the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0026] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, technical terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0027] With increasing emphasis on environmental protection, more environmentally friendly new energy electric vehicles have also experienced rapid development. However, electric vehicles charge relatively slowly, and if the battery is low during use, the driver has to wait for a considerable time, which undoubtedly affects the driver's experience.

[0028] Given this situation, a new technology has emerged that can directly replace the battery in an electric vehicle with a fully charged battery, and the time required to replace the battery is much shorter than the time required to fully charge the battery.

[0029] The inventors' research revealed that different vehicle models have different sizes, require different batteries, have different battery storage locations, and can accommodate different numbers of batteries. Therefore, the battery replacement process varies between different vehicles. In some cases, the number of battery storage slots on a vehicle may exceed the user's battery needs, meaning some battery storage slots may not require storing usable batteries.

[0030] Based on this, the present application provides a battery replacement method that can determine the target battery based on the current battery distribution of the vehicle. The following describes the battery replacement method provided by this application through several embodiments.

[0031] The battery replaced in the battery replacement method provided in this application embodiment can be used in electric vehicles to provide power to the electric vehicle. The battery replacement method provided in this application embodiment can be used to replace batteries in electric vehicles that require battery replacement, reducing the time required for the electric vehicle to go from a depleted state to a fully charged or fully charged state. Furthermore, under different needs, one or more power supply batteries can be replaced in the electric vehicle, or simulated batteries can be filled into the empty spaces on the electric vehicle. During the battery replacement process, by any combination of power supply batteries and simulated batteries, different numbers of usable batteries can be provided to the electric vehicle to meet the needs of the electric vehicle under different ranges, and also to ensure that the number of batteries that users can replace is no longer limited to the number of battery storage spaces on the electric vehicle.

[0032] For example, the electric vehicle may be a battery-powered vehicle or an electric vehicle.

[0033] To facilitate understanding of this embodiment, the operating environment for implementing the battery replacement method disclosed in this application will first be introduced.

[0034] like Figure 1 The diagram shown illustrates the operating environment of the battery replacement method provided in this embodiment. The operating environment of this battery replacement method may include a battery swapping station 100 and a server 200. The server 200 communicates with one or more battery swapping stations 100 via a network for data communication or interaction. The server 200 may be a network server, a database server, etc.

[0035] This battery swapping station 100 is used to swap batteries for electric vehicles.

[0036] like Figure 2 As shown, the battery swapping station 100 may include: a conveying system 110, a battery compartment 120, and a control device 130.

[0037] The conveying system 110 is used to transport batteries removed from electric vehicles, and can also be used to transport batteries taken from the battery compartment 120.

[0038] For example, the conveying system 110 may include a conveying tool, a conveying track, and a programmable logic controller (PLC). The conveying tool can travel on the conveying track to move the batteries to be processed.

[0039] The conveying tool can be controlled by the aforementioned programmable logic controller (PLC), and the conveying tool moves according to the control instructions of the PLC. The PLC can control the conveying tool based on data provided by the control device 130.

[0040] For example, the transport vehicle may include a rail-guided vehicle (RGV), a stacker crane, or other similar tools.

[0041] Please refer to again Figure 2 As shown, the battery swapping station 100 may also include a parking space 140. The parking space 140 is used to park vehicles that need to swap batteries.

[0042] The battery swapping station 100 can communicate with the server via the control device 130. The control device 130 can also establish a communication connection with the electric vehicle whose battery is to be swapped in order to obtain the data transmitted by the electric vehicle.

[0043] In this embodiment, the control device 130 may include a memory and a processor.

[0044] The aforementioned memory and processor components are electrically connected directly or indirectly to enable data transmission or interaction. For example, these components can be electrically connected to each other via one or more communication buses or signal lines. The aforementioned processor is used to execute executable modules stored in the memory.

[0045] The memory can be, but is not limited to, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), etc. The memory stores computer programs, and the processor executes these programs upon receiving execution instructions. The method executed by the control device 130, as defined in any embodiment of this application, can be applied to the processor or implemented by the processor.

