System of universal mobile units, method for control of said system, and method for supplying an infrastructure

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising at least a first vehicle, in particular a roadworthy and / or all-terrain ground vehicle, a watercraft or an aircraft, which first vehicle comprises at least a first electrical drive and a communication device, as well as at least one mobile unit, preferably a plurality of mobile units, wherein the mobile units in each case comprise a second electrical drive and a stored energy source for supplying the second electrical drive (with electrical energy), and wherein the communication device is configured at least to transmit information relating to an individual destination to the mobile units, and wherein the mobile units are configured to reach the individual destination autonomously.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL MOBILE UNITS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME AND METHOD FOR SUPPLYING AN INFRASTRUCTURE

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates firstly to a system comprising at least a first vehicle, in particular a land, water or air vehicle, which first vehicle comprises a first electric drive and is designed for the transport of mobile units, as well as a plurality of mobile units, which mobile units are designed to be transported by means of the first vehicle.

[0004] Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising at least a first building with at least one communication device and a plurality of mobile units, which mobile units are configured to be controlled via the communication device.

[0005] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for supplying an infrastructure using the system according to the invention and to a method for controlling a storage level of the mobile units of the system according to the invention.

[0006] State of the art

[0007] Electromobility is currently gaining increasing importance. There are increasing attempts to replace conventional combustion engines with electric drives, not only in private and public transport, but also in freight transport. However, the energy storage systems required to power the electric drives are not only expensive but also lead to a drastic increase in the unladen weight of the respective vehicle, especially when larger battery capacities are required for covering long distances and / or transporting heavy loads. This leads to electric vehicles – designed for a specific maximum range / load – being oversized for many applications.

[0008] Furthermore, such electric vehicles are often too large to be used in urban or rural areas to deliver the transported goods to end recipients, such as households or businesses. After overland transport, the transported goods must therefore usually be transferred to smaller transport units. Both the transfer process and the delivery to the end recipients using the smaller transport units, such as smaller trucks, require additional human labor.

[0009] In addition, today's logistics industry accepts an enormous proportion of empty runs and empty kilometers in freight transport. According to Eurostat, for example, around one-fifth of the road transport work performed in the European Union in 2021 was empty. While the associated environmental impact can be reduced through the use of electric vehicles, the heavy weight of the required energy storage systems leads to unnecessarily high energy consumption in this case, too.

[0010] The shortage of truck drivers, which has already led to considerable challenges in conventional supply chains in recent years, will not be eliminated by the use of electric vehicles alone. On the contrary, it is to be feared that increasingly complex and fragmented supply chains will lead to an even greater demand for drivers and logistics workers. Efforts to automate freight transport on a large scale have so far proven unsuccessful in practice – not least due to legal and technical problems.

[0011] Object of the invention

[0012] The present invention therefore aims, among other things, to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, it aims to create an alternative to current means of transport for freight transport that can be flexibly adapted to a wide variety of requirements, such as transport route, loading, functionality, road conditions, or local circumstances.

[0013] Furthermore, it should be possible to reduce or completely avoid empty runs, reduce the number of human workers required, and enable or simplify the delivery of goods even to recipients in hard-to-reach urban or poorly developed rural areas. Furthermore, it should be possible to use the means of transport used for transporting goods or delivering them to the respective recipient in a versatile manner and to exploit synergies with the recipients' existing infrastructure.

[0014] Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

[0015] Description of the invention One object of the invention is achieved by a system comprising at least a first vehicle, in particular a roadworthy and / or off-road land vehicle, a water vehicle or an aircraft, which first vehicle comprises at least a first electric drive and a communication device, and at least one mobile unit, preferably a plurality of mobile units, wherein the mobile units each comprise a second electric drive and an energy store for supplying the second electric drive (with electrical energy), and wherein the communication device is at least designed to transmit information relating to an individual destination to the mobile units, and wherein the mobile units are designed to reach the individual destination independently.

[0016] "Independently" here means that the mobile units can move to their respective individual destinations without external force (such as pulling or pushing forces that would have to be applied by a towing or pushing vehicle). This can be achieved, for example, by controlling the (GPS) coordinates transmitted by the communication device using the second electric drive with the aid of technical means to enable autonomous driving (such as sensors and navigation software). The individual destinations to which the mobile units are to move independently can easily be several kilometers away, for example more than one, five, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 or 100 km, from the corresponding destination of the first vehicle to which the first destination is to transport the mobile units.

[0017] This creates a system that can handle logistics and supply tasks much more flexibly, quickly, and energy-efficiently than before. This is achieved in particular through the parallelization and automation of the routes required to supply multiple infrastructure facilities. The system, consisting of the first vehicle and at least one, but usually several, mobile units, can initially be equipped with the (electrical) energy it needs to fulfill its respective tasks thanks to the energy storage devices provided in the mobile units. Furthermore, the mobile units can be designed or used for a wide variety of purposes, such as the transport of goods or equipment, as described in detail below.Furthermore, at least the first vehicle—but preferably also each of the mobile units—can be integrated into a communications network in order to exchange information with other systems according to the invention, with first vehicles and / or other mobile units of other systems according to the invention, and / or with external devices. For this purpose, at least the first vehicle, but preferably also the mobile units, comprise a communications device. Within the system, this communications device serves to transmit information about the respective individual destination of a specific mobile unit to this mobile unit; the mobile unit is capable, in particular due to its own second electric drive, of moving to its respective individual destination based on the information transmitted to it.This can be done independently of the first vehicle - for example, the first vehicle can be used to transport or accompany the mobile units to a (first) destination, from where the mobile units can be sent to individual destinations using the communication device, at which individual destinations the mobile units can carry out their assigned tasks, such as supplying an infrastructure facility with goods, equipment and / or energy.

