Autonomous Delivery Container Thermal Control Using Vehicle Waste Heat

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Solution Overview

Problem

Autonomous vehicles lack effective temperature regulation systems for delivery containers, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of perishable goods during transportation, as existing solutions are inefficient and often require dedicated heating or cooling units.

Innovation Solution

A thermal management system that utilizes the onboard computer, battery, and external environment to regulate the temperature of delivery containers within autonomous vehicles, allowing for passive heating or cooling and independent temperature control of multiple compartments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If dedicated heating or cooling units are used for temperature regulation, then temperature control capability is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery container temperature controlVSAvoidthermal management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The thermal management system is integrated into the autonomous vehicle's existing infrastructure, allowing the vehicle's battery, motors, and electronic systems to serve dual purposes: powering the vehicle and providing thermal energy for delivery container temperature regulation. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated heating or cooling units.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system utilizes waste heat generated by the autonomous vehicle's onboard components (battery, motors, electronics) to heat the delivery container when needed, rather than requiring external or dedicated heating sources. The vehicle's operational byproducts are converted into useful thermal energy for cargo temperature maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Temperature

If dedicated heating or cooling units are used, then temperature regulation capability is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery container temperature controlVSAvoidenergy consumption for thermal regulation

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system converts waste heat that would otherwise be dissipated into useful thermal energy for heating the delivery container. By capturing and redirecting thermal energy from the vehicle's battery, motors, and electronic systems, the solution transforms a harmful byproduct (waste heat) into a beneficial resource for temperature regulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The same thermal management infrastructure serves multiple functions: regulating the vehicle's own operating temperature and providing heated or cooled environments for temperature-sensitive deliveries, thereby eliminating the need for separate energy-consuming systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If multiple compartments with independent temperature control are provided, then temperature precision for different goods is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompartment temperature precisionVSAvoidmulti-compartment control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The delivery container is divided into multiple independent compartments, each capable of maintaining different temperature zones. This segmentation allows simultaneous transport of temperature-sensitive goods requiring different thermal conditions (e.g., refrigerated and frozen items) within a single vehicle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal management system uses a single integrated infrastructure to serve multiple compartments, rather than requiring separate heating and cooling systems for each zone. This unified approach reduces overall system complexity while maintaining independent temperature control capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution enhances energy efficiency and allows for precise temperature control of delivery containers, ensuring the quality of goods by maintaining selected temperature ranges during transportation, whether for cooling or heating, thus addressing the inefficiencies of traditional systems.

Implementation Method 1

adjusting the delivery container temperature includes increasing the delivery container temperature by utilizing heat generated by at least one of an onboard computer and a battery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

adjusting the delivery container temperature includes receiving an input from an HVAC system

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11897308B2Temperature regulation for autonomous vehicle delivery

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 GM CRUISE HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for temperature regulation in an autonomous vehicle. In particular, systems and methods are provided for regulating the interior temperature of a delivery container in an autonomous vehicle. In various implementations, the delivery container includes one or more compartments, and a thermal management system is provided for regulating the temperature of each of the compartments.