Method for operating a number of vehicles

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method (100) for operating a number of vehicles (200), the method (100) comprising: - filling (101) a tank of a relevant vehicle (200) of the number of vehicles (200) with a fuel via a filling station (213), - receiving (103) at least one parameter of a digital twin (209) of the fuel from the filling station (213), by means of a computing unit (211, 300), wherein the digital twin (209) of the fuel describes properties of the fuel, - determining (105) a number of operating parameters of the vehicle (200) on the basis of the at least one parameter, by means of the computing unit (211, 300), and - providing (107) the number of operating parameters of the vehicle (200) via a provision interface (301).

Description

[0001] R.415611

[0002] - 1 -

[0003] Description

[0004] title

[0005] Methods for operating a number of vehicles

[0006] The presented invention relates to a method for operating a number of vehicles, a vehicle and a computing unit according to the attached claims.

[0007] State of the art

[0008] Using a so-called "digital twin," i.e., a virtual representation of a physical object or system, properties of the real object or system can be mapped in digital space. A digital twin of the real object can change itself and / or be dynamically updated based on external parameters, such as those determined by sensors in the real world, so that the digital twin corresponds as closely as possible to the real object or reflects its properties.

[0009] Furthermore, fuels, especially hydrocarbon-based fuels, are known to be produced synthetically using, for example, so-called "green" electricity, as well as fuels made from recycled hydrocarbons and carbon, and consequently result in a reduced input of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere of our planet compared to fossil fuels, i.e., a reduced carbon footprint.

[0010] Disclosure of the invention

[0011] The invention presented here comprises a method for operating a vehicle, a vehicle, and a computing unit. Further R.415611

[0012] - 2 -

[0013] Features and details of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the vehicle and the computing unit according to the invention, and vice versa, so that the disclosure regarding the individual aspects of the invention always refers, or can refer, to each other.

[0014] The presented invention serves to provide fuel-dependent operating parameters of a vehicle. In particular, the presented invention serves to optimize a vehicle's fuel-dependent operating parameters.

[0015] Thus, according to a first aspect of the presented invention, a method for operating a number of vehicles is presented.

[0016] The presented method comprises filling a tank of a respective vehicle of the number of vehicles with a fuel via a filling station, receiving at least one parameter of a digital twin of the fuel by a computing unit, wherein the digital twin of the fuel describes properties of the fuel, determining a number of operating parameters of the vehicle based on the at least one parameter by the computing unit, and providing the number of operating parameters of the vehicle via a provisioning interface.

[0017] In the context of the presented invention, a fuel is understood to be a substance that can be converted by an energy converter, such as a hydrocarbon, in particular gasoline or diesel, preferably synthetic gasoline or synthetic diesel, as well as gaseous fuels, in particular hydrogen, methane, also in bound form as in Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier, as well as solid storage forms such as metal hydrite and others.

[0018] In the context of the presented invention, providing a number of operating parameters means outputting the number of operating parameters, for example, by R.415611.

[0019] - 3 -

[0020] To understand displaying on a screen and / or storing in a memory and / or transmitting to a receiver, such as a computing unit and / or a control function.

[0021] In the context of the presented invention, a computing unit is to be understood as a computer, a processor, a control unit or any other programmable circuit.

[0022] The presented method is based on a digital twin that is assigned to a fuel. This assignment can be made, for example, by a computing unit at a filling station supplying the fuel, which, when supplying the fuel from a fuel storage unit of the filling station into a vehicle's tank, transfers at least one parameter of the corresponding digital twin, in particular the complete digital twin or a property of the fuel determined by the digital twin, to a data storage device of the vehicle.

[0023] Alternatively, the allocation can be carried out by a central cloud server, which, when the fuel is supplied from a fuel storage facility of the filling station to a tank of a vehicle, transfers at least one parameter of the corresponding digital twin, in particular the complete digital twin or a property of the fuel determined by the digital twin, to a data storage device of the vehicle.

[0024] The digital twin can be executed by a computing unit at the gas station and / or by another computing unit, such as a computing unit in the vehicle or a central cloud server.

[0025] The digital twin of the fuel can, for example, include a mathematical model of the fuel that maps changes in the fuel's properties during its supply chain in the form of parameters.

