Platoon Navigation for Uphill Gradient and Energy Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing navigation technologies for autonomous traveling devices fail to optimize energy consumption by not adequately considering gradient resistance and changes in traveling conditions, such as uphill roads.
Innovation Solution
A navigation system that optimizes platoon formations for autonomous traveling devices based on gradient resistance, adjusting formations to minimize energy consumption by separating driven wheels from uphill roads and optimizing arrangements for air and wind resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If autonomous traveling devices travel in a platoon formation to minimize total electric energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the system cannot adequately respond to gradient resistance changes on uphill roads
Solution Approach 1:
The platoon formation is made dynamic by allowing autonomous traveling devices to switch between connected and disconnected states based on real-time gradient resistance conditions. The navigation system continuously monitors uphill road conditions and adjusts the platoon configuration, separating driven wheels from uphill roads when gradient resistance exceeds grip force, thereby adapting the formation to changing terrain conditions while managing energy consumption.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the platoon formation is optimized for minimum energy consumption, then energy efficiency is improved, but the navigation system lacks consideration for future traveling conditions on uphill roads
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system performs preliminary optimization of platoon formations by predicting future traveling conditions on uphill roads. It calculates gradient resistance in advance and determines optimal formation configurations before encountering steep gradients, ensuring that driven wheels are positioned to minimize energy consumption while preparing for upcoming gradient resistance challenges.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring actual gradient resistance conditions and comparing them with predicted conditions. Based on this feedback, the navigation system adjusts platoon formation configurations in real-time, separating or connecting autonomous traveling devices to gradient resistance conditions, thereby optimizing energy consumption while responding to actual uphill road forces.
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
The system effectively reduces total electric energy consumption by optimizing platoon formations to account for gradient resistance, air resistance, and wind resistance, thereby improving the efficiency of autonomous traveling devices.
Implementation Method 1
optimizes a platoon formation based on a gradient resistance that occurs on at least one of the plurality of autonomous traveling devices
Implementation Method 2
optimizes arrangements for air and wind resistance
Implementation Method 3
optimizes platoon formations to account for gradient resistance, air resistance, and wind resistance
Data Source
AI summary
A navigation system, a navigation method, or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a navigation program for navigating a plurality of autonomous traveling devices that autonomously travel using power supplied from a battery, optimizes a platoon formation based on a gradient resistance that occurs on at least one of the plurality of autonomous traveling devices that are caused to travel in the platoon formation including a mutually connected formation and changes in future traveling on an uphill road, and navigates each autonomous traveling device to the optimized platoon formation.