Remote Vehicle Rerouting for Emergency Battery Swapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Battery electric vehicle (BEV) customers experience anxiety due to limited range and inadequate public charging infrastructure, leading to concerns about being stranded in unfamiliar areas, despite existing solutions that optimize routes with traffic and infrastructure information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a navigation system and wireless communications network to calculate a waypoint along the vehicle's route, remotely reroute the vehicle to that point, and arrange for road service, which may include swapping the vehicle with a new one, thereby minimizing disruption and ensuring continued travel to the destination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If public charging infrastructure is expanded, then BEV range anxiety is reduced, but infrastructure cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service provider as an intermediary that operates mobile charging vehicles and roadside charging stations. This intermediary provides charging services without requiring permanent public infrastructure, thereby improving BEV reliability while avoiding the complexity of building extensive charging networks. The service provider acts as a mobile buffer between the vehicle and the destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service through automated navigation integration where the vehicle's navigation system automatically communicates with the service provider, receives charging location data, and guides the driver to charging points without manual intervention. This automated self-service reduces the complexity of infrastructure management while ensuring reliable charging availability.
2Productivity
If route optimization with traffic and infrastructure information is provided, then travel efficiency is improved, but customer anxiety is not eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by proactively identifying charging opportunities along the route before the vehicle reaches low battery levels. The service provider's system pre-calculates charging stops, communicates locations to the navigation system in advance, and prepares charging resources, allowing the driver to continue with confidence rather than reacting to battery warnings.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring battery levels, comparing current position with pre-calculated charging points, and providing real-time guidance through the navigation system. This closed-loop feedback ensures the driver receives timely information about charging availability, maintaining confidence while optimizing the route for both efficiency and energy management.
3Ease of operation
If the vehicle is remotely rerouted to a waypoint for road service, then service delivery is optimized, but navigation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the service provider's routing system with the vehicle's existing navigation system. The service provider calculates optimal waypoints for charging or service, then integrates these into the driver's familiar navigation interface. This consolidation provides service optimization without requiring a separate complex routing system, as the navigation system handles both destination guidance and service point navigation uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
The navigation system acts as an intermediary between the service provider's remote routing instructions and the driver. It receives service requests, calculates appropriate waypoints, and presents the information in a user-friendly format, thereby simplifying the interaction between the complex backend service system and the end user while maintaining ease of operation.
4Loss of time
If a waypoint is calculated along the route, then service timing is optimized, but travel time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the parameter of service timing by calculating waypoints that align with the vehicle's battery discharge rate and expected service duration. It dynamically adjusts the waypoint location along the route to ensure the vehicle reaches the service point with appropriate battery levels, minimizing waiting time while optimizing the overall travel duration through efficient routing.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods of providing road service to an operator of a vehicle are provided. Such systems and methods presuppose a navigation system of the vehicle is set to route the vehicle to a destination. A road service request from the vehicle is received and a waypoint along the route to the destination is calculated. The navigation system is remotely set to route the vehicle to the waypoint and road service at the waypoint is ordered. The road service includes swapping the vehicle with a new vehicle.