Power Generation Support System

Abstract

To provide a power generation assistance system that is able to improve power generation efficiency of a plurality of solar cell panels installed on a vehicle.SOLUTION: A power generation assistance system for a vehicle in which a plurality of solar cell panels are attached to a vehicle body, comprises: an estimation unit that estimates an amount of power generation per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in a planned parking area such that a front side of the vehicle faces in a first direction and that estimates an amount of power generation per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area such that the front side of the vehicle faces in a second direction opposite to the first direction; and an output unit that, based on an estimation result by the estimation unit, outputs information on a parking direction of the vehicle in the planned parking area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a power generation support system. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, development of vehicles equipped with solar panels has been progressing. Related technology is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a mobile device that determines and notifies a possible stop position that is estimated to have the greatest amount of solar radiation among a plurality of possible stop positions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-073077 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Patent Document 1 does not describe in what direction a vehicle should be parked in a parking location to improve the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels installed on the vehicle. In other words, Patent Document 1 has the problem of not being able to improve the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels installed on the vehicle.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above background, and aims to provide a power generation support system that can improve the power generation efficiency of multiple solar cell panels installed in a vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The power generation support system according to the present disclosure is a power generation support system for a vehicle having multiple solar cell panels attached to its body, and includes an estimation unit that estimates the amount of power generated per unit time by the multiple solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in a planned parking area with its front facing a first direction, and estimates the amount of power generated per unit time by the multiple solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and an output unit that outputs information regarding the parking orientation of the vehicle in the planned parking area based on the estimation result by the estimation unit. The power generation support system can suggest an orientation in which the vehicle should be parked in the planned parking area to improve the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels installed on the vehicle. The driver who receives the suggestion can park the vehicle in an orientation that provides the highest power generation efficiency. This power generation support system thereby improves the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels installed on the vehicle. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide a power generation support system that can improve the power generation efficiency of multiple solar cell panels installed in a vehicle. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a vehicle to which a power generation support system according to a first embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of a vehicle to which a power generation support system according to a first embodiment is applied; [Figure 3] 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a power generation support device according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power generation assistance device according to the first embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The present invention will be described below through embodiments of the invention, but the invention according to the claims is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, not all of the configurations described in the embodiments are necessarily essential means for solving the problems. For clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate. In each drawing, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations are omitted as necessary.

[0011] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle 1 to which a power generation support system according to a first embodiment is applied. The power generation support system according to this embodiment can suggest which direction the vehicle should be parked in a planned parking area to improve the power generation efficiency of multiple solar cell panels installed on the vehicle. The driver who receives this suggestion can park the vehicle in an orientation that provides high power generation efficiency. As a result, the power generation support system according to this embodiment can improve the power generation efficiency of multiple solar cell panels installed on the vehicle. This will be explained in detail below.

[0012] 1, the power generation support system according to this embodiment is mounted on a vehicle 1 and includes a power generation support device 10, solar cell panels 20a to 20d (hereinafter simply referred to as a plurality of solar cell panels 20), and a battery 30. The power generation support device 10 can also be referred to as a power generation support system by itself. The power generation support device 10 is installed in a state in which it can monitor the power generation status of the solar cell panels 20a to 20d and the charging status of the battery 30.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the appearance of vehicle 1. Naturally, the right-handed xyz Cartesian coordinate system shown in Fig. 2 is provided for the convenience of explaining the positional relationship of the components. In the example of Fig. 2, the positive x-axis direction indicates the front direction of the vehicle (i.e., the x-axis direction is the vehicle front-rear direction), the y-axis direction is the vehicle width direction, and the positive z-axis direction is the vertically upward direction (i.e., the z-axis direction is the vehicle height direction).

[0014] 2, vehicle 1 is equipped with solar cell panels 20a to 20d attached to the vehicle body. Specifically, vehicle 1 is equipped with solar cell panel 20a attached to roof 1a, which is the upper surface of the vehicle body, and solar cell panel 20b attached to hood 1b, which is also the upper surface of the vehicle body. Vehicle 1 is also equipped with a pair of solar cell panels 20c attached to a pair of front doors FD, which are the side surfaces of the vehicle body, and a pair of solar cell panels 20d attached to a pair of rear doors RD, which are also the side surfaces of the vehicle body.

