On-Demand Fuel Delivery System for Mobile Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
As the transition to electric vehicles is anticipated to reduce the general availability of petroleum fuels, there is a need for an efficient and convenient method to deliver combustible fuels and fuel additives to car collectors, offering flexibility and mobility beyond traditional fuel stations.
Innovation Solution
An integrated system comprising processing devices, a network, and servers that enables users to request fuel or fuel additive deliveries, generating instructions for couriers to deliver the requested fuels or additives directly to specified locations, using manned or autonomous vehicles, and providing a greater selection of specialty fuels on demand.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional fuel stations are used, then fuel availability is maintained through fixed infrastructure, but mobility and convenience for buyers are limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring customers to travel to fixed fuel stations, the system inverts the approach by bringing fuel delivery to variable locations where customers are already present. The courier system delivers fuel to customers' specified locations, reversing the traditional customer-travel model.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static fuel stations to dynamic delivery services. Couriers can deliver fuel to moving or variable locations, and the system adapts to customer's current position rather than requiring them to return to a fixed point.
2Reliability
If fuel stations are reduced due to electric vehicle transition, then environmental goals are met, but fuel availability for collectors declines
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the fuel storage and dispensing function from fixed station infrastructure and relocates it to mobile couriers. This removes the need for extensive stationary infrastructure while maintaining fuel availability through distributed delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The courier system serves multiple functions: it delivers fuel to various locations, handles different fuel types, and adapts to different customer needs. This multi-functional approach replaces the specialized fixed infrastructure with versatile mobile units.
3Ease of operation
If on-demand delivery system is implemented, then convenience and mobility are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a digital platform as an intermediary that coordinates between customers, couriers, and fuel sources. This software mediator manages the complexity of on-demand scheduling, routing, and tracking, allowing the service to function smoothly despite system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a method of placing and fulfilling an order for fuel delivery that includes receiving a fuel delivery request with an integrated system that includes one or more processing devices, a network, and one or more servers, where the one or more processing devices communicate via the network with the one or more servers, a request to order fuel along with purchaser information and a location is sent to the one or more servers, an order to purchase the requested fuel is generated, based at least in part on the request, purchaser information, and the location, instructions are generated by a computer-implemented software based at least in part on the order to purchase the requested fuel, the instructions are relayed to one or more couriers, and location of a fuel recipient is identified to the one or more couriers, and fulfilling the generated order to complete purchase of the fuel by delivering at least the requested fuel to the fuel recipient at the identified location, where the delivered fuel includes one or more combustible fuels.