Home Charger Return Control for Autonomous Provider Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently managing home charger usage when the provider returns home during rental, especially in areas with limited charging infrastructure and occupancy conflicts between provider and user vehicles, is addressed by implementing a system that adjusts charging and parking space usage through a server apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A server apparatus facilitates communication between users and providers, allowing for rental of home chargers and managing provider vehicle movement to a waiting area when returning home, with priority determination and fee adjustments based on time and user requests.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the provider vehicle is instructed to move to a waiting area when the parking space is occupied by a user vehicle, then the provider can return home without conflict, but the provider vehicle cannot immediately access the charger when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The server apparatus determines in advance whether the provider vehicle should move to the waiting area by checking if the user vehicle has exited the parking space. This preliminary determination prevents unnecessary waiting and allows the provider vehicle to proceed directly to the parking space when the path is clear, thereby reducing waiting time while maintaining conflict-free operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system prioritizes user vehicle charging continuation, then user charging needs are met, but the provider vehicle cannot return to the parking space for charging
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines charging priority based on real-time conditions. The server apparatus evaluates whether to prioritize the user vehicle's charging continuation or the provider vehicle's return to parking space, and this determination can change based on the situation. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to different scenarios, ensuring both user needs are met and charger utilization is optimized.
3Extent of automation
If the provider vehicle automatically drives to the waiting area, then manual intervention is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The provider vehicle performs self-service by automatically driving to the waiting area under server apparatus control without requiring manual intervention from the provider. The vehicle responds to instructions from the server apparatus, autonomously navigating to the appropriate location based on the charging status and parking space availability, thereby reducing manual effort while managing system complexity through standardized control protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A server apparatus includes one or more processors and a storage medium storing a program. The program includes one or more instructions. The one or more instructions cause the one or more processors to execute: instructing an automatically drivable provider vehicle of a provider who provides a user with a charger installed in a parking space designated for use by the provider to move to a predetermined waiting area; transmitting a provider return notification to the user; instructing the provider vehicle to move from the waiting area to the parking space in accordance with a detection of an exit of the user vehicle from the parking space; transmitting a return notification to the provider in response to a return of the provider vehicle to the parking space; and increasing or decreasing a fee to be paid by the user or a profit to be provided to the provider.