Peloton Power Connector Assembly for Vehicle Energy Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Autonomous vehicles face limitations in navigation range due to internal energy storage constraints, as refueling or recharging stations may be absent along their routes, complicating destination reach and extending trip duration.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle navigation system that forms a peloton with other vehicles, dynamically adjusting positions to minimize aerodynamic drag and sharing electrical power through a power management system, allowing extended navigation range without the need for frequent recharging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If vehicles navigate independently with internal energy storage only, then vehicle autonomy is maintained, but navigation range is limited by energy constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vehicles into a peloton formation where vehicles share energy resources. The power management system enables electrical power transfer between vehicles through physical connectors, merging their energy systems to extend navigation range beyond what individual vehicles could achieve alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates redundant energy storage across multiple vehicles in the peloton. Each vehicle maintains its own battery system while copying the energy sharing capability across the group, allowing any vehicle to draw power from others when needed, effectively multiplying the available energy resources.
2Use of energy by moving object
If vehicles form a peloton configuration, then aerodynamic drag is reduced and energy efficiency improves, but vehicle positioning control becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system continuously monitors the relative positions of vehicles in the peloton and adjusts control commands in real-time. This feedback mechanism maintains optimal aerodynamic spacing while managing the complexity of coordinated positioning, ensuring vehicles stay in energy-efficient configurations without collision risk.
Solution Approach 2:
The peloton configuration is dynamically adjusted based on real-time conditions such as energy levels, aerodynamic benefits, and road conditions. Vehicles can change positions within the peloton, and the formation can adapt its structure, allowing the system to optimize energy efficiency while managing positioning complexity through flexible reconfiguration.
3Duration of action of moving object
If vehicles share power in a peloton, then navigation range is extended without recharging stations, but power distribution management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The power management system enables vehicles to serve their own energy needs by drawing power from other vehicles in the peloton when required. Each vehicle monitors its own energy levels and autonomously requests or accepts power transfers, reducing the need for centralized power distribution control while extending overall navigation range.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances the navigation range of vehicles by balancing energy consumption through peloton formation and power sharing, reducing the need for frequent recharging and extending the driving distance without station availability.
Implementation Method 1
a power connector, coupled to an end of a power cable electrically coupled to at least one internal battery installed in the vehicle, which couples with a power connector interface installed in the at least one additional vehicle
Implementation Method 2
different aerodynamic drag associated with different peloton positions in the particular configuration of the vehicular peloton
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle configured to be autonomously navigated in a peloton along a roadway, wherein the peloton comprises at least the vehicle at least one additional vehicle, is configured to determine a position of the vehicle in the peloton which reduces differences in relative driving ranges among the vehicles included in the peloton. The vehicles can dynamically adjust peloton positions while navigating to reduce driving range differences among the vehicles. The vehicle can include a power management system which enables the vehicle to be electrically coupled to a battery included in another vehicle in the peloton, so that driving range differences between the vehicles can be reduced via load sharing via the electrical connection. The vehicle can include a power connector arm which extends a power connector to couple with an interface of another vehicle.