[0026] In particular, the fuel model can represent a property in the form of a carbon dioxide footprint of the fuel, which changes dynamically, e.g. depending on manufacturing processes and / or transport routes to R.415611

[0027] - 4 -

[0028] Providing the fuel at the filling station changes accordingly. The digital twin enables comprehensive knowledge of the properties of a specific fuel provided by a specific filling station, in particular including a carbon dioxide footprint of a transport route from a production plant for the production of the fuel to the filling station.

[0029] By determining a number of operating parameters of the vehicle according to the invention, based on the at least one parameter provided by the digital twin of the fuel, the properties of a specific fuel, in particular its carbon dioxide footprint, are taken into account when determining the number of operating parameters of the vehicle.

[0030] Accordingly, the operating parameters of a first vehicle powered by fuel from a first filling station differ from the operating parameters of a second vehicle powered by fuel from a second filling station.

[0031] In particular, a fuel whose digital twin shows a particularly low carbon dioxide footprint will result in a particularly low carbon dioxide footprint for a vehicle powered by that fuel.

[0032] Accordingly, a vehicle's carbon footprint can be reduced by using particularly environmentally friendly fuel, e.g. synthetic fuel.

[0033] Conversely, operating a vehicle with a fuel whose digital twin shows a particularly high carbon footprint, e.g. a fossil fuel, leads to a particularly high carbon footprint for the vehicle.

[0034] To provide the number of operating parameters of the vehicle, in particular a carbon dioxide footprint of the vehicle, a digital twin of the vehicle can be executed, for example, which is based on the data from a digital twin R.415611

[0035] - 5 - parameters provided for each fuel supplied or used are dynamically updated.

[0036] It may be provided that the procedure continues to include adjusting the vehicle based on the number of operating parameters.

[0037] Based on the determined operating parameters, the vehicle can be adjusted to, for example, minimize its carbon dioxide footprint or reduce it below a predefined threshold. This can be achieved, for example, by dynamically adapting, particularly by throttling, an energy conversion process of the vehicle's energy converter, especially the combustion process of an internal combustion engine.

[0038] Accordingly, it may be provided that the vehicle adjustment includes at least one measure from the following list: setting a cleaning time for which a vehicle particulate filter is cleaned, limiting the vehicle's power, torque and / or maximum speed, or deactivating a vehicle driving function.

[0039] It may further be provided that the vehicle's tank is filled with a first fuel at a first time and with at least one further fuel at at least one further time, wherein first parameters of the first fuel provided by a first digital twin of the first fuel are combined with second parameters of the at least one further fuel provided by at least one further digital twin of the at least one further fuel, and wherein the number of operating parameters of the vehicle is determined on the basis of the combined parameters.

[0040] Since a vehicle's tank is typically filled with a mixture of different fuels—that is, fuels from different gas stations or with different properties—a specific fuel with specific characteristics forms within the tank. These specific properties of the fuel in the vehicle's tank can be achieved through a combination of respective digital twins (R.415611).

[0041] - 6 - the respective parameters of the fuels supplied to the tank will be determined.

[0042] It may also be provided that the first parameters are combined with the second parameters in a weighted ratio, the weighted ratio corresponding to a quantity of the respective fuels in the vehicle's tank.

[0043] To determine the specific properties of a particular fuel in a vehicle's tank and to precisely determine the corresponding vehicle characteristics, a mixing ratio of the different fuels can be used. This mixing ratio can, for example, correspond to a quantitative ratio of the different fuels to each other.

[0044] In particular, it may be provided that the fuel's properties include a carbon dioxide footprint of the fuel.

[0045] A carbon dioxide footprint of a given fuel allows for a particularly accurate conclusion to be drawn about the carbon dioxide footprint of a given vehicle consuming or converting that fuel.

[0046] It may also be provided that the number of operating parameters of the vehicle includes a carbon dioxide footprint of the vehicle.

[0047] By providing a carbon footprint of the vehicle, in particular a dynamically updated carbon footprint of the vehicle, the carbon footprint of the vehicle can be made perceptible to a user and the vehicle can be adjusted accordingly, for example to minimize the carbon footprint of the vehicle or to regulate it to a predetermined target value.