[0046] The aforementioned processor may be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. It can be a general-purpose processor, including a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Network Processor (NP), etc.; it can also be a digital signal processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the methods, steps, and logic block diagrams disclosed in the embodiments of this application. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0047] Those skilled in the art will understand that the examples of components included in the control device described above in the embodiments of this application should not limit the structure of the control device 130. For example, the control device 130 may also include more or fewer components, or different configurations.

[0048] For example, the control device 130 may further include a display unit, which provides an interactive interface (e.g., a user interface) between the control device 130 and the user, or displays image data for the user's reference. In this embodiment, the display unit may be a liquid crystal display or a touch display. If it is a touch display, it may be a capacitive touch screen or a resistive touch screen that supports single-point and multi-point touch operations. Supporting single-point and multi-point touch operations means that the touch display can sense touch operations generated simultaneously from one or more locations on the touch display, and hand over the sensed touch operations to the processor for calculation and processing.

[0049] Please refer to again Figure 1 As shown, the operating environment of the battery replacement method may also include a user terminal 300, which can communicate with the server 200 via a network.

[0050] The user terminal 300 can be a personal computer (PC), tablet computer, smartphone, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc.

[0051] The user terminal 300 can access the services provided by the server 200. For example, the user terminal 300 can log in to the services provided by the server 200 and send a battery swapping request to the server. As another example, the user terminal 300 can also send a vehicle registration request to the server 200.

[0052] The control device 130 in this embodiment can be used to execute various steps in the various methods provided in the embodiments of this application. The implementation process of the battery replacement method is described in detail below through several embodiments.

[0053] Please see Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the battery replacement method provided in the embodiments of this application. The following will describe... Figure 3 The specific process shown will be explained in detail.

[0054] Step 420: Obtain the first battery information of each battery in the target vehicle.

[0055] The first battery information includes a first battery identifier and the location of each first battery associated with that first battery identifier.

[0056] The first battery identifier refers to an identifier that can represent the battery currently installed in the target vehicle and is to be replaced. This first battery identifier can be a string or a unique identifier, such as a QR code or barcode. For example, if the target vehicle has a power supply battery installed, the first battery identifier of that power supply battery is a unique identifier for that battery. For example, if the target vehicle has a simulated battery installed, the first battery identifier of that simulated battery can be a designated battery identifier. For example, all simulated batteries share this designated battery identifier. This designated battery identifier can be a string, such as "FFFFFFFF", or it can be a unique identifier.

[0057] The first battery location refers to the position where each battery to be replaced is installed on the target vehicle. For example, this first battery location can also be represented by a string. For instance, if the target vehicle has two battery storage slots, the two slots can be represented by the strings "01" and "10" respectively. As another example, if the target vehicle has three battery storage slots, the three slots can be represented by the strings "001", "010", and "100" respectively. Of course, when the target vehicle has more battery storage slots, the string representing each slot can be different, and these will not be exhaustively listed here.

[0058] For example, the first battery identifier and the first battery location in the first battery information are associated. For instance, if a first battery identifier "10101011" is obtained from battery storage location "01", then battery storage location "01" and the first battery identifier "10101011" can be associated with battery storage location "01". As another example, if a first battery identifier "FFFFFFFF" is obtained from battery storage location "10", then battery storage location "10" and the first battery identifier "FFFFFFFF" can be associated with battery storage location "01".

[0059] The method in this embodiment can be applied to... Figure 1 The control equipment in the battery swapping station shown.

[0060] In one implementation, the control device can establish a communication connection with the target vehicle to obtain first battery information transmitted by the target vehicle. For example, the communication connection established between the control device and the target vehicle can be a near-field communication (NFC) connection, such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or NFC.

[0061] Optionally, the control device can also use a radio frequency identification (RFID) device to identify the tags of each battery on the target vehicle in order to obtain the first battery information of each battery.

