Battery Swap Incentive Control for Crowding and User Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Battery replacement apparatuses face challenges in managing user access effectively due to varying situations such as crowding, leading to difficulties in accommodating users or the need to attract more users, necessitating a system to adjust usage based on the apparatus's situation.

Innovation Solution

A battery replacement control device that acquires situation information, such as user numbers and reservation status, to adjust incentives for users, thereby managing the number of users and balancing usage across multiple apparatuses to optimize access and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the battery replacement apparatus accepts more users to improve service coverage, then the number of users served increases, but the apparatus becomes overcrowded and service quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of usersVSAvoidservice quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic incentive adjustment where the control unit modifies incentive values based on real-time situation information about the battery replacement apparatus. When the apparatus is less crowded, higher incentives are offered to attract more users; when crowded, incentives are reduced to discourage additional users. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to varying conditions and balance user distribution across multiple apparatuses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If the battery replacement apparatus uses higher incentives to attract more users, then the number of users increases, but the operational cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of usersVSAvoidoperational cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit changes the incentive parameter dynamically based on situation information. Instead of using a fixed high incentive level, the system adjusts the incentive value according to current conditions such as the number of users and reservation status. This allows the apparatus to attract sufficient users while minimizing operational costs by offering incentives only when necessary and at appropriate levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If the battery replacement apparatus adjusts incentives dynamically to balance user distribution, then user distribution across multiple apparatuses improves, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser distribution balanceVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit receives situation information from the battery replacement apparatus and uses this feedback to adjust incentive values. The situation information includes data about the number of users, reservation status, and other operational parameters. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically balance user distribution across multiple apparatuses without requiring complex manual control, as the system self-adjusts based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4360942A1Battery replacement control device and battery replacement control system
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4360942A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4360942A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4360942A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A server (100) (battery replacement management server) includes: a communication unit (103) (acquisition unit) that acquires number-of-users information (situation information) in a battery replacement apparatus (20,20A,20B); and a processor (101) (control unit) that adjusts, based on the situation information, an incentive given to a user of the battery replacement apparatus (20,20A,20B).