[0048] It may also be possible to dynamically determine the fuel's properties using its digital twin, taking into account properties of the fuel's supply chain. R.415611

[0049] - 7 -

[0050] A fuel supply chain encompasses, in particular, the production and transport of the fuel, meaning that particularly low-carbon transport routes result in a particularly low carbon footprint for the fuel. Accordingly, low-carbon transport routes are rewarded both by a low carbon footprint of the fuel itself and by a low carbon footprint of the vehicle consuming or converting the fuel.

[0051] It may also be provided that the computing unit is a central computing unit through which the respective operating parameters of each vehicle of a large number of vehicles are determined and made available for the respective vehicles.

[0052] The computing unit provided according to the invention can, for example, be a computing unit of a vehicle or a central cloud server.

[0053] A central cloud server enables the centralized determination and transmission of operating parameters for numerous vehicles to the respective vehicles. This central cloud server can be communicatively connected to individual gas stations, vehicles, fuel production plants, fuel storage facilities, fuel transport companies, banks, insurance companies, and / or numerous other vehicles. This allows for the integration of relevant data regarding fuel properties into the fuel's digital twin and, if necessary, the updating and synchronization of digital twins of the fuel implemented by these communication partners.

[0054] According to a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a vehicle.

[0055] The presented vehicle comprises a tank for supplying a consumer with fuel, a consumer configured to convert the fuel into energy, a computing unit, and a communication interface, the communication interface being R.415611.

[0056] - 8 - is configured to receive at least one parameter provided by a digital twin of the fuel and to provide it to the computing unit, and wherein the computing unit is configured to perform a possible embodiment of the presented method based on the received at least one parameter, wherein the digital twin of the fuel describes properties of the fuel.

[0057] Based on the presented method, the presented vehicle can determine and output its operating parameters, in particular its carbon dioxide footprint, or use them to adjust the vehicle.

[0058] According to a third aspect, the presented invention relates to a computing unit, wherein the computing unit is configured to determine at least one parameter from a digital twin of fuel supplied to a vehicle by a filling station, in particular to receive it from the filling station or to generate it by means of a digital twin executed on the computing unit, to carry out a possible embodiment of the presented method on the basis of the at least one parameter in order to determine a number of operating parameters of the vehicle and to provide the number of operating parameters to the vehicle via a provisioning interface.

[0059] Advantages described in detail with respect to the method for operating a number of vehicles according to the first aspect of the invention apply equally to the vehicle according to the second aspect of the invention and the computing unit according to the third aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

[0060] The presented computing unit enables a specific setting of a large number of vehicles for a particular type of fuel being used.

[0061] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. (See R.415611)

[0062] - 9 - the features mentioned in the claims and in the description can each be essential to the invention individually or in any combination.

[0063] They each show schematically:

[0064] Figure 1 shows a possible embodiment of the presented method,

[0065] Figure 2 shows a possible embodiment of the vehicle presented, and

[0066] Figure 3 shows a possible design of the presented computing unit.

[0067] Fig. 1 shows a method 100 for operating a number of vehicles 200.

[0068] The procedure 100 includes a filling step 101 in which a tank of each vehicle 200 of the number of vehicles 200 is filled with fuel via a filling station.

[0069] Furthermore, the method 100 includes a receiving step 103 in which at least one parameter of a digital twin of the fuel is received from the filling station by a computing unit, wherein the digital twin of the fuel describes properties of the fuel.

[0070] Furthermore, the procedure 100 includes a determination step 105 in which a number of operating parameters of the vehicle are determined by the computing unit based on at least one parameter.

[0071] Furthermore, the procedure 100 includes a provisioning step 107 in which the number of operating parameters of the vehicle are provided via a provisioning interface, such as a display or a communication interface, and in particular transmitted to a control unit of the vehicle.

[0072] Figure 2 shows a vehicle 200. R.415611

[0073] - 10 -

[0074] The vehicle 200 comprises a tank 201 for supplying a consumer 203, e.g., in the form of an internal combustion engine, with fuel, a consumer 203 configured to convert fuel into energy, a computing unit 205, and a communication interface 207, wherein the communication interface 207 is configured to receive at least one parameter from a digital twin 209 of the fuel and to provide it to the computing unit 205, and wherein the computing unit 205 is configured to perform the method 100 according to Fig. 1 on the basis of the received at least one parameter, wherein the digital twin 209 of the fuel describes properties of the fuel.

