Electric Vehicle Routing System Power Outage Warnings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers of electric vehicles face 'charge anxiety' due to uncertainty about power outages along their routes, which can leave them stranded if they cannot reach a charging station or return home with insufficient charge during a blackout.
Innovation Solution
A method that receives a vehicle route and compares it to power outage data to identify regions with outages, sending warnings to the driver through the vehicle's computing system to avoid or prepare for these areas, ensuring sufficient charge is maintained by recommending alternative routes or charging stops.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If drivers use existing navigation systems for routing, then routing options are provided, but drivers cannot receive warnings about power outages along the route
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines navigation routing functionality with power outage warning functionality into a single integrated system. The computing system merges route calculation data with power outage database information to provide both routing directions and outage warnings simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate systems and ensuring drivers receive comprehensive information about both route and power status.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a power outage database as an intermediary information source that feeds into the navigation system. This intermediary component provides power outage information to the computing system, which then integrates it with routing data and delivers combined warnings to drivers, enabling the system to mediate between navigation and power status information.
2Adaptability or versatility
If drivers travel through areas with power outages, then routing flexibility is maintained, but drivers may be stranded due to insufficient charge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by checking power outage status before the driver arrives at the destination. The system proactively identifies power outages along the planned route and provides warnings to drivers in advance, allowing them to take preparatory actions such as charging the vehicle at intermediate stops or selecting alternative routes before the harmful effect occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback by continuously monitoring power outage status and comparing it against the planned route. The computing system receives power outage data, processes it against the routing information, and provides real-time feedback to drivers through warnings, enabling adaptive response to changing power conditions along the journey.
3Loss of information
If the system provides detailed power outage warnings, then driver awareness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional computing system that performs both navigation routing and power outage monitoring within a single integrated platform. The system uses existing vehicle computing resources and combines them with power outage database access, allowing one system to serve multiple functions without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer implemented method includes receiving a vehicle route. The method further includes receiving data relating to a vehicle charge level. Also, the method includes estimating a power requirement required to travel the length of the vehicle route. The method additionally includes contingent on a vehicle charge state being insufficient to meet the power requirement, comparing the vehicle route to power outage data to establish the presence of power outage regions along the vehicle route. Further, the method includes sending a warning for at least one portion of the route containing a power outage region to a vehicle computing system for relay to a driver.