[0018] The communication device makes it possible to operate the system according to the invention as part of a swarm intelligence system, for example, one supported by AI, via which (decentralized) decisions can be made regarding the tasks to be performed by the system, the destinations to be reached by the first vehicle, and the individual destinations of the individual mobile units. At the same time, it also becomes possible for the mobile units to transmit information to the first vehicle via the communication device, for example, regarding their load (e.g., with goods or equipment) and / or their energy reserves.This information can be used by the first vehicle to optimize various parameters; for example, energy reserves of the mobile units can be used to supply the first electric drive of the first vehicle during transport of the mobile units to the first destination, the energy storage devices of certain mobile units can be specifically charged or discharged before reaching the first destination, etc. The first vehicle can thus assume a coordinating role for the mobile units, both while the mobile units are being transported to the first destination by the first vehicle or accompanied to the first destination, and during a phase in which the mobile units move to the individual destinations located away from the first vehicle.

[0019] The system according to the invention is characterized, among other things, by the fact that resources (such as energy and goods) can be optimally managed through qualified decisions (via the embedding of the system in communication networks or swarm intelligence), distributed among the mobile units of the respective system and / or among different systems according to the invention, and distributed to the respective infrastructure facilities to be supplied. The system thus creates optimal conditions for decentralized transfer of goods, energy, and knowledge, enabling the inclusion of a wide variety of information, such as current traffic volumes, real-time weather, the supply requirements of individual infrastructure facilities, etc. The system according to the invention is thus ideally suited for macro- and micrologistics, particularly for supplying urban, suburban, and rural areas or infrastructure facilities.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the first vehicle is designed for transporting mobile units, and the mobile units are designed to be transported by the first vehicle, wherein at least one of the mobile units is connected to the first vehicle in such a way that the energy storage device of the at least one mobile unit enables the first electric drive to be supplied with energy. For this purpose, the first vehicle can have an interface for establishing a connection to the at least one and possibly also to other mobile units.

[0021] The mobile units can generally be configured to transport goods and / or people and / or perform other functions, but in any case they have their own drive and can therefore move independently of the first vehicle in the system. The mobile units can thus be used as independent multifunctional platforms, which is described in more detail below. To supply their own drives, which are referred to here as second drives and may have a lower power output than the first electric drive of the first vehicle, the mobile units each have their own energy storage unit. The power output of the second drives can, however, also be (approximately) the same as or higher than the power output of the first drive.It is essential that, in one of the operating states of the system according to the invention, at least one of the mobile units is connected to the first vehicle in such a way that the drive of the first vehicle, i.e. the first drive, is supplied with energy by the energy storage device of this mobile unit. Thus, the first vehicle itself does not fundamentally require its own energy storage device to supply the first drive; however, such a device can of course still be present, in particular to supply critical components or to cover very short distances. In order to enable the use of the mobile units, which can be designed, for example, similar to a trailer and connected to the first vehicle, independently of the first vehicle, it is provided that the at least one mobile unit can be detachably connected to the first vehicle. For this purpose, a mechanical and / or electrical connection can be established, for example.

[0022] The system according to the invention makes it possible to design the first vehicle, which is used to transport several mobile units to one or more destinations, for the transport of heavy loads over long distances. In particular, the first vehicle can accordingly be equipped with a powerful first electric drive. However, the energy required to operate the first vehicle depends significantly on the number of mobile units to be transported, the weight of the goods on the mobile units, the distance to be covered to reach the destination of the mobile units, the conditions of the route to be covered, and other factors. The energy requirement therefore varies considerably from application to application.According to the invention, this energy requirement is now not covered by an energy storage unit housed in the first vehicle, but rather by the energy storage units of the mobile units transported by the first vehicle. Accordingly, the first vehicle can be equipped or connected with a suitable number of mobile units depending on the respective application, so that exactly the amount of energy required for the respective application—for example, the transport of the goods stored on the mobile units to the respective destination—can be provided.

[0023] The supply of energy to the first drive can be ensured, for example, via a preferably power-transmitting coupling between the first vehicle and the at least one mobile unit, which coupling establishes an electrical connection between the energy storage device of the at least one mobile unit and the first drive of the first vehicle. Preferably, however, the energy storage device of the mobile unit can also be supplied by the first vehicle, for example, via a regenerative brake of the first vehicle; the energy storage device of the at least one mobile unit can thus be alternately charged and discharged.

[0024] In order to be designed for the transport of mobile units within the meaning of the present invention, it is sufficient for the first vehicle to have means for establishing a connection to at least one mobile unit, for example, a coupling or trailer hitch. The same applies to the mobile units, which must be designed to be transported by the first vehicle. A mobile unit fulfills this requirement in particular if this mobile unit has means for establishing a connection to the at least one mobile unit connected to the first vehicle.

[0025] However, in principle, no (force-transmitting) connection between the first vehicle and the mobile units, or between the mobile units among themselves, is required in order to be able to speak of "transportable" within the meaning of the present invention; it is also conceivable, for example, that the first vehicle merely transmits control commands to the mobile units, on the basis of which the mobile units follow or follow the first vehicle (or more generally: on the basis of which the mobile units accompany the first vehicle) in order to reach the destination to which the first vehicle is to transport the mobile units.

[0026] Preferably, it can be provided that several of the mobile units are connected to the first vehicle and / or to the at least one mobile unit in such a way that a supply of the first electric drive with energy by the energy storage devices of the several mobile units is possible.

