Tractor-Trailer Delivery Planning Using Shared Battery Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods face challenges in efficiently delivering goods using the batteries of tractors and trailers, particularly in maintaining battery levels during long-distance travel on public roads, as they often fail to consider energy charge requirements, leading to battery depletion.
Innovation Solution
An information processing method that generates a delivery plan using tractor and trailer battery levels, ensuring the tractor travels with at least one trailer's battery and maintaining battery levels above a certain threshold, allowing for efficient delivery without battery depletion, and optionally charging trailers at destinations or while hauling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the tractor travels using only its own battery, then the battery management is simple, but the operational range is limited and battery depletion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tractor's battery with the trailers' batteries into a unified power system. The control unit manages power distribution between the tractor battery and multiple trailer batteries, allowing the tractor to draw power from either source. This merging of power sources extends operational range while maintaining reliable power supply through intelligent battery management.
2Productivity
If the tractor always carries a trailer with goods, then delivery efficiency improves, but the tractor cannot return alone to pick up more goods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power system into independent modular units - the tractor battery and multiple trailer batteries can operate independently or together. This allows the trailer to return to the terminal alone for repositioning or recharging while the tractor continues operations, providing operational flexibility without sacrificing delivery efficiency when trailers are attached.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the tractor returns alone to the terminal, then it can pick up more trailers, but the trailer cannot be repositioned or charged efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service capability where trailers can autonomously return to the terminal, be repositioned, and recharge without requiring the tractor's presence. The control unit enables independent trailer operation for terminal return and recharging, allowing the tractor to continue productive operations while trailers are repositioned or recharged, thus maintaining both flexibility and efficiency.
4Reliability
If multiple trailers are equipped with batteries, then the operational range is extended, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback-based control system that continuously monitors the state of charge of the tractor battery and all trailer batteries. The control unit receives real-time feedback on battery levels and automatically manages power distribution, charging, and discharging operations. This centralized feedback control simplifies the management of multiple batteries by providing automated decision-making, reducing the perceived complexity for operators while maintaining reliable battery level maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
An information processing method includes: obtaining tractor information including a battery level of a tractor, trailer information including battery levels of trailers, and delivery information including identification information and destinations of goods to be delivered; generating a delivery plan using the tractor information, the trailer information, and the delivery information; and outputting the delivery plan generated. The delivery plan satisfies: (a) a first condition that, when moving the plurality of trailers, the tractor travels using at least one of a battery of a trailer being moved among the plurality of trailers or a battery of the tractor; and (b) a second condition that the battery level of the tractor is kept above a first lower limit, and the battery levels of the trailers are kept above a second lower limit.