[0015] It is sufficient that the vehicle 1 is equipped with two or more of the solar cell panels 20a to 20d. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 may be equipped with an additional solar cell panel 20e (not shown) attached to another position on the vehicle body in addition to the plurality of solar cell panels 20a to 20d.

[0016] Furthermore, vehicle 1 may be any type of vehicle provided with two or more of solar cell panels 20a to 20d. For example, vehicle 1 is not limited to electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, and the like that can be driven by electricity, and may also be an engine vehicle that can be driven by an engine.

[0017] In vehicle 1, solar cell panels 20a, 20b attached to the upper surface of the vehicle body each include a plurality of solar cell cells C1 arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction (y-axis direction) and the vehicle front-rear direction (x-axis direction). In the example of FIG. 2, in each of solar cell panels 20a, 20b, the plurality of solar cell cells C1 are arranged in a matrix. In addition, solar cell panels 20c, 20d attached to the side surfaces of the vehicle body each include a plurality of solar cell cells C2 arranged side by side in the vehicle front-rear direction (x-axis direction) and the vehicle height direction (z-axis direction). In the example of FIG. 2, in each of solar cell panels 20c, 20d, the plurality of solar cell cells C2 are arranged in a matrix.

[0018] The battery 30 is connected to the plurality of solar cell panels 20 via charging cables and stores electricity generated by each of the plurality of solar cell panels 20. The battery 30 can be used as a standby power source, or as a power source if the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle.

[0019] The power generation support device 10 is a device that supports power generation by a plurality of solar cell panels 20. Specifically, the power generation support device 10 is a device that suggests in what direction the vehicle 1 should be parked in the planned parking area in order to improve the power generation efficiency of the plurality of solar cell panels installed on the vehicle 1.

[0020] 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the power generation support device 10. As shown in FIG.

[0021] The acquisition unit 11 acquires information that contributes to the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels 20. Specifically, the acquisition unit 11 acquires information such as the location information of the planned parking area, the planned parking time, the surrounding environment, and the weather forecast. This information is input from outside via a mobile terminal owned by the driver or an operation terminal inside the vehicle, or is supplied from other external devices via a network.

[0022] The planned parking area is, for example, a parking lot installed at a home or a store. For example, the position of the sun as seen from the planned parking area can be identified from the location information of the planned parking area and the planned parking time. Also, from information about the surrounding environment of the planned parking area, it is possible to identify obstacles that may block sunlight. These identifications are performed, for example, by the estimation unit 12.

[0023] Here, there are two ways to park vehicle 1 in the intended parking area: parking with the front of vehicle 1 facing a first direction, or parking with the front of vehicle 1 facing a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0024] Based on the information acquired by the acquisition unit 11 and the respective positions (including angles) of the multiple solar cell panels 20 relative to the vehicle 1, the estimation unit 12 estimates the amount of power generated per unit time by the multiple solar cell panels 20 when the vehicle 1 is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing in a first direction, and the amount of power generated per unit time by the multiple solar cell panels 20 when the vehicle 1 is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing in a second direction.

[0025] The output unit 13 outputs information regarding the parking orientation of the vehicle 1 in the planned parking area based on the estimation result by the estimation unit 12. For example, the output unit 13 outputs information recommending that the vehicle 1 be parked in an orientation that is estimated to result in the greatest amount of power generation per unit time from the multiple solar cell panels 20. The information output from the output unit 13 is output as audio from a speaker in the vehicle or a speaker on a mobile device owned by the driver via a network, or is displayed on a monitor in the vehicle or a monitor on a mobile device owned by the driver. The driver who receives the notification can park the vehicle 1 in an orientation that provides the highest power generation efficiency.

[0026] (Operation of the power generation support device 10) Next, the operation of the power generation support device 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the power generation support device 10.

[0027] First, the power generation support device 10 acquires information that contributes to the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels 20 (step S101). Specifically, the power generation support device 10 acquires information such as the location information of the planned parking area, the planned parking time, the surrounding environment, and the weather forecast.

