Multi-Battery EV Trailer Charging Guidance System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drivers of electrified vehicles towing trailers with secondary batteries face challenges in identifying and efficiently recharging at suitable stations due to complexities in charger layout, availability, and vehicle/trailer maneuvering, making it difficult to select and implement an optimal recharging strategy.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle driver assistance system that includes a controller communicating with onboard and trailer-mounted battery units, sensors to characterize vehicle position, and a database of charging stations, allowing for identification of suitable charging scenarios, guiding the vehicle to a parking location, and providing instructions for hookup.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a driver manually identifies and navigates to charging stations for multiple battery units, then the driver has full control over the recharging process, but the complexity of selecting optimal charging scenarios and maneuvering the vehicle-trailer combination becomes overwhelming and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-service by having the controller autonomously identify charging stations, evaluate charging scenarios for multiple battery units, calculate optimal charging distributions, and guide the vehicle-trailer combination to appropriate parking positions without requiring manual driver intervention in these complex decision-making processes
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the driver and the complex charging infrastructure, translating the driver's simple recharging request into a comprehensive charging plan that coordinates multiple battery units, selects optimal charging stations, and manages the vehicle-trailer maneuvering to charging positions
2Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle-trailer combination uses multiple charge ports and charging modes, then the flexibility and adaptability of the recharging system is improved, but the difficulty of selecting and implementing the optimal recharging strategy increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary actions by proactively identifying and evaluating multiple charging scenarios before the driver needs to make a decision, pre-calculating optimal charging distributions across battery units and pre-selecting the best charging strategy based on current vehicle state and driver preferences, thus eliminating the need for complex real-time decision-making by the driver
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the state of charge of multiple battery units, evaluating the performance of different charging scenarios, and adjusting the charging strategy in real-time based on actual charging progress and changing conditions, allowing the driver to simply confirm or reject pre-evaluated options rather than manually optimizing parameters
3Productivity
If charging stations are selected to meet specific charging objectives and rates, then the efficiency and speed of recharging is improved, but the time and effort required to check availability and navigate to appropriate stations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller performs preliminary identification and evaluation of charging stations that meet the driver's charging objectives, pre-calculating which stations can deliver the required charging rates to the selected battery units and pre-determining the optimal charging scenarios, thus eliminating the time-consuming manual search and evaluation process
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical process of manual station selection, availability checking, and navigation planning with an automated electronic control system that uses sensors, communication interfaces, and algorithms to rapidly identify and guide the vehicle-trailer combination to optimal charging stations, significantly reducing the time required for these tasks
Data Source
AI summary
Battery-powered electrified vehicles towing one or more trailers carrying additional rechargeable batteries results in a multi-battery system for which the act of charging the batteries becomes more challenging. A vehicle driver assistance system hereof aids a driver for identifying recharging stations meeting a desired recharging objective for the combined vehicle/trailer having a main battery and a secondary battery to be recharged. The system guides the driver to a parking location and provides instructions for obtaining a hookup to a recharging station.