[0027] This further increases the flexibility of the system. In particular, it becomes possible to connect some of the mobile units transported by the first vehicle to the first drive for supplying the first drive, while others of the transported mobile units have no such connection to the first vehicle. For example, mobile units that are intended to supply another vehicle or specific infrastructure facilities with energy at a later time can be transported in this way. These mobile units can very well be connected to the first vehicle, for example, in a power-transmitting manner; however, this does not enable the first drive to be supplied with energy.

[0028] Preferably, it can be provided that all of the mobile units are connected to the first vehicle in such a way that the first electric drive can be supplied with energy by the energy storage devices of all of the mobile units.

[0029] In this preferred embodiment, it becomes possible to transport heavy goods over long distances. The mobile units transported by the first vehicle function, on the one hand, as trailers onto which the goods to be transported are loaded, and, on the other hand, as the system's battery units, which can be used to supply energy to the first drive of the first vehicle. In this way, the system can be used to transport heavy loads over long and demanding distances. The number of mobile units connected to the first vehicle can be selected according to the energy required for the transport.

[0030] In the above-described embodiments of the system according to the invention, it is also possible for the energy storage devices of individual mobile units to be charged during transport, i.e. while the first vehicle and the mobile units are connected to one another, by the first vehicle, for example a regenerative brake of the first vehicle, and / or by other mobile units, for example the energy storage devices of the other mobile units.

[0031] The mobile units, and preferably also the first vehicle, are preferably designed with all-wheel steering to facilitate access to difficult, winding, and narrow roads and paths. This makes the mobile units even more suitable for supplying urban areas.

[0032] Preferably, it can be provided that the first vehicle and / or the mobile units are designed such that the connection between the mobile units and the first vehicle is established by positioning the mobile units in a transport position in, on or on the vehicle.

[0033] In this way, loading and unloading the vehicle with or from mobile units can be made time-saving and easy. For example, the mobile units can be connected or coupled to the first vehicle for the purpose of transporting them over long distances, similar to a group of trailers. The at least one mobile unit can be coupled to the first vehicle and all other mobile units can be coupled to one another and to the at least one mobile unit. This makes it possible to establish a power-transmitting connection between the mobile units and the first vehicle and also to create an electrical connection between the energy storage devices of the mobile units and the first drive of the first vehicle. The power-transmitting connection and the electrical connection can be established together or may not require any additional work steps.

[0034] Analogously, this can also be achieved by positioning the mobile units on the first vehicle, for example, if the first vehicle is designed as a train or railway carriage or includes one, or if the first vehicle is designed as a ship. In this case, the mobile units can be positioned in or on the first vehicle in such a way – due to the second drives with which each of the mobile units can be equipped, the mobile units can position themselves independently in or on the vehicle – that the (electrical) connection between the mobile units and the first vehicle can be established contactlessly in a respective parking position.

[0035] Preferably, the mobile units themselves are configured as second vehicles, in particular land, water, or air vehicles. In particular, it may be advantageous if the mobile units are configured as road and off-road (four-wheeled) vehicles with their own drive (in the form of the second electric drive). Alternatively or additionally, mobile units of the system can also be configured as flight-capable (cargo) drones or drone ships.

[0036] This makes it particularly easy to transport goods to their destinations, as once a destination is reached, the connection between one or more of the mobile units and the first vehicle that transported them to the destination can be severed, allowing the goods stored on the mobile units to be transported further to their final destination using the mobile units. This allows for easy and rapid delivery even to areas that would otherwise be inaccessible or difficult to reach for the first vehicle.

[0037] Preferably, the mobile units can be controlled independently of the first vehicle, in particular remotely. For example, the mobile units can be self-propelled or self-flying, enabling them to navigate to their final destination, for example, using GPS data.

[0038] This makes it possible to navigate the mobile units to remote destinations after the first vehicle has reached its destination. For example, the first vehicle can transport the mobile units to an entry area of ​​an infrastructure, from where the mobile units can move independently of each other and from the first vehicle to individual destinations. There, the mobile units can, for example, be unloaded and / or perform other functions, such as supplying the individual destination with electrical energy via the energy storage device. The system of this preferred embodiment is thus characterized by particular flexibility in terms of possible applications.

[0039] Preferably, it can be provided that the mobile units can be controlled by the first vehicle, in particular remotely controlled.

[0040] As a result, the first vehicle can function as a (mobile) transshipment depot, particularly after reaching the destination to which the first vehicle transports the mobile units, and the mobile units, controlled by the first vehicle, can reach and supply all destinations within the catchment area of ​​the destination. In this embodiment, the first vehicle and the mobile units form a unit that can be operated independently of external conditions.

[0041] Preferably, it can be provided that the mobile units are formed by self-driving vehicles.

[0042] This allows the entire system to be operated by just one human worker; apart from a driver who controls the first vehicle, no further workers are required to control the mobile units. This creates a particularly cost-effective logistics unit with which a large number of destinations can be supplied or delivered to in a personnel-efficient manner. Preferably, it can be provided that the second electric drives of the mobile units each comprise at least one electric motor and that the energy storage devices of the mobile units each comprise at least one battery, in particular a secondary battery (an accumulator). The first electric drive of the first vehicle can also comprise at least one electric motor.

[0043] This allows the system to be operated entirely electrically and in an environmentally friendly manner. The problem of dimensioning electric commercial vehicles, which arises from the correspondingly large, heavy, and expensive energy storage units required to power powerful electric motors, can be avoided by equipping the system in the form of mobile units with essentially any number of modular, mobile energy storage units, which also serve to transport goods. This makes it possible to connect the first vehicle with a small number of mobile units for short distances and low loads, and with a correspondingly larger number of mobile units for longer distances and / or higher loads.

