Automated Fueling System with Vehicle Alignment and Contactless Payment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fueling systems require vehicle operators to exit their vehicles during fueling, exposing them to safety risks, adverse weather conditions, and reducing business efficiency by limiting throughput.

Innovation Solution

An automated fueling system that allows drivers to remain inside their vehicles during the fueling process, using a payment system, alignment system, and fueling system with sensors and actuators to align the fuel nozzle with the vehicle's fuel inlet, enabling contactless payment and fuel delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the operator exits the vehicle to fuel it, then the fueling process can be completed, but the operator is exposed to safety risks and adverse weather conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperator safetyVSAvoidfueling operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service fueling where the automated fueling system performs the fueling operation without requiring the operator to exit the vehicle. The operator simply remains inside while the system autonomously completes the fueling process, eliminating safety risks and weather exposure while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

An automated intermediary system acts as a mediator between the operator and the fueling process. This intermediary system includes automated nozzle positioning, fuel delivery control, and payment processing mechanisms that handle all external interactions, allowing the operator to remain protected inside the vehicle while completing the fueling transaction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the operator exits the vehicle to fuel it, then the fuel can be dispensed, but the fueling process becomes slower and reduces throughput

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefueling throughputVSAvoidfueling time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The manual mechanical operations of exiting the vehicle, handling the nozzle, and operating the pump are replaced with an automated mechanical system. This includes automated nozzle extension and positioning mechanisms, electronically controlled fuel delivery, and automated payment processing, which dramatically reduce the time required for each fueling operation and increase overall throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning the fuel nozzle and preparing the fuel delivery system before the operator needs fuel. The automated system can be ready to dispense immediately when a vehicle arrives, eliminating the time operators traditionally spend preparing to fuel their vehicles and reducing waiting time in the queue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2986553B1Automated system for fueling vehicles

Publication Date: 2018.08.01 BUTLER CHARLES ROLAND JR

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AI summary

An automated fueling system in which an operator remains in their vehicle. The fueling system is configured to obtain transaction information from the operator, align the vehicle relative to a fuel pump, and to deliver the fuel to the vehicle. Once the process is complete, the operator can drive their vehicle away from the station.