[0075] In the present case, the digital twin 209 is implemented as an example on a computing unit 211 of a filling station 213 that supplies the vehicle 200 with fuel.

[0076] Figure 3 shows a computing unit 300.

[0077] The computing unit 300 is configured to determine at least one parameter from a digital twin 209 of a fuel supplied to a vehicle 200 by a filling station 213, to perform the procedure 100 according to Fig. 1 on the basis of the at least one parameter in order to determine a number of operating parameters of the vehicle 200 and to provide the number of operating parameters to the vehicle 200 via a provisioning interface 301.

[0078] In the present case, the computing unit 300 is in communicative contact with a manufacturing refinery 303, a tank storage facility 305, a transporter 307, the filling station 213, the vehicle 200, a server 309 of an insurance company, another computing unit 311 of a vehicle fleet operator and a server 313 of a payment point, which each supply each other with parameters about the properties of the fuel, in particular each execute a digital twin of the fuel.

Claims

R.415611 - 11 - Claims 1. Method (100) for operating a number of vehicles (200), wherein the method (100) comprises: Filling (101) a tank of a respective vehicle (200) the Number of vehicles (200) with a fuel via a filling station (213), receiving (103) at least one parameter of a digital twin (209) of the fuel from the filling station (213), by a computing unit (211 , 300), wherein the digital twin (209) of the fuel describes properties of the fuel, Determine (105) a number of operating parameters of the vehicle (200) based on at least one parameter by which Computing unit (211, 300) and Providing (107) the number of operating parameters of the vehicle (200) via a provisioning interface (301).

2. Method (100) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the method (100) further comprises: Setting the vehicle (200) based on the number of operating parameters.

3. Method (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the setting of the vehicle (200) comprises at least one measure from the following list of measures: setting a cleaning time for which a particulate filter of the vehicle (200) is cleaned, limiting a power, a torque and / or a maximum speed of the vehicle (200), deactivating a driving function of the vehicle (200). R.415611 - 12 - 4. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tank (201) of the vehicle (200) is filled with a first fuel at a first time and with at least one further fuel at at least one further time, wherein first parameters provided by a first digital twin (209) of the first fuel are combined with second parameters provided by at least one further digital twin (209) of the at least one further fuel, and wherein the number of operating parameters of the vehicle (200) is determined on the basis of the combined parameters.

5. Method (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first parameters are combined with the second parameters in a weighted ratio, wherein the weighted ratio corresponds to a quantity of the respective fuels in the tank (201) of the vehicle (200).

6. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the properties of the fuel include a carbon dioxide footprint of the fuel.

7. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number of operating parameters of the vehicle (200) includes a carbon dioxide footprint of the vehicle (200).

8. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the properties of the fuel are dynamically determined by the digital twin (209) of the fuel, taking into account properties of a supply chain of the fuel. R.415611 - 13 - 9. Method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the computing unit (205, 211, 300) is a central computing unit (300) by which respective operating parameters of respective vehicles (200) of a plurality of vehicles (200) are determined and made available for the respective vehicles (200).

10. Vehicle (200), wherein the vehicle (200) comprises: a tank (201) for supplying a consumer with fuel, a consumer (203) configured to convert fuel into energy, a computing unit (205) and a communication interface (207), wherein the communication interface (207) is configured to receive at least one parameter from a digital twin (209) of the fuel and to provide it to the computing unit (205), wherein the computing unit (205) is configured to perform a method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 on the basis of the received at least one parameter, wherein the digital twin (209) of the fuel describes properties of the fuel.

11. Computing unit (300), wherein the computing unit (300) is configured to determine at least one parameter from a digital twin (209) of a fuel supplied to a vehicle (200) by a filling station (213), to perform a method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9 on the basis of the at least one parameter in order to determine a number of operating parameters of the vehicle (200) and to provide the number of operating parameters to the vehicle (200) via a provisioning interface (301).

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