Transport Containers With Integrated Energy Sources for EV Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
The limited travel range and carrying capacity of electric transport vehicles, such as drones and ships, due to the energy density disparity between fossil fuels and batteries, hinder the practical implementation of environmentally sustainable transportation systems.
Innovation Solution
A method that predicts energy usage for transport events and determines the necessary energy source size for transport containers, integrating supplemental energy sources within these containers to support the transport vehicle's energy needs, ensuring operational range and payload capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If batteries are used as energy sources for electric transport vehicles, then environmental sustainability and energy delivery efficiency are improved, but travel range and carrying capacity are limited due to low energy density
Solution Approach 1:
The energy source is divided into two separate components: a battery integrated into the transport vehicle and a supplemental energy source integrated into the transport container. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while working together to extend travel range without increasing vehicle weight or reducing environmental sustainability.
Solution Approach 2:
The supplemental energy source is nested within the transport container, which is then loaded into the transport vehicle. This nested arrangement allows the container to serve dual purposes: transporting cargo and providing additional energy storage, thereby extending the vehicle's travel range without adding dedicated energy storage components to the vehicle itself.
2Use of energy by moving object
If battery size is increased to extend travel range, then energy storage capacity is improved, but vehicle weight and payload capacity are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The transport container provides self-service by containing a supplemental energy source that autonomously contributes to the vehicle's power needs. This eliminates the need for the vehicle to carry all energy requirements, allowing the vehicle to maintain lighter weight while still achieving extended range through the container's integrated energy contribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport container is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as cargo transport and as an integrated energy storage unit. This universal design allows the same container to fulfill dual purposes, reducing the need for separate dedicated energy storage systems on the vehicle and thereby minimizing weight while maintaining energy storage capacity.
3Duration of action of moving object
If supplemental energy sources are integrated into transport containers, then travel range is extended, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the cargo transport function and energy storage function into a single integrated unit (the transport container). By combining these functions, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate vehicle-based energy storage and cargo transport systems, while still achieving extended travel range through the unified container design.
4Quantity of substance
If energy sources are integrated within transport containers, then payload capacity is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity of containers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental energy source is integrated into the transport container during the container manufacturing process, before the container is deployed for use. This preliminary integration allows the energy source and container to be manufactured together as a unified component, reducing the need for complex field assembly or modification while enabling the container to provide both cargo transport and energy storage capabilities from the outset.
Data Source
AI summary
Product transport is facilitated by a processor(s) obtaining data related to a planned transport event, and analyzing the data to predict energy usage of a transport vehicle in performing the planned transport event, including transporting one or more transport containers. The processor(s) determine, based at least in part on the predicted energy usage, an energy source size for a transport container of the transport container(s) to be transported by the transport vehicle, and determine whether the transport vehicle is to proceed with the transport event. The determining whether to proceed is based, at least in part, on the processor(s) determining that an energy source of the determined energy source size is integrated within the transport container, with the integrated energy source being adapted in the container to contribute energy to the transport vehicle when the transport container is positioned within the transport vehicle for transport.