[0062] In another implementation, the control device can provide an interface through which the first battery information of each battery in the target vehicle can be obtained. For example, the user can input the required first battery information of each battery in the target vehicle into the interface.

[0063] Step 440: Based on the obtained battery swapping requirements, determine the second battery information of the target battery to be placed in each battery storage position on the target vehicle.

[0064] The second battery information may include the battery type and battery storage location.

[0065] For example, the battery type can include two types: a power supply battery and a simulated battery. The power supply battery refers to a battery that can power electric vehicles; the simulated battery can be a dummy battery that has the same appearance as the power supply battery but cannot power a vehicle.

[0066] For example, the battery storage location may include the location of the target battery in the battery compartment.

[0067] For example, if the target vehicle includes multiple battery storage slots, and the number of batteries required by the target vehicle is less than the number of battery storage slots available in the target vehicle, then the required number of power supply batteries can be selected, and the other battery storage slots can be used to install simulated batteries.

[0068] In an alternative implementation, second battery information for the target battery can be determined based on the existing battery distribution of the target vehicle. This second battery information may include battery information for one or more batteries.

[0069] For example, before the battery swap, the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries in the target vehicle is m:n. And if the distribution of power supply batteries and simulated batteries needs to remain m:n after the battery swap, then the distribution of power supply batteries and simulated batteries in the second battery information is m:n. That is, the second battery information includes battery information for m power supply batteries and battery information for n simulated batteries. Here, m and n are positive integers, and the sum of m and n equals the number of battery storage slots in the target vehicle.

[0070] For example, before battery swapping, the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries in the target vehicle is m:n. After the battery swap, the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries needs to be p:q. Therefore, the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries in the second battery information is p:q, meaning that the second battery information includes battery information for p power supply batteries and battery information for q simulated batteries. Here, m and n are positive integers, and the sum of m and n equals the number of battery storage locations in the target vehicle, and the sum of p and q equals the number of battery storage locations in the target vehicle.

[0071] For example, if the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries in the target vehicle is m:n before the battery swap, and the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries needs to remain m:n after the battery swap, then the second battery information can include only the battery information of m power supply batteries. Here, m and n are positive integers, and the sum of m and n equals the number of battery storage slots in the target vehicle.

[0072] In one example, if the target vehicle has two battery storage slots, one for a power supply battery and the other for a simulated battery, with the power supply battery providing power to the vehicle and the simulated battery merely filling the storage slot and not supplying power, then the second battery information identified for the target vehicle could include information for both the power supply battery and the simulated battery. Alternatively, the second battery information could include only the power supply battery, without requiring the simulated battery to be replaced.

[0073] Optionally, if different models or capacities of batteries can be used on the target vehicle, the battery type can also be parameters such as battery capacity and battery model.

[0074] Optionally, the second battery information may further include the battery identifier of the target battery. Each power supply battery's battery identifier can uniquely identify that power supply battery, and all analog batteries can have the same battery identifier. For example, the number of characters in the battery identifiers of all analog batteries can be the same as the number of characters in the battery identifier of the power supply battery.

[0075] Optionally, the battery swapping requirement is determined by the server based on the battery swapping request received from the user terminal.

[0076] When a battery replacement is needed for a target vehicle, the user terminal associated with the target vehicle accesses the server through a designated website or application, submitting a battery replacement request. This request may include the required battery type, the required quantity of different battery types, etc. After receiving the battery replacement request, the server parses the battery replacement requirements and sends them to the control equipment of the battery replacement station.

[0077] In one example, the user terminal may provide an operation window through which user input is received. For instance, the operation window may include a quantity selection window and a type selection window. The quantity selection window allows selection of the required number of batteries, and the type selection window allows selection of the battery type.

[0078] Step 460: Replace the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information.

[0079] Optionally, the target storage location on the target vehicle where the target battery needs to be stored can be determined first based on the first battery information and the second battery information.

[0080] For example, a conveyor system in a battery swapping station can be used to remove the battery to be swapped from the target vehicle and transport it back to the battery compartment in the battery swapping station. The same conveyor system is then used to retrieve the target battery from its storage location in the battery compartment and to install it onto the target vehicle.

