Refuse Vehicle Auxiliary Power Control for Predicted Load Events

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refuse vehicles face inefficiencies in managing power demand for high-load auxiliary components like lift assemblies and compactors, leading to power waste and operational delays.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dynamic, event-driven control system that predicts load events using onboard sensors and initiates a secondary power source, such as a hydrogen fuel cell, to proactively power auxiliary systems, reducing power waste and improving responsiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If a single primary power source is used for all vehicle functions, then the system structure is simple, but power waste occurs and operational responsiveness is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower wasteVSAvoidpower system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power system is segmented into a primary power source for drivetrain functions and a secondary power source for auxiliary components, allowing each to be optimized for its specific function and reducing unnecessary power consumption from the primary source

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The secondary power source is pre-positioned and pre-configured to activate immediately when auxiliary components are needed, eliminating startup delays and ensuring responsive operation without requiring the primary power source to be continuously active

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the primary power source continuously powers auxiliary components, then operational responsiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational responsivenessVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The secondary power source operates periodically—activating only when auxiliary components require power and remaining inactive during periods when they do not—thereby maintaining operational responsiveness while minimizing energy consumption through on-demand operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Productivity

If auxiliary components are activated immediately when needed, then operational efficiency is improved, but power demand spikes occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidpower demand

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 ensures that auxiliary components are ready when needed, reducing power waste, enhancing operational efficiency, and extending the life of the primary power system.

Implementation Method 1

the secondary power source is a hydrogen fuel cell

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFuel cell: Fuel Cell

Data Source

PatentUS20250340120A1Direct fuel generated electricity to body functions

Publication Date: 2025.11.06 OSHKOSH CORPORATION

AI summary

A refuse vehicle is disclosed, comprising a secondary power source, an auxiliary system electrically connected to the secondary power source, a sensor, and processing circuitry with one or more processors and non-transitory, computer-readable media. The processing circuitry, when executed by the processors, receives a dataset from the sensor containing a primary attribute, predicts a load increase associated with the auxiliary system operation if the primary attribute meets a primary threshold, and upon predicting the load increase, sends a command to activate the secondary power source.