[0044] Preferably, it can be provided that the mobile units each comprise a recuperation device, such as a recuperation or regenerative brake.

[0045] This enables the recovery and regeneration of electrical energy from kinetic energy, which can then be fed into the energy storage units of the mobile units. Furthermore, this preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention also enables targeted charging and discharging of the energy storage units of specific mobile units. For example, it may occur that the first vehicle, while transporting several mobile units to a destination, passes an infrastructure facility where a mobile unit with an empty energy storage unit (due to a temporary surplus of electricity) could be used to stabilize the grid.In this case, it is possible to deliberately activate the recuperation systems of other mobile units, which leads to a higher load on the first drive of the first vehicle and thus to a faster depletion of the energy storage of those mobile units whose recuperation systems have not been activated. Once the respective energy storage system has reached a sufficiently low fill level, the mobile unit can be uncoupled from the first vehicle and / or from the other mobile units and connected to the infrastructure facility in order to absorb the excess electrical energy and stabilize the local grid. It is conceivable that this mobile unit, after its energy storage system has been fully charged, can be recoupled to a first vehicle or to mobile units connected to it in order to be transported to a destination in the manner already described.In particular, the mobile units can be designed with all-wheel drive. This maximizes the amount of electrical energy recovered through recuperation, which can be used to charge the energy storage units.

[0046] Preferably, the mobile units can each comprise a functional unit or functional means, which functional unit / functional means serves to fulfill a specific function. For example, the mobile units can include a loading area for transporting goods or objects, a refrigeration unit to enable temperature-controlled transport of goods or objects, a device for vertically and horizontally loading or moving loads (crane), a mower, a snow plow, a tank for transporting liquids, a recovery device (comprising recovery tools and / or hydraulic rescue equipment), a turntable ladder, and / or additional energy storage devices.

[0047] This allows the mobile units to be used not only to supply the first vehicle or other infrastructure facilities with energy or to transport goods; rather, an extremely versatile and flexible use of the mobile units is possible. Since the system according to the invention typically has a plurality of mobile units transported by the first vehicle, the system can be designed for a wide range of applications.For example, it is easily possible to connect a first vehicle with a first mobile unit equipped with a loading area for the transport of goods, and to attach to this first mobile unit a second mobile unit with an additional energy storage device, a third mobile unit with a cooling unit and a temperature-controlled container for the transport of temperature-sensitive goods, a fourth mobile unit with a tank for the transport of liquids (which can be filled with fuel or water, for example), and a fifth mobile unit, which in turn is equipped with a loading area for the transport of goods.After reaching the destination, all mobile units can be detached from the vehicle and moved independently or remotely to individual destinations, where, for example, the first and fifth mobile units are unloaded to supply a local supplier with food, the second mobile unit is parked to supply a household with electrical energy, the third mobile unit supplies a pharmacy with medicines and the fourth mobile unit refills the drinking water supply of a household not connected to the water supply.

[0048] Preferably, it can be provided that the at least one mobile unit is connected to the first vehicle in a force-transmitting manner. Preferably, it can be provided that several of the mobile units are connected to the first vehicle and / or to the at least one mobile unit in a force-transmitting manner. Preferably, it can be provided that all of the mobile units are connected to one another in a force-transmitting manner. The connection can be established, for example, via drawbars and / or push rods.

[0049] The power-transmitting connection between the first vehicle and the mobile units, or between the mobile units themselves, makes it possible, for example, for the mobile units to be pulled by the first vehicle. Similar to a truck with trailers or a train, the first vehicle can initially be connected to a first mobile unit, which in turn is connected to a second mobile unit, to which a third mobile unit is coupled, and so on. Using the first drive, the mobile units can then be pulled by the first vehicle and transported to a destination.The second electric drives of the mobile units can, of course, be used not only when the mobile units are separated from the first vehicle to move the respective mobile unit to an individual destination; rather, it is also conceivable that the second drives of the mobile units can be switched on as needed when the first drive of the first vehicle needs support, for example, on extreme inclines or when carrying heavy loads. This enables particularly energy-efficient transport of the (loaded) mobile units, resulting in considerable overall energy savings.

[0050] Preferably, the first vehicle can be configured as a towing vehicle and the mobile units as trailers, or, in other words, the mobile units can be connected to the towing vehicle as a trailer. The towing vehicle can be equipped with additional functional units, such as a snow plow, a mower, a street cleaning device, etc., which functional units can also be powered by the energy storage devices of the mobile units.

[0051] This represents a first embodiment of the system according to the invention, which is described in more detail below. The mobile units can initially be transported as trailers of the first vehicle, but can be separated from it at any time and used individually as vehicles. The mobile units are preferably self-propelled or remotely controlled. The connection between the mobile units and the first drive of the first vehicle allows the first electric drive to be supplied with an effective energy storage device with a considerable energy content, without the first vehicle having to accommodate such a battery.

[0052] Preferably, it can be provided that the first vehicle is a rail vehicle and the mobile units are land vehicles. This represents a second exemplary embodiment of the system according to the invention, which is described in more detail below. The mobile units can be formed by roadworthy, self-propelled land vehicles - analogous to the first exemplary embodiment mentioned above - which, with appropriate design of the respective train carriage, can drive onto the train carriage independently and without the assistance of human workers, be transported to a destination by means of the rail vehicle, and there, in turn, drive off the respective train carriage independently. Due to the low rolling resistance, the mobile units of this exemplary embodiment can be transported to the destination in a particularly energy-efficient manner.