[0081] In one example, the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries on the target vehicle is m:n, and the second battery information can include battery information for the m power supply batteries. Therefore, when replacing the batteries on the target vehicle, the m target batteries can replace the power supply batteries in the battery storage slots where the m power supply batteries are installed on the target vehicle, and the n simulated batteries on the target vehicle do not need to be replaced.

[0082] In another example, the distribution of power batteries and simulated batteries in the target vehicle is m:n, and the distribution of power batteries and simulated batteries in the second battery information is also m:n. Furthermore, the second battery information may include battery information for m power batteries and battery information for n simulated batteries. Therefore, when replacing the batteries in the target vehicle, the m power batteries in the target battery can replace the m power batteries in the target vehicle; and the n simulated batteries in the target battery can replace the n simulated batteries in the target vehicle.

[0083] In another example, the distribution of power supply batteries and simulated batteries in the target vehicle is m:n, and the distribution of power supply batteries and simulated batteries in the second battery information is p:q. If p is less than m, when replacing the batteries in the target vehicle, p power supply batteries from the target battery can replace p batteries from the m power supply batteries in the target vehicle; q simulated batteries from the target battery can replace all other batteries in the target vehicle. If p is greater than m, when replacing the batteries in the target vehicle, p power supply batteries from the target battery can replace m power supply batteries and pm simulated batteries from the target vehicle; q simulated batteries from the target battery can replace all other simulated batteries in the target vehicle.

[0084] In another example, the distribution of the power supply batteries and simulated batteries on the target vehicle is m:n. The second battery information may include battery information for p simulated batteries. If p is less than m, the first battery information may also include battery information for mp simulated batteries. When replacing the battery on the target vehicle, the p power supply batteries in the target battery can replace the p batteries in the m power supply batteries on the target vehicle; the mp simulated batteries in the target battery can replace the power supply batteries in all other batteries to be replaced on the target vehicle. If p is greater than m, when replacing the battery on the target vehicle, the p power supply batteries in the target battery can replace the m power supply batteries and the pm simulated batteries on the target vehicle; the other simulated batteries on the target vehicle remain unchanged.

[0085] The above methods can accommodate more battery swapping needs, so that battery swapping needs are no longer limited to the replacement of power supply batteries. They can also provide partial battery replacement for users when their battery demand is not large, thus improving the flexibility of battery swapping.

[0086] Furthermore, when only a portion of the power supply battery needs to be replaced, the simulated battery on the target vehicle can remain unreplaced, reducing the operations required for battery replacement and improving battery swapping efficiency.

[0087] Because different users have different needs, in order to improve the ability of the battery swapping station's control equipment to handle these diverse needs, it can interact with the user terminal associated with the target vehicle to obtain the battery swapping requirements. For example... Figure 4As shown, step 460 may include steps 461 to 462.

[0088] Step 461: Based on the first battery information and the second battery information, determine the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle.

[0089] Optionally, the second battery information may include the battery type of each target battery.

[0090] For example, the battery type of each battery storage location on the target vehicle can be determined based on the first battery information; and the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle can be determined based on the battery type currently stored in the battery storage location on the target vehicle and the battery type of the target battery.

[0091] For example, the battery type of each battery storage location on the target vehicle can be determined based on the first battery identifier and the first battery location.

[0092] In one example, if the target vehicle has two battery storage locations, and the target vehicle previously had one power battery and one analog battery, the target battery may include one target power battery and one target analog battery. The target storage location of the target power battery in the target vehicle is the same as the storage location of the power battery before the battery replacement; the target storage location of the target analog battery is the same as the storage location of the analog battery before the battery replacement. Alternatively, the target battery may consist of only one target power battery, and the target storage location of the target power battery in the target vehicle is the same as the storage location of the power battery before the battery replacement.

[0093] Step 462: Replace the battery to be replaced on the target vehicle based on the second battery information and the target storage location of the target battery.

