eVTOL Itinerary Planning Under Battery Charge Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
The availability of electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) for mobility services is limited due to insufficient battery charge, leading to rejected reservations and decreased service delivery opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A mobility service system that identifies available eVTOLs, estimates their battery charge, and plans itineraries that include alternative routes and transportation modes to ensure flights can be completed with sufficient battery life, thereby increasing service delivery opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reservation is rejected when the eVTOL battery charge is insufficient, then the reliability of flight safety is improved, but the service delivery opportunity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The flight route is segmented into multiple sections with intermediate takeoff and landing sites. Instead of requiring a single direct flight from the first site to the second site, the system divides the journey into manageable segments that can be completed with available battery charge, allowing the eVTOL to make stops for recharging along the way.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary planning to identify intermediate takeoff and landing sites along the route before the flight begins. By pre-calculating feasible segments based on current battery charge levels, the system prepares alternative itineraries that ensure the eVTOL can complete each segment safely without risking insufficient charge.
2Loss of time
If the direct flight route is chosen, then the travel time is reduced, but the battery charge may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the flight itinerary based on real-time battery charge conditions. When the direct route is not feasible due to insufficient charge, the system automatically generates alternative routes with intermediate stops, balancing travel time requirements with energy availability. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize both time and energy usage based on current conditions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If alternative itineraries with intermediate stops are planned, then the battery charge sufficiency is improved, but the travel time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the flight parameters by introducing intermediate takeoff and landing sites into the itinerary. By selecting optimal intermediate locations and adjusting the route parameters, the system ensures that each flight segment between sites is feasible with available battery charge, while minimizing the total travel time impact of the additional stops.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobility service system plans an itinerary including movement from a first takeoff and landing site to a second takeoff and landing site in response to a reservation request from a user. Specifically, the mobility service system identifies a first eVTOL available at the first takeoff and landing site, and estimates a first amount of battery charge of the first eVTOL at a time of start of use by the user. When a first flight from the first takeoff and landing site to the second takeoff and landing site is not achievable with the first amount of battery charge, the mobility service system searches for a second flight from the first takeoff and landing site to a third takeoff and landing site that is achievable with the first amount of battery charge, and plans a second itinerary that goes through the third takeoff and landing site.