Autonomous Electric Trailer Assist for Range and Towing Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle trailers are not aligned with the evolution of towing technologies, particularly with the transition to electric power, leading to concerns about driving range and towing capacity, especially for lesser-capable vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous electric-powered trailer system that identifies towing events and activates an assist mode using sensors to generate towing-assistance instructions for electric motors, allowing the trailer to autonomously assist the towing entity by providing propulsion or braking based on sensed towing forces and dynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a passive trailer is used with electric-powered towing vehicles, then the trailer structure remains simple and reliable, but the driving range is reduced due to energy loss
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer serves itself by autonomously controlling its electric motors to provide towing assistance, eliminating the need for the towing vehicle to expend energy on the trailer load. The trailer monitors its own state through sensors and adjusts motor output accordingly
Solution Approach 2:
The passive mechanical trailer system is replaced with an active electric-powered system that uses electric motors and electronic control to provide propulsion assistance, substituting mechanical force transmission with electromagnetic force generation
2Force
If a passive trailer is used with lesser-capable towing vehicles, then the vehicle structure remains simple, but the towing capacity is insufficient for challenging loads
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer transitions from a static passive structure to a dynamic active system that can adjust its motor output in real-time based on sensed towing forces and operational conditions, enabling it to provide variable assistance levels
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer changes its operational parameters by activating electric motors that generate variable force output, transforming the force characteristic from zero (passive) to variable positive force (active assistance)
3Productivity
If an autonomous electric-powered trailer with active assistance is implemented, then energy efficiency and towing capacity are improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The trailer system performs multiple functions: it provides propulsion assistance, braking assistance, and autonomous control, all through an integrated electric motor system that serves various towing needs
Solution Approach 2:
The trailer implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously monitor towing forces and operational state, and the control system adjusts motor output accordingly to optimize assistance while managing system complexity
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
Enhances towing efficiency and safety by reducing energy loss and driver stress, improving fuel efficiency, and enabling lesser-capable vehicles to tow trailers with challenging loads by providing active assistance.
Implementation Method 1
operating, via one or more electric motors, each wheel of the AEP trailer
Data Source
AI summary
A method of implementing an autonomous electric-powered trailer during a towing operation includes sourcing, via the one or more computers, one or more streams of sensing data from one or more sensing sources during a towing event involving an autonomous electric-powered (AEP) trailer and a towing entity, generating, via a towing-assist control algorithm, a plurality of towing-assistance instructions based on an input of the one or more streams of sensing data; operating, via one or more electric motors, each wheel of the AEP trailer at a target propulsion based on the plurality of towing-assistance instructions, wherein the operating of the each wheel enables the AEP trailer to autonomously assist the towing entity during the towing event.