[0094] By following the steps above, the need for battery replacement can be obtained through interaction between the user terminal and the server, making it easier to understand the user's battery replacement requirements.

[0095] When multiple batteries in a target vehicle need to be replaced, they can be replaced sequentially as needed. For example, such as... Figure 5 As shown, step 460 may include steps 463 and 464.

[0096] Step 463: Obtain the i-th target battery from the battery storage location of the target battery.

[0097] Alternatively, a conveying system within the battery swapping station can be used to retrieve the target battery from the battery storage location. The conveying system may include a stacker crane and a rail-guided vehicle.

[0098] For example, the battery type of the i-th target battery is the type required for the i-th battery storage location on the target vehicle.

[0099] In one instance, the i-th target battery can be retrieved from the battery storage location by a stacker crane, and then the stacker crane can transfer the target battery to a rail-guided vehicle.

[0100] Step 464: Replace the battery to be replaced in the i-th battery storage position with the i-th target battery.

[0101] Where i is a positive integer greater than or equal to one and less than the number of target batteries required by the target vehicle.

[0102] For example, after the rail-guided vehicle obtains the battery, it is installed in the i-th battery storage location.

[0103] The i-th battery storage location is a target storage location determined based on the battery type of the i-th target battery, the first battery identifier on the target vehicle, and the location of the first battery. Specifically, the battery type of the i-th target battery is the same as the battery type of the battery to be replaced in the i-th battery storage location of the target vehicle before the battery replacement.

[0104] For example, the target storage location of the i-th target battery can be obtained, and the battery to be replaced at the target storage location of the i-th target battery can be replaced with the i-th target battery.

[0105] Before performing step 463, the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle can be removed using the conveying system in the battery swapping station. For example, the battery to be replaced can be removed from the target vehicle by a rail-guided vehicle and then transferred to a stacker crane, which stores the battery to be replaced in the battery compartment.

[0106] In the above steps, the target battery can be obtained and the battery to be replaced can be removed in sequence, thus achieving an orderly target battery.

[0107] In some implementations, to ensure that the battery distribution in the vehicle after a battery replacement is identical to that before the replacement, the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle can be replaced with a battery of the same type. Based on this requirement, such as... Figure 6 As shown, step 460 may include steps 465 and 469.

[0108] Step 465: Based on the second battery information, obtain the target power supply battery in the target battery.

[0109] For example, the storage location of the target available battery can be determined based on the second battery information, and then the target power supply battery can be retrieved from the storage location of the target available battery using a delivery tool.

[0110] Step 466: Determine the m-th storage location on the target vehicle based on the first battery information.

[0111] Optionally, the m-th storage location can be determined based on the battery identifiers of the batteries placed in each battery storage compartment on the target vehicle.

[0112] For example, the battery to be replaced placed in the m-th storage location can be a power supply battery.

[0113] Optionally, it can be determined whether the first number of power supply batteries in the first battery information is the same as the first number of power supply batteries in the second battery information. If they are the same, the m-th storage location of the power supply batteries on the target vehicle can be determined based on the first battery information.

[0114] Alternatively, other battery storage locations on the target vehicle besides the m-th storage location can be used as the n-th storage location for placing the simulated battery.

[0115] Optionally, the nth storage location on the target vehicle can also be determined based on the first battery information. For example, the nth storage location can be determined based on the battery identifiers of the batteries placed in each battery storage slot on the target vehicle.

[0116] Step 467: Replace the battery to be replaced at the m-th storage location on the target vehicle with the target power supply battery.

[0117] Among them, the battery to be replaced stored in the m-th storage location of the target vehicle before the battery replacement is the power supply battery.

[0118] m is a positive integer that is less than the total number of battery storage locations on the target vehicle.

[0119] Step 468: Based on the second battery information, obtain the target simulated battery in the target battery.

[0120] For example, the battery to be replaced placed in the nth storage location can be a simulated battery.

[0121] Step 469: Replace the battery to be replaced in the nth storage location on the target vehicle with the target simulated battery.

