Air-Conditioning Control for Automated Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated driving vehicles face inefficiencies in electricity and fuel consumption due to continuous air-conditioning during unmanned travel, which reduces traveling distance and increases power consumption when pre-air-conditioning is applied before picking up occupants from distant locations.
Innovation Solution
An air-conditioning control system that determines the occupancy of the vehicle using sensors and adjusts air-conditioning by exchanging cabin air with outside air when the vehicle is unmanned, utilizing the air blower without the refrigerating cycle to conserve power and reduce load on the air-conditioning apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If pre-air-conditioning is performed before picking up occupants from distant locations, then the cabin temperature comfort is improved, but the electricity and fuel consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the refrigerating cycle from the air-conditioning system during unmanned travel, using only the air blower to circulate air. This separation allows the system to provide air circulation and temperature regulation without the high energy consumption of the compressor and refrigerant cycle, thereby reducing electricity and fuel consumption while maintaining basic cabin temperature comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-conditioning system operates periodically based on occupancy detection. The occupant determining section detects whether occupants are present, and the air-conditioning controlling section activates the full air-conditioning system only when occupants are detected or about to enter, rather than running continuously. This periodic operation reduces overall energy consumption while ensuring temperature comfort is maintained when needed.
2Temperature
If continuous air-conditioning is performed during unmanned travel, then the cabin temperature is maintained, but the traveling distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerating cycle is extracted and disabled during unmanned travel, leaving only the air blower operational. This reduces the power load on the vehicle, allowing more energy to be allocated to propulsion and extending traveling distance. The air blower alone can maintain basic air circulation and comfort without the high energy demands of continuous full air-conditioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-conditioning system switches between active and inactive states based on occupancy detection. During unmanned travel periods, the system remains inactive to conserve energy for longer traveling distances. When occupants are detected or approaching, the system activates to maintain temperature comfort, creating a periodic operation pattern that optimizes both productivity and comfort.
3Temperature
If pre-air-conditioning is performed using battery power, then the cabin temperature comfort is improved, but the power consumption from battery increases
Solution Approach 1:
The refrigerating cycle is extracted and eliminated from operation during battery charging or unmanned periods. Only the air blower runs, which consumes minimal battery power compared to the full air-conditioning system. This dramatically reduces battery power consumption while still providing basic air circulation and temperature regulation through natural convection and the blower alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-conditioning system operates periodically based on battery state and occupancy detection. When the battery is charging or the vehicle is unmanned, the system remains inactive to preserve battery power. When occupants are detected or the vehicle is in use, the system activates to provide temperature comfort, reducing overall battery power consumption while maintaining comfort when needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach maintains a comfortable cabin temperature while reducing power consumption and load on the air-conditioning system, improving electricity and fuel efficiency by using the temperature difference between inside and outside air, and ensuring the cabin is at a comfortable temperature when an occupant enters.
Implementation Method 1
exchanging an inside air in a vehicle cabin with an outside air... utilizing the air blower without the refrigerating cycle... using the temperature difference between inside and outside air
Data Source
AI summary
An air-conditioning control ECU is an air-conditioning control apparatus mounted in an automated driving vehicle, and includes an occupant determining section that determines whether an occupant is in the automated driving vehicle, and a window operation controlling section that executes a window operation air-conditioning control for performing cabin air-conditioning when a determination result of the occupant determining section indicates the automated driving vehicle is in an unmanned traveling state.