[0028] Then, based on the acquired information and the respective positions (including angles) of the multiple solar cell panels 20 relative to the vehicle 1, the power generation support device 10 estimates the amount of power generated per unit time by the multiple solar cell panels 20 when the vehicle 1 is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing in a first direction (step S102), and estimates the amount of power generated per unit time by the multiple solar cell panels 20 when the vehicle 1 is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing in a second direction (step S103).

[0029] Thereafter, the power generation support device 10 outputs information regarding the parking orientation of the vehicle 1 in the planned parking area based on the estimation result (step S104). Specifically, the power generation support device 10 outputs information recommending that the vehicle 1 be parked in an orientation that is estimated to produce a large amount of power generation per unit time from the multiple solar cell panels 20. The driver who receives the notification can park the vehicle 1 in an orientation that provides high power generation efficiency.

[0030] In this way, the power generation support system according to this embodiment can suggest in what direction the vehicle 1 should be parked in the planned parking area to improve the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels 20 installed on the vehicle 1. The driver who receives this suggestion can park the vehicle 1 in an orientation that provides high power generation efficiency. In this way, the power generation support system according to this embodiment can improve the power generation efficiency of the multiple solar cell panels installed on the vehicle 1.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present invention is also an invention related to the use of solar panels, and contributes to carbon neutrality, decarbonization, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

[0032] In addition, the present disclosure can be realized by causing a CPU (Central Processing Unit) to execute a computer program for all or part of the processing of the power generation assistance device 10.

[0033] The above-described program includes a set of instructions (or software code) that, when loaded into a computer, causes the computer to perform one or more functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium or a tangible storage medium. By way of example and not limitation, computer-readable media or tangible storage media include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drives (SSD) or other memory technologies, CD-ROMs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), Blu-ray discs or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tapes, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices. The program may also be transmitted on a transitory computer-readable medium or a communication medium. By way of example and not limitation, transitory computer-readable media or communication media include electrical, optical, acoustic, or other forms of propagated signals.

[0034] A part or all of the above-described embodiments can be described as, but not limited to, the following supplementary notes.

[0035] (Appendix 1) A method for supporting power generation of a vehicle having a plurality of solar cell panels attached to a vehicle body, comprising: an amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with the front facing a first direction; an amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the intended parking area with the front facing a second direction opposite to the first direction; outputting information about the parking orientation of the vehicle in the planned parking area based on the estimation result; Power generation support methods.

[0036] (Appendix 2) A control program that causes a computer to execute a power generation support process for a vehicle having a plurality of solar cell panels attached to a body, the control program comprising: a process of estimating the amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with the front facing a first direction; a process of estimating the amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing a second direction opposite to the first direction; a process of outputting information regarding the parking orientation of the vehicle in the planned parking area based on the estimation result; A control program that causes a computer to execute the above. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1 vehicle 1a Roof 1b Bonnet 10 Power generation support equipment 11 Acquisition Department 12 Estimation part 13 Output section 20a~20d Solar panels 30 Battery C1 solar cell C2 solar cell FD front door RD rear door

Claims

1. A power generation support system for a vehicle having a plurality of solar cell panels attached to a vehicle body, an acquisition unit that acquires at least location information of a planned parking area of the vehicle and information regarding a planned parking time; an estimation unit that estimates an amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing a first direction, and that estimates an amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing a second direction opposite to the first direction; an output unit that outputs information regarding the parking orientation of the vehicle in the planned parking area based on the estimation result by the estimation unit; Equipped with the estimation unit estimates, based on the position of the sun at the planned parking time of the vehicle, the respective positions of the plurality of solar cell panels relative to the vehicle, and a weather forecast for the planned parking area, an amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing the first direction, and an amount of power generated per unit time by the plurality of solar cell panels when the vehicle is parked in the planned parking area with its front facing the second direction, the acquisition unit acquires position information of a planned parking area of the vehicle and information related to the planned parking time via a mobile terminal owned by a driver of the vehicle; The output unit outputs the output content to the mobile terminal owned by the driver of the vehicle. Power generation support system.

2. the output unit outputs information recommending parking the vehicle in a direction estimated by the estimation unit to have a large amount of power generation per unit time. The power generation support system according to claim 1 .

3. Further, a battery is provided to store electricity generated by each of the plurality of solar panels. The power generation support system according to claim 1 .

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