[0122] Among them, the battery to be replaced stored in the nth storage location of the target vehicle before the battery is replaced is a simulated battery.

[0123] n is a positive integer that is less than the total number of battery storage locations on the target vehicle.

[0124] In one example, if the target vehicle has two battery storage slots and requires one power battery and one analog battery, then the value of m is 1, and the value of n is 2.

[0125] In another example, if the target vehicle has four battery storage slots and requires three power batteries and one analog battery, the value of m can be 1, 2, or 3, and the value of n can be 4; the value of m can also be 1, 2, or 4, and the value of n can be 3; the value of m can also be 2, 3, or 4, and the value of n can be 1; the value of m can also be 1, 3, or 4, and the value of n can be 2.

[0126] Of course, the total number of battery storage locations on the target vehicle can also be other values. For example, the target vehicle may include three battery storage locations, or it may include five battery storage locations, etc. The distribution of values ​​for m and n is determined based on the number of batteries required by the target vehicle.

[0127] In an alternative implementation, the battery in the nth storage location may not need to be replaced. In this case, step 460 may only include steps 465 and 466.

[0128] By following the steps above, the original battery distribution of the target vehicle can be changed, the adaptation process for the target vehicle to the newly installed battery can be reduced, and the efficiency of battery replacement can be improved.

[0129] There are many types of vehicles on the market, and their layouts may differ. Therefore, it's possible to configure different vehicles with priority placement for the power supply battery. Based on this, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the battery replacement method may also include steps 411 and 412.

[0130] Step 411: Obtain the target vehicle information.

[0131] The target vehicle information may include license plate number, vehicle type parameters, etc.

[0132] For example, the vehicle type parameter may include parameters such as the model of the target vehicle and the size of the target vehicle.

[0133] Step 412: Based on the target vehicle information, determine the first type of storage location for the target vehicle.

[0134] Optionally, the weight distribution of the target vehicle can be determined based on the target vehicle information, and a first-type storage location can be determined based on this weight distribution. For example, the first-type storage location can be set in a part of the target vehicle where the weight distribution is relatively low.

[0135] Optionally, the distribution of electrical equipment on the target vehicle can be determined based on the target vehicle information, and a first type of storage location can be determined based on this distribution. For example, the first type of storage location can be set in more locations of the electrical equipment on the target vehicle.

[0136] When the number of power supply batteries required by the target vehicle is the same as the number of first-type storage locations, the power supply batteries from the target vehicle can be stored in the first-type storage location.

[0137] In one example, the target vehicle includes two battery storage locations, with one location of the first type. When the target vehicle requires one battery, one target battery can be stored in this first type of storage location; when the target vehicle requires two batteries, two target batteries can be randomly stored in the target vehicle's battery storage location.

[0138] Before replacing the vehicle battery, the preferred storage location for the power supply battery is determined based on the vehicle type parameters to better meet the power needs of different vehicles.

[0139] In an alternative implementation, the primary storage location for the power supply battery can be determined without being based on the vehicle's layout. Instead, it can be based on a default storage location for multiple battery storage locations on the vehicle. For example, a vehicle may have two battery storage locations, one at the front and one at the rear of the vehicle's underside. The battery storage location at the front of the vehicle's underside can be designated as the primary storage location by default.

[0140] When the number of batteries required by the vehicle is the same as the number of battery storage slots in the vehicle, then the batteries need to fill all the battery storage slots in the vehicle. Therefore, it is not necessary to determine the target storage location for the target battery based on the current battery distribution of the vehicle. Figure 8 As shown, prior to step 420, the battery replacement method may further include steps 413 and 414.

[0141] Step 413: Obtain battery swapping requirements.

[0142] For example, the battery swapping requirement may include: the required number of power batteries. For example, the battery swapping requirement may also include: whether there is a requirement for analog batteries.