[0053] Preferably, it can be provided that the first vehicle is a ship and the mobile units are land vehicles.

[0054] This represents a third embodiment of the system according to the invention, which is described in more detail below. This embodiment offers immense advantages, particularly in the context of supplying infrastructure on islands. On the one hand, it is already possible to transport a very large number of land vehicles—and thus mobile units—with currently used (car) ferries. On the other hand, the batteries required to operate a ship's propulsion system would be extremely expensive, bulky, and heavy, so supplying the ship's propulsion system via the energy storage systems of the mobile units offers significant advantages.Furthermore, the mobile units – in this case serving primarily, but not exclusively, as mobile energy storage units – can be easily exchanged at any port where vehicle loading and unloading is possible. They can be recharged on-site – usually using photovoltaic systems – for reuse on one of the next ferries. Finally, due to their small size, the mobile units can be used, especially on islands, to supply small-scale infrastructure (businesses, households, etc.).

[0055] Preferably, it can be provided that the first vehicle does not have an energy storage device for supplying the first electric drive.

[0056] As described above, the first vehicle itself generally does not require its own energy storage unit; however, one can of course still be present, particularly to supply critical components or to cover very short distances. Since the first vehicle itself does not require an energy storage unit, it can be constructed to be significantly cheaper, more space-efficient, and lighter than conventional electric-powered vehicles. In principle, it is also possible for the first vehicle to also be a mobile unit. In general, however, the second electric drives are less powerful than the first electric drive of the first vehicle, so that a more powerful vehicle is usually used as the first vehicle.In the event that the first vehicle is also formed by a mobile unit with a second electric drive (and an energy storage device), it is advantageous if, in the operating state of the first vehicle - i.e. when it is used to transport further mobile units - not only the (first) electric drive of the first vehicle, but also some or all of the (second) electric drives of the mobile units are operated as intended in order to generate the required power.

[0057] One object of the invention is achieved by a system comprising at least a first building with at least one communication device and a plurality of mobile units, which mobile units are configured to be controlled via the communication device, wherein the mobile units each comprise a second electric drive and an energy storage device for supplying the second electric drive with energy, and wherein the mobile units can be moved independently of one another or combined to form demand-dependent units comprising a plurality of mobile units and moved as a unit.

[0058] Analogous to the embodiments described above, this system has a first building instead of the first vehicle, which building has a communications device that serves to control the mobile units. The mobile units can in turn be connected to one another to form one or more demand-dependent units. A first demand-dependent group can, for example, be formed by a group of 10 mobile units, each having a loading area for transporting goods. After the mobile units have been loaded with goods, a destination can be transmitted to the first demand-dependent group via the communications device of the building, which building can, for example, house a control center staffed by experienced personnel. The first demand-dependent group can then travel to this destination independently or self-driving.On the way to the destination, the second electric drives of all mobile units can be switched on or off as required to cover the distance as energy-efficiently as possible. Once they have reached their destination, the (still connected) mobile units of the first group can separate from each other to head to 10 individual destinations, at which 10 infrastructure facilities must be supplied with the transported goods. After the goods have been delivered, the mobile units (some or all of the original 10 mobile units) can regroup, for example at the original destination or at a different new destination, for example one transmitted by the communications device, to form one or more demand-dependent groups and travel to new destinations.The system according to this embodiment can preferably be used in local or regional transport, and particularly preferably for transporting comparatively light loads. For example, it could be used at an airport, where the first building could be the airport tower and the mobile units could be used primarily for transporting baggage.

[0059] One object of the invention is achieved by a method for supplying an infrastructure using the system described above, wherein the method comprises at least the following method steps:

[0060] Loading the first vehicle and / or one, several or all of the mobile units with goods and / or energy; preferably, only the mobile units are loaded with goods and the energy storage devices of the mobile units are at least partially charged.

[0061] Establishing a detachable connection between the at least one mobile unit and the first vehicle and / or between the mobile units; preferably, the at least one mobile unit is connected to the first vehicle in a force-transmitting and electrically conductive manner, the further mobile units are likewise connected to one another in a force-transmitting and electrically conductive manner, and at least one of the further mobile units is connected to the at least one mobile unit in a force-transmitting and electrically conductive manner.

[0062] Moving the first vehicle and / or the (interconnected) mobile units to a first destination, which first destination is preferably in an entry area of ​​the infrastructure to be supplied; preferably, the first vehicle is driven by the first drive, whereby the mobile units connected (directly or indirectly) to the first vehicle are also moved.

[0063] Disconnecting the connection between the at least one mobile unit and the first vehicle and / or between the mobile units; preferably, all connections are disconnected at the destination of the first vehicle, which destination may be located in the entry area.

[0064] Independent movement of the first vehicle and / or the mobile units from the first destination to individual destinations located remotely (from each other and from the first destination), which individual destinations are preferably located in the infrastructure supply areas or at the infrastructure facilities to be supplied; preferably, the first vehicle can remain in the entry area at the destination, while the mobile units can move independently and, in particular, in parallel to the individual destinations or destinations in the supply areas. This enables parallelization of the delivery or supply process and automation of this process.

[0065] Unloading and / or loading of the first vehicle and / or the mobile units at the respective individual destination, in particular in the respective supply area; alternatively or additionally, the mobile units can also perform other functions in the respective supply area, such as stabilizing a power grid by absorbing surplus electrical energy.

