Autonomous Fuel Replenishment Coordination for Electric Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional self-parking mechanisms for vehicles are limited to simple actions and are not well-suited for complex or intricate parking maneuvers, and the infrastructure for alternative fuel vehicles, such as electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, faces challenges with slow adoption due to high costs and inefficiencies in refueling, including long recharging times and scarce station availability.
Innovation Solution
The development of autonomous control systems that utilize independent parking controllers and autonomy controllers to navigate and park vehicles autonomously, capturing and storing vehicular drive parameters to generate preprogrammed paths for customized parking and fuel replenishment, allowing for efficient and optimized use of alternative fuel stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional self-parking mechanisms are used, then simple parking actions can be performed, but complex or intricate parking maneuvers cannot be executed
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system divides the parking control function into separate modules: an autonomy controller that generates high-level path plans and an independent parking controller that executes specific parking maneuvers. This segmentation allows the system to handle complex parking situations while keeping individual controller complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication interface between the autonomy controller and independent parking controller, using standardized messages to coordinate actions. This intermediary layer enables complex coordinated maneuvers without requiring direct complex integration between controllers.
2Productivity
If alternative fuel stations are built to service electric vehicles, then fuel replenishment capability is provided, but the high cost of resources and slow construction pace reduce adoption rate
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system performs self-service refueling by autonomously navigating to charging stations, queueing appropriately, and executing refueling operations without human intervention. This reduces the operational burden on physical stations and optimizes their utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors fuel levels and proactively schedules refueling operations before the vehicle runs out of energy, coordinating with station availability in advance. This preliminary action optimizes station usage and reduces waiting time.
3Use of energy by moving object
If electric vehicles require multiple hours to fully recharge a battery, then alternative fuel technology is provided, but the long recharging times create queues and difficulties in coordinating refueling with impromptu travel plans
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system continuously monitors battery charge levels and refueling queue status, using this feedback to dynamically adjust refueling timing and station selection. This feedback loop optimizes the balance between refueling needs and travel schedule flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts refueling operations based on real-time conditions, including queue length, station availability, and travel plans. This dynamic approach allows the vehicle to adapt refueling timing to minimize disruption to impromptu travel plans.
4Loss of information
If conventional electric charging stations are networked to provide station status indications, then refueling information is available, but the logic used is suboptimal for ensuring timely and cost-effective refueling without disrupting user experience
Solution Approach 1:
The autonomous vehicle system independently manages the refueling coordination process, using networked station information to make autonomous decisions about when and where to refuel. This self-service approach eliminates the need for suboptimal manual coordination logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual refueling coordination with an automated software-based coordination system that processes station status information and executes refueling operations autonomously, improving efficiency and user experience.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments relate generally to autonomous vehicles and associated mechanical, electrical and electronic hardware, computing software, including autonomy applications, image processing applications, etc., computing systems, and wired and wireless network communications to facilitate autonomous control of vehicles, and, more specifically, to systems, devices, and methods configured to control driverless vehicles to facilitate coordination of driverless fuel replenishment. In some examples, a method may include monitoring an amount of fuel relative to a threshold, predicting fuel expenditure of an autonomous vehicle, identifying a candidate time frame, transmitting electronic messages from the autonomous vehicle to reserve a replenishment station, and activating the autonomous vehicle to drive autonomously to receive a fuel replenishment from the reserved replenishment station.