[0143] Optionally, the battery swapping request can also be transmitted by a server to the control equipment of the battery swapping station. The server can communicate with a user terminal, which sends the battery swapping request to the server, and the server then forwards the battery swapping request to the control equipment of the battery swapping station.

[0144] Optionally, the battery swapping station provides an operating device, and the control device can be connected to the operating device via wired or wireless means. The operating device can receive battery swapping requests input by the user, and the control device can obtain the battery swapping requests from the operating device.

[0145] Step 414: Determine whether the battery swapping requirement includes a demand for a power supply battery and a demand for a simulated battery.

[0146] For example, if the battery swapping demand only includes the required number of power supply batteries, it can be determined whether the battery swapping demand includes the demand for power supply batteries and the demand for analog batteries based on whether the required number of power supply batteries is less than the number of battery storage spaces in the target vehicle.

[0147] If the battery swapping requirement includes both a demand for a power supply battery and a demand for a simulated battery, then proceed to step 420.

[0148] By following the above steps, it is possible to avoid performing the actions of steps 420 to 460 when the required amount of power supply battery is equal to the number of battery storage locations on the target vehicle, thus avoiding increasing the computational load on the battery swapping equipment.

[0149] Based on the same application concept, this application also provides a battery replacement device corresponding to the battery replacement method. Since the principle of the device in this application is similar to that of the aforementioned battery replacement method embodiment, the implementation of the device in this application can refer to the description in the above method embodiment, and the repeated parts will not be repeated.

[0150] Please see Figure 9 This is a functional module diagram of the battery replacement device provided in this application embodiment. Each module in the battery replacement device in this embodiment is used to execute the steps in the above method embodiments. The battery replacement device includes: a first acquisition module 510, a first determination module 520, and a replacement module 530; the contents of each module are shown below.

[0151] The first acquisition module 510 is used to acquire first battery information of each battery on the target vehicle. The first battery information includes a first battery identifier and the location of each first battery identifier associated with a first battery. The first determining module 520 is used to determine the second battery information of the target battery to be placed in each battery storage position on the target vehicle based on the acquired battery swapping requirements. Replacement module 530 is used to replace the battery to be replaced on the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information.

[0152] In one possible implementation, the replacement module 530 includes a first determining unit and a battery replacement unit.

[0153] The first determining unit is used to determine the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information. A battery replacement unit is used to replace the battery to be replaced on the target vehicle based on the second battery information and the target storage location of the target battery.

[0154] In one possible implementation, the first determining unit is configured to: Based on the first battery information, the required battery type for each battery storage location of the target vehicle is determined; Based on the type of battery currently stored in the battery storage location and the type of the target battery, the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle is determined.

[0155] In one possible implementation, module 530 is replaced for: Obtain the i-th target battery from the battery storage location of the target battery; Replace the battery to be replaced in the i-th battery storage position with the i-th target battery, where i is a positive integer greater than or equal to one and less than the number of target batteries required by the target vehicle.

[0156] In one possible implementation, module 530 is replaced for: Based on the second battery information, obtain the target power supply battery in the target battery; The m-th storage location on the target vehicle is determined based on the first battery information; Replace the battery to be replaced at the m-th storage location on the target vehicle with the target power supply battery; Based on the second battery information, obtain the target simulated battery in the target battery; Replace the battery to be replaced at the nth storage location on the target vehicle with the target simulated battery, where m and n are both positive integers less than or equal to the total number of battery storage locations on the target vehicle.

[0157] In one possible implementation, the battery replacement device may further include: The second acquisition module is used to acquire the target vehicle information of the target vehicle. The second determining module is used to determine the first type of storage location of the target vehicle based on the target vehicle information, wherein the first type of storage location is a storage location for storing the power supply battery.

[0158] In one possible implementation, the battery replacement device may further include: The third acquisition module is used to acquire battery swapping needs; The third determining module is used to determine whether the battery swapping requirement includes a requirement for a power supply battery and a requirement for a simulated battery; If the battery swapping requirement includes both a demand for a power supply battery and a demand for a simulated battery, then the first acquisition module 510 is executed again.

