Cab Occupancy Power Derating for Electric Work Machines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery-powered work machines face challenges with limited operational runtime due to high energy demand and extended downtime for charging, necessitating a system to manage subsystems for power conservation.
Innovation Solution
An electric work machine with a controller and cab occupant sensor that initiates a low power mode by derating auxiliary systems based on cab occupancy, ambient conditions, and battery charge levels, including disabling specific subsystems such as radios, heaters, and temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If battery-powered work machines operate with all auxiliary systems active, then performance and comfort are maintained, but runtime is limited and energy demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operational state of auxiliary systems based on real-time detection of cab occupancy. When the cab is detected to be unoccupied, the controller automatically derates or shuts down auxiliary systems such as climate control, radios, and lighting. This dynamic adaptation allows the machine to maintain full performance when needed while conserving energy during unoccupied periods, directly extending battery runtime without compromising operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The power conservation system operates autonomously by continuously monitoring cab occupancy through sensors and automatically controlling the derating of auxiliary systems. The controller detects when the cab is unoccupied and independently manages the power consumption of auxiliary systems without requiring manual intervention from the operator. This self-service approach maximizes runtime extension while maintaining system performance readiness.
2Reliability
If auxiliary systems are continuously operated, then operational readiness is maintained, but energy waste increases during unoccupied periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring of cab occupancy through sensors that continuously detect the presence or absence of operators. Based on these periodic detections, the controller rhythmically adjusts the operational state of auxiliary systems - maintaining full operation when occupied and derating when unoccupied. This periodic action ensures operational readiness is preserved during actual use while preventing energy waste during unoccupied intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller receives continuous feedback from cab occupancy sensors and automatically adjusts auxiliary system operation in response. When sensors detect the cab is unoccupied, the controller derates auxiliary systems to conserve energy. When occupancy is detected, the system restores full operational capability. This feedback mechanism ensures that energy waste is minimized while operational readiness is maintained according to actual usage conditions.
3Duration of action of moving object
If battery capacity is increased to extend runtime, then operational duration improves, but machine weight and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and removes the need for excessive battery capacity by implementing intelligent power management. Instead of increasing battery size to extend runtime, the system selectively removes or derates auxiliary systems during unoccupied periods, effectively extracting unnecessary energy consumption. This approach achieves extended operational duration without the weight penalty of larger batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of auxiliary systems dynamically based on cab occupancy conditions. Rather than maintaining constant high-power operation, the controller adjusts power consumption parameters of auxiliary systems down during unoccupied periods. This parameter change strategy extends effective runtime by optimizing energy utilization rather than increasing energy storage capacity, avoiding additional battery weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A work machine comprises of a cab, a battery, an auxiliary operations system, a cab occupant sensor and a controller. The auxiliary operations system is operatively coupled to the battery. The cab occupant sensor is operable to sense data associated with an occupancy of the cab by an operator. The control is communicatively coupled to the cab occupant sensor and comprises of a processor, and a memory having a power conserving algorithm thereon. The processor is operable to execute a power conserving algorithm to identify a cab inoccupancy condition from data related to an occupancy of the cab, and automatically initiates a low power mode by derating the auxiliary operations system a first degree when the cab inoccupancy condition is fulfilled.