[0066] If necessary, independent movement of the first vehicle and / or the mobile units from the respective individual destinations, in particular the supply areas, to the first destination or a new destination to which the first vehicle has moved in the meantime or to which new destination another first vehicle is located; in order to be able to use the mobile units for other tasks, it will usually be necessary to move them to other locations.

[0067] If necessary, establishing a detachable connection between the at least one mobile unit and the first vehicle and / or between the mobile units; analogous to the above-described disconnection of the connections, all connections between the mobile units and the first vehicle, as well as between the at least one mobile unit and the first vehicle, can now be re-established.

[0068] If necessary, move the first vehicle and / or the interconnected mobile units from the entry area of ​​the infrastructure being served to be redeployed to other destinations.

[0069] The inventive combination of several mobile units and, if necessary, a first vehicle enables a particularly energy-efficient and simultaneously multifunctional supply of infrastructure facilities. The use of the mobile units, which according to the invention have their own (electric) drive and a corresponding energy storage device to power this drive, makes it possible to travel to the destinations of the individual mobile units – or the goods stored on the mobile units – in parallel or simultaneously, thereby achieving significant time savings compared to conventional sequential unloading of goods stored on one or more trailers intended for multiple recipients.In addition, with conventional, sequential delivery routes, the high unladen weight of the electric towing vehicle and also all those goods intended for other recipients must always be transported to each of the recipients visited, which is associated with a considerably higher energy consumption than in the case of the method according to the invention.

[0070] One object of the invention is achieved by a method for controlling a storage level of the mobile units of the system described above, wherein the method comprises at least the following method steps:

[0071] Driving the system by means of the first drive of the first vehicle and / or by means of one or more of the second drives of a first group of mobile units; simultaneous recuperation by means of one or more of the mobile units of a second group of mobile units.

[0072] This method enables targeted charging and discharging of the energy storage devices of individual mobile units of the system according to the invention. For example, the case may arise that the energy storage devices of a first group of mobile units of the system are to be deliberately discharged, for example, to maximize the amount of electrical energy that can be absorbed at a target or destination, and / or the energy storage devices of a second group of mobile units of the system are to be deliberately charged, for example, to maximize the amount of electrical energy that can be delivered at a target or destination. For this purpose, the drives of the first group of mobile units can be deliberately switched on, while the recuperation devices of the second group of mobile units are deliberately activated.This can be done in particular when no additional (second) electric drives would need to be operated to cover the remaining distance to the destination (within a targeted period of time), and / or when braking is not required. The recuperation devices of the second group therefore lead to a higher load on the first drive of the first vehicle and / or the second drives of the first group of mobile units. This leads to a faster emptying of the energy storage devices of the mobile units of the first group. Once a correspondingly low fill level of the energy storage devices of the first group and / or a correspondingly high fill level of the energy storage devices of the second group has been reached, the mobile units intended for supplying or receiving electrical energy can be uncoupled from the first vehicle and / or from the other mobile units and connected to the respective infrastructure facility.Preferably, this method is timed to the expected time of arrival at the respective destination or target location in such a way that the desired charge level of the respective mobile units is reached essentially at the same time as the destination or target location is reached.

[0073] Ways to implement the invention

[0074] The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. While the following explanations are intended to illustrate the inventive concept even more clearly, they are neither intended to be exhaustive nor restrictive.

[0075] In a first exemplary embodiment, the system according to the invention comprises a first land vehicle embodied by a roadworthy and off-road towing vehicle, and between one and 20 mobile units, which are also embodied by roadworthy and off-road, but driverless or self-propelled vehicles. The first vehicle comprises a first electric drive, and the mobile units also each comprise their own electric drive, called a second electric drive, which is each supplied with electrical energy by an energy storage device of the respective mobile unit. The first electric drive has a higher power output than the second drives; however, it is also conceivable for the first electric drive and the second electric drives to have essentially the same power output.For the sake of simplicity, all mobile units are equipped with only a loading area for transporting goods. The towing vehicle itself preferably does not have its own energy storage unit to power the primary electric drive.

[0076] The system according to the invention is now to be used to supply firewood to 10 households in a mountain village located approximately 200 km from a transshipment depot. For this purpose, the coordinates of the mountain village or the 10 households, as well as information on the respective firewood requirements, are transmitted via the communication device to the first vehicle of the system according to the invention. Accordingly, the firewood supplies for each household to be supplied are first loaded onto the loading area of ​​a mobile unit in the transshipment depot. Furthermore, the energy storage devices of the mobile units are fully charged. The loaded mobile units then independently connect to the first vehicle, which is also located on the premises of the transshipment depot. For this purpose, a first mobile unit first approaches the first vehicle and connects to a coupling of the first vehicle via a drawbar.Subsequently, additional mobile units are gradually coupled to the last connected mobile unit until all 10 mobile units loaded with firewood are connected. Since the route to be covered, taking into account the load to be transported and the elevation gain to be overcome to reach the mountain village, requires additional energy that cannot be fully covered by the 10 already connected mobile units without having to recharge their energy storage devices along the way, two additional mobile units are coupled. These units, although not loaded with goods, are each equipped with a fully charged energy storage device.

[0077] The (driver-steered) first vehicle now sets off toward the first mountain village, with the first vehicle's electric drive being powered by the energy storage devices of the mobile units. The first vehicle's destination is a parking lot near the nearest motorway exit to the said mountain village. The coordinates of this parking lot can be received via the communication device, and their selection can be based on previous, successfully completed supply trips (of the same and / or other systems according to the invention). The mobile units are pulled to this destination by the first vehicle, with only the first drive operating, while the second drives can remain switched off.