[0159] Furthermore, embodiments of this application also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of the battery replacement method described in the above method embodiments.

[0160] The computer program product of the battery replacement method provided in this application includes a computer-readable storage medium storing program code. The instructions included in the program code can be used to execute the steps of the battery replacement method described in the above method embodiments. For details, please refer to the above method embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0161] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can also be implemented in other ways. The apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of apparatus, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of this application. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than those marked in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. It should also be noted that each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in block diagrams and / or flowcharts, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

[0162] In addition, the functional modules in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated together to form an independent part, or each module can exist independently, or two or more modules can be integrated to form an independent part.

[0163] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks. It should be noted that in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes said element. The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures indicate similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0164] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A battery replacement method characterized by, include: Obtain battery swapping demand; Determine whether the battery swapping requirement includes the requirement for the target vehicle's power supply battery and the requirement for the target vehicle's simulated battery; The simulated battery is a dummy battery that has the same shape as the power supply battery but cannot supply power to the target vehicle. If the battery swapping requirement includes a requirement for the power supply battery and a requirement for the simulated battery, obtain the first battery information of each battery on the target vehicle. The first battery information includes a first battery identifier and a first battery location associated with each first battery identifier. Based on the obtained battery swapping requirements, determine the second battery information of the target battery that needs to be placed in each battery storage position on the target vehicle; The battery to be replaced on the target vehicle is replaced based on the first battery information and the second battery information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The step of replacing the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information includes: Based on the first battery information and the second battery information, the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle is determined; Based on the second battery information and the target storage location of the target battery, the battery to be replaced on the target vehicle is replaced.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein, Determining the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information includes: Based on the first battery information, the required battery type for each battery storage location of the target vehicle is determined; Based on the battery type currently stored in the battery storage location and the battery type of the target battery, the target storage location of the target battery on the target vehicle is determined.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, The step of replacing the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information includes: Obtain the i-th target battery from the battery storage location of the target battery; Replace the battery to be replaced in the i-th battery storage position with the i-th target battery, where i is a positive integer greater than or equal to one and less than the number of target batteries required by the target vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, The step of replacing the battery to be replaced in the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information includes: Based on the second battery information, obtain the target power supply battery in the target battery; The m-th storage location on the target vehicle is determined based on the first battery information; Replace the battery to be replaced at the m-th storage location on the target vehicle with the target power supply battery; Based on the second battery information, obtain the target simulated battery in the target battery; Replace the battery to be replaced at the nth storage location on the target vehicle with the target simulated battery, where m and n are both positive integers less than or equal to the total number of battery storage locations on the target vehicle.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, The method further includes: Obtain the target vehicle information of the target vehicle; Based on the target vehicle information, a first type of storage location for the target vehicle is determined, wherein the first type of storage location is a storage location for storing the power supply battery.

7. A battery replacement device, characterized in that, include: The first acquisition module is used to acquire the first battery information of each battery on the target vehicle. The first battery information includes the first battery identifier and the first battery location associated with each first battery identifier. The first determining module is used to determine the second battery information of the target battery to be placed in each battery storage position on the target vehicle based on the acquired battery swapping requirements. A replacement module is used to replace the battery to be replaced on the target vehicle based on the first battery information and the second battery information; The third acquisition module is used to acquire battery swapping needs; The third determining module is used to determine whether the battery swapping demand includes a demand for a power supply battery and a demand for a simulated battery; if the battery swapping demand includes a demand for a power supply battery and a demand for a simulated battery, then the first obtaining module is executed again; the simulated battery is a dummy battery that has the same shape as the power supply battery and cannot supply power to the target vehicle.

8. A control device, characterized in that, include: The processor and memory, wherein the memory stores machine-readable instructions executable by the processor, and when the control device is running, the machine-readable instructions are executed by the processor to perform the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

9. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program that, when executed by a processor, performs the steps of the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A battery swapping station, characterized in that, include: The conveying system, the battery compartment, and the control device as described in claim 8.

Images