EV Group Route Guidance via Shared Charging Stops

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing navigation systems fail to provide effective route guidance for a group of electric vehicles to a destination while considering the remaining battery capacity of each vehicle, leading to potential dispersion and electricity shortages.

Innovation Solution

A navigation system that calculates the travelable distance of each electric vehicle based on its battery capacity and user-specific data, determines if the vehicle with the shortest travelable distance can reach the destination, and provides route guidance through charging stations for power replenishment, allowing the group to arrive collectively without dispersing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a navigation system guides a group of electric vehicles to a destination without considering individual battery capacities, then the route planning is simple, but the vehicles may disperse and some may run out of electricity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegroup cohesionVSAvoidroute planning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the group route planning into individual vehicle assessments by calculating travelable distances for each vehicle based on its specific battery capacity, weight data, and electricity consumption records, then integrates these individual plans into a coordinated group route that maintains cohesion while accounting for individual energy constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculations of travelable distances for each vehicle before finalizing the group route, using stored weight data and electricity consumption records to predict energy usage and determine which vehicles require charging stops, allowing proactive route planning that prevents vehicle dispersion

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the system calculates travelable distance for each vehicle based on detailed user data, then the route accuracy improves, but the calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetravelable distance accuracyVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-stores weight data for each user and historical electricity consumption records in advance, so that when route planning is needed, the calculation can directly reference these stored values rather than collecting and processing raw data in real-time, improving measurement precision while managing calculation complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model of each vehicle's energy characteristics by storing and referencing historical electricity consumption records, allowing accurate travelable distance calculations without requiring complex real-time measurements, as the system uses these stored profiles to predict energy usage patterns

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If the system guides vehicles to charging stations individually, then each vehicle can maintain power, but the group disperses and loses coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidgroup formation stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges individual vehicle charging needs into a coordinated group charging plan by identifying common charging stations that can serve multiple vehicles, scheduling charging stops so that vehicles remain together as a group while still receiving the power they need, thus maintaining both power supply reliability and group formation stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The navigation system acts as an intermediary that coordinates between individual vehicle energy requirements and group cohesion goals, using calculated travelable distances to determine optimal charging stops that allow vehicles to refuel without breaking group coordination, effectively mediating between individual and collective needs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4036894B1Navigation system, route setting device, route setting method, program, and storage medium
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP4036894B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4036894B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4036894B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A navigation system comprises: a plurality of electric vehicles respectively having batteries; and a route setting device. The route setting device includes: a storage means for storing group information in which the plurality of electric vehicles are set as one group and position information of charging stations capable of supplying power to the batteries of the plurality of electric vehicles; a calculation means for calculating a travelable distance of each electric vehicle; a determination means for determining whether or not an electric vehicle having a shortest travelable distance among the plurality of electric vehicles is capable of arriving at the destination; and a travel guide means for searching the travel route for a charging station at which the electric vehicle having the shortest travelable distance is capable of arriving and providing guidance for a route to the destination via the charging station.