Autonomous Vehicle Airflow Venting for Rapid Cabin Preconditioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face challenges in rapidly heating or cooling the passenger cabin to a comfortable temperature range during ride hails, as existing climate control systems are inefficient and take too long to adjust, especially when the vehicle is unoccupied or has limited time to prepare for passenger pickup.
Innovation Solution
An air flow control system with a plenum, vent door, and actuator that adjusts airflow by opening a high-capacity first air outlet for rapid heating/cooling when unoccupied and switching to lower back pressure outlets for maintaining comfort temperature once occupied, utilizing a controller to monitor occupancy and temperature for optimal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the climate control system maintains the passenger cabin within a predetermined comfort temperature range during downtime, then passenger comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-conditioning the passenger cabin to a comfortable temperature range before the vehicle is hailed or before the estimated time of arrival. This allows the cabin to be ready for passenger entry without maintaining continuous climate control during unoccupied downtime, thereby reducing energy consumption while ensuring comfort is available when needed.
2Ease of operation
If the climate control system rapidly conditions the air to bring the passenger cabin within comfort temperature range before passenger pickup, then passenger comfort is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the climate control operation based on real-time conditions including whether the vehicle is occupied, the current cabin temperature, the outdoor temperature, and the estimated time to next hail. The controller modulates the climate control system to provide rapid conditioning only when necessary to meet comfort requirements, rather than operating at constant high power, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining comfort capability.
3Productivity
If the first air outlet is opened for rapid heating or cooling, then the heating or cooling rate is improved, but back pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the vent door position to adjust the effective area of the first air outlet based on system back pressure conditions. When back pressure becomes excessive, the vent door is positioned to reduce the effective outlet area, thereby reducing back pressure. When rapid conditioning is needed and back pressure is acceptable, the outlet area is maximized. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to achieve high heating/cooling rates when possible while preventing excessive back pressure that would hinder system operation.
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 system minimizes back pressure for rapid cabin temperature adjustment when unoccupied and maintains comfort once occupied, ensuring efficient and comfortable conditions for passengers during transit.
Implementation Method 1
the climate control system will be configured to rapidly condition the air and bring the air temperature of the passenger cabin within a predetermined comfort temperature range
Implementation Method 2
provide a first heating or cooling rate until the air temperature in the passenger cabin reaches a predetermined comfort temperature range
Implementation Method 3
This document relates to a new and improved air flow control system which minimizes back pressure and provides a particularly rapid heating or cooling rate
Data Source
AI summary
An air flow control system includes a plenum having an air inlet, a first air outlet, a second air outlet and a third air outlet, a vent door, an air guide, carried on the vent door, and an actuator. The actuator displaces the vent door between a first position closing the first air outlet and a second position opening the first air outlet. A climate control method for an autonomous vehicle is also provided.