Predictive Trailer Equipment Inflation for Departure Pressure Readiness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inflating trailer equipment in vehicles with tractor units and trailers is a time-consuming process that leads to increased downtime, delaying vehicle departure.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that autonomously determines if a vehicle will depart within a predetermined timeframe based on trailer connection status and load, and if so, authorizes inflation to reach a departure pressure threshold, using sensors and an AI model to ensure safe and efficient inflation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If trailer equipment is inflated before departure, then the vehicle can depart on time, but the inflation process increases downtime if not managed properly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary inflation of trailer equipment based on predicted departure time. The computer system estimates when the vehicle will depart and authorizes inflation accordingly, so that inflation completes just in time for departure, eliminating waiting time while avoiding premature inflation that would extend downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors inflation progress and provides feedback to adjust the inflation rate and timing. By tracking pressure levels and comparing them against target thresholds, the system can dynamically adjust the inflation process to ensure completion exactly when needed for departure, optimizing both speed and timing.
2Ease of operation
If autonomous inflation control is implemented, then driver intervention is eliminated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computer system autonomously manages the entire inflation process without driver intervention. It automatically monitors trailer connection status, estimates departure time, authorizes inflation, tracks pressure levels, and controls the inflation rate - essentially serving itself to eliminate the need for manual driver operation while maintaining simple interaction for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The computer system performs multiple functions: it estimates departure time, monitors connection status, controls inflation authorization, tracks pressure levels, and adjusts inflation rates. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated systems for each function.
3Productivity
If inflation authorization is granted early, then departure can be immediate, but safety risks increase if conditions are not verified
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary actions to prevent unsafe inflation by checking connection status and departure time predictions before authorizing inflation. By proactively verifying these conditions in advance, the system prevents unsafe inflation scenarios from occurring, ensuring both rapid departure authorization and maintained safety standards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors inflation progress and provides feedback to ensure safe operation. By tracking pressure levels against maximum thresholds and monitoring the inflation process in real-time, the system can immediately halt inflation if safety limits are approached, maintaining reliability while enabling rapid departure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer system (100), for inflating a trailer equipment included in a trailer, comprising processing circuitry (102) configured to: - receive data including at least a trailer connection status and a trailer load; - determine if a vehicle comprising the trailer and a tractor unit will depart within a predetermined timeframe, based at least on the trailer connection status and the trailer load; and - if the vehicle is determined to depart within the predetermined timeframe, output an inflation authorization message, to increase the trailer equipment pressure to be equal to or above a departure pressure threshold.