Solar Vehicle Charging Strategy Using Real-Time Solar Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solar-powered electric vehicles face inefficiencies in charging due to variable solar power availability, which is affected by time of day, weather, and location, leading to suboptimal energy harvesting and storage.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that utilize processing circuitry and memory circuitry with computer program code to determine a solar power charging strategy by obtaining information on current vehicle location and solar power distribution, enabling autonomous movement of vehicles to optimal charging locations, ensuring efficient energy collection and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If solar powered vehicles are positioned statically to charge, then the vehicle structure and charging simplicity is maintained, but energy collection efficiency deteriorates due to variable solar availability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic positioning of vehicles to charging locations based on real-time solar power availability. The system determines optimal charging locations and times by monitoring solar distribution data, enabling vehicles to move to positions where they can maximize energy collection from photovoltaic cells while the vehicle structure itself remains static.
2Productivity
If vehicles are autonomously moved to optimal charging locations, then energy collection efficiency is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that centralizes the computation and decision-making for charging strategies. The server receives solar distribution data and vehicle information, determines optimal charging locations and times, then provides charging strategies to vehicles. This distributes complexity from individual vehicles to a centralized system, reducing on-vehicle control complexity while enabling sophisticated energy optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where vehicles report their power requirements and current stored power levels to the server. The server uses this feedback along with solar distribution data to dynamically adjust and optimize charging strategies, ensuring vehicles are positioned at optimal locations when they need charging while adapting to changing conditions.
3Productivity
If centralized control is implemented for multiple vehicles, then overall energy collection efficiency is improved, but system coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal charging strategy system that serves multiple vehicles through a single centralized platform. The server can generate and manage charging strategies for multiple vehicles simultaneously, providing a multi-functional solution that optimizes energy collection across the entire vehicle fleet rather than individually, thereby improving overall system efficiency while managing coordination centrally.
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 allows for centralized control of multiple solar-powered vehicles to maximize energy collection, ensuring each vehicle receives sufficient power by strategically positioning them based on real-time solar power availability, enhancing overall efficiency and energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
A solar powered electric vehicle may comprise photovoltaic cells which may be configured to convert incident sunlight into electrical power
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus (1), method and computer program wherein the apparatus (1) comprises: processing circuitry (5); and memory circuitry (