[0078] The first vehicle (and preferably also the mobile units) includes measuring systems that can record and continuously process at least information about the distance already traveled, the distance still to be covered to the destination, the current and predicted charge level of the mobile units' energy storage devices, as well as infrastructure facilities within and out of range, such as charging stations, delivery destinations, etc. Approximately 15 minutes before reaching the destination, the measuring systems of the first vehicle indicate that the first vehicle will still reach the destination without any problems, but the charge level of the energy storage devices of the mobile units loaded with goods will no longer be sufficient for the mobile units to reach their destinations or individual destinations (i.e., the households to be delivered to) independently.The 10 loaded mobile units are then put into recuperation mode, the connections between their energy storage units and the first drive of the first vehicle are severed, and the first drive is henceforth supplied with energy only by the energy storage units of the two additional (unloaded) mobile units. This slight and short-term recuperation is sufficient to ensure that all loaded mobile units still have a sufficiently high energy storage level upon reaching their destination (i.e., the parking lot). After reaching their destination, the mobile units independently disconnect from each other and from the first vehicle and activate their respective second drive units to set off towards the infrastructure to be supplied (i.e., towards the mountain village). The individual destinations (i.e., the addresses of the respective households) were transmitted to the mobile units in the form of GPS data from the first vehicle.The first vehicle remains in the parking lot with the two additional (unloaded) mobile units; the two mobile units are connected to the charging station available there to recharge their energy storage devices.

[0079] The narrow, steep, and impassable mountain roads and gravel paths that must be negotiated to reach the households to be supplied—compared to the highway—pose no problem for the mobile units, which in this exemplary embodiment are significantly more maneuverable than the first vehicle, and their second drives. The loaded mobile units reach their destinations with (just) sufficient energy reserves, park in designated unloading areas on the properties of the households to be supplied, and deactivate their second drives after reaching their final destinations. Any energy reserves available in the mobile units' energy storage units can be transferred by the mobile units to the households to be supplied, for example, to supply household appliances with electricity.

[0080] Since the respective households are regularly supplied with goods and also have their own photovoltaic devices that can recharge the energy storage devices of the mobile units, 10 mobile units from previous deliveries were already available at the 10 supplied properties. These units were no longer transporting goods – i.e., their loading areas were empty – but their energy storage devices were fully charged. These 10 empty mobile units set off toward the first vehicle when the first vehicle arrived at the parking lot and transmitted the corresponding control signals and GPS data to them. Consequently, the 10 empty mobile units arrived at the parking lot shortly after the mobile units loaded with firewood departed, where they connected with the first vehicle.Thanks to the recuperation systems activated during the downhill ride, the energy storage units of the 10 empty mobile units are almost fully charged by the time they arrive at the parking lot. After the two additional mobile units have been charged via the parking lot's charging stations, these two mobile units also reconnect to the first vehicle or the last connected mobile unit.

[0081] The first vehicle then sets off—based on information it receives via its communication device from other systems according to the invention, first vehicles, and / or other mobile units of other systems according to the invention and / or external devices—to a new destination located a few kilometers away in the industrial area of ​​a small town. There, 15 mobile units loaded with goods are waiting to be picked up and transported to the aforementioned transshipment depot.

[0082] Since the distance to the new destination does not require a high energy demand, 11 of the 12 mobile units currently connected to the first vehicle are parked on the premises of a vehicle manufacturer en route, where the energy stored in the mobile units is fed into the company's own energy grid. The mobile units themselves can be recharged using the company's own PV systems and then picked up by another towing vehicle. A communication device of the vehicle manufacturer reports the current energy demand; this message is received by or forwarded to the communication device of the first vehicle and subsequently used to plan the system's route.The first vehicle sends a corresponding acceptance confirmation or a supply message via the communication network, thereby informing other systems or external devices connected to the communication network that the vehicle manufacturer's supply requirements have been met.

[0083] This first exemplary embodiment demonstrates that the system according to the invention is extremely flexible, enables demand-optimized energy consumption, avoids empty runs, and utilizes synergies with existing infrastructure facilities. Of course, the system according to this exemplary embodiment could also be used to supply other infrastructures, for example, to supply an urban district, a city, or a company.

[0084] A second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in that the first vehicle is not a road-worthy towing vehicle, but a rail vehicle, wherein the rail vehicle comprises a locomotive and several wagons, which wagons are designed to transport land vehicles (such as cars or trucks).

[0085] In this exemplary embodiment, a significantly larger number of mobile units can naturally be transported by the first vehicle, with the mobile units being able to independently drive the first vehicle and thereby independently connect to a connection of the rail vehicle assigned to the respective parking position. This connects the energy storage devices of the mobile units to the on-board electrical system of the rail vehicle in order to supply the first electric drive of the rail vehicle or locomotive with electrical energy. Again, the rail vehicle itself preferably does not have its own energy storage device.

[0086] However, it can also be provided that the first vehicle (here, the rail vehicle) itself has an energy storage device and / or is connected to an external energy supply – such as an overhead line or a conductor rail. In this case, it is also conceivable that the first drive and / or the second drives, i.e., the electric drives of the mobile units, and / or the energy storage devices of the mobile units are supplied by the first vehicle or its energy storage device and / or its energy supply.

[0087] In the second embodiment, the destinations to which the rail vehicle is to transport the mobile units are usually railway stations (freight, transshipment, or marshalling yards). Otherwise, all statements regarding the first embodiment apply to the second embodiment.

[0088] In a third embodiment, the first vehicle is a ship, specifically a ferry that transports people and vehicles back and forth between islands and the mainland. Unlike conventional ferries, however, the ferry used here does not have a conventional drive, but rather a first electric drive. Preferably, however, the ferry itself does not have its own energy storage device to power this electric drive.

[0089] In this embodiment, the mobile units are embodied by a plurality of roadworthy land vehicles, as already used in the two previous embodiments, as well as by several flight-capable (cargo) drones. Both the mobile units embodied as land vehicles and the mobile units embodied as drones have second electric drives for their own propulsion; however, only the mobile units embodied as land vehicles are electrically connected to the ferry's on-board power system once they have reached their parking position on a deck or in a cargo hold of the ferry, in order to supply the first electric drive with electrical energy.

[0090] In the third embodiment, the destinations to which the ferry is to transport the mobile units are usually ports or anchor points located between several islands. Otherwise, all statements regarding the first and second embodiments also apply to the third embodiment.

[0091] In all of the exemplary embodiments described above, it can be provided that the mobile units are formed by road and off-road land vehicles that interact with one or more flight-capable (cargo) drones. In particular, it can be provided that a mobile unit comprises a land vehicle and a drone of the aforementioned type assigned to this land vehicle. The drone can act as a scout for the land vehicle by detecting and analyzing the surroundings of the land vehicle - for example, using computer and / or AI-assisted image recognition - and transmitting the results of this analysis and / or control commands, generally "knowledge" in the broadest sense, to the land vehicle. In this way, for example, routes of the mobile unit to the infrastructure facilities to be supplied can be optimized.The drones can be equipped with a small – and therefore lightweight – energy storage unit, which can be regularly recharged by connecting the drone to the energy storage unit of the respective land vehicle. The land vehicle thus acts as a home base or energy hub for the drone. Furthermore, the drone can be used to transport goods transported by the land vehicle from the land vehicle to a destination within the drone's flight range. This makes it possible to supply infrastructure facilities (e.g., with goods) via the mobile unit without the land vehicle having to navigate into the immediate vicinity of these infrastructure facilities.

Claims

Patent claims 1. System comprising at least a first vehicle, in particular a land, water or air vehicle, which first vehicle comprises at least a first electric drive and a communication device, and a plurality of mobile units, wherein the mobile units each comprise a second electric drive and an energy storage device for supplying the second electric drive with energy, and wherein the communication device is designed to transmit information relating to an individual destination to the mobile units, and wherein the mobile units are designed to reach the individual destination independently.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the first vehicle is designed for the transport of mobile units, and wherein the mobile units are designed to be transported by means of the first vehicle, and wherein at least one of the mobile units is connected to the first vehicle in such a way that a supply of the first electric drive with energy by the energy storage of the at least one mobile unit is made possible.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that several of the mobile units are connected to the first vehicle and / or to the at least one mobile unit in such a way that a supply of the first electric drive with energy by the energy storage devices of the several mobile units is made possible.

4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that all of the mobile units are connected to the first vehicle in such a way that the first electric drive can be supplied with energy by the energy storage devices of all of the mobile units.

5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mobile units themselves are formed by second vehicles, in particular by land, water or air vehicles.

6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mobile units are controllable independently of the first vehicle or by the first vehicle, in particular are remotely controllable, or that the mobile units are self-propelled vehicles.

7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the mobile units each comprise a functional unit, for example a loading area for transporting objects, a cooling unit to enable temperature-controlled transport of objects, and / or further energy storage devices.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one mobile unit is connected to the first vehicle in a force-transmitting manner, and / or that several of the mobile units are connected to the first vehicle and / or to the at least one mobile unit in a force-transmitting manner, and / or that all of the mobile units are connected to one another in a force-transmitting manner.

9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first vehicle is a towing vehicle and the mobile units are trailers.

10. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first vehicle is a rail vehicle and the mobile units are land vehicles.

11. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first vehicle is a ship and the mobile units are land vehicles.

12. System according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first vehicle has no energy storage device for supplying the first electric drive.

13. System comprising at least a first building with at least one communication device and a plurality of mobile units, which mobile units are designed to be controlled via the communication device, wherein the mobile units each comprise a second electric drive and an energy storage device for supplying the second electric drive with energy, and wherein the mobile units are moved independently of one another or to Demand-dependent units made up of several mobile units can be combined and moved as a unit.

14. A method for supplying an infrastructure using the system according to one of claims 1 to 13, comprising at least the following method steps: a. Loading the first vehicle and / or one, several or all of the mobile units with goods and / or energy; b. Establishing a detachable connection between the at least one mobile unit and the first vehicle and / or between the mobile units; c. Moving the first vehicle and / or the mobile units to a first destination, which first destination is preferably located in an entry area of ​​the infrastructure to be supplied; d. Disconnecting the connection between the at least one mobile unit and the first vehicle and / or between the mobile units; e. Independently moving the mobile units from the first destination to individual destinations located away from one another, which individual destinations are preferably located in supply areas of the infrastructure; f.Unloading and / or loading the mobile units at the respective individual destination, in particular in the respective supply area; g. If necessary, moving the mobile units independently from the respective individual destinations, in particular the supply areas, to the first destination or a new destination; h. If necessary, establishing a detachable connection between the at least one mobile unit and the first vehicle and / or between the mobile units.

15. A method for controlling a storage level of the mobile units of the system according to one of claims 1 to 15, comprising at least the following method steps: a. Driving the system by means of the first drive of the first vehicle and / or by means of one or more of the second drives of a first group of mobile units; b. Simultaneous recuperation by means of one or more of the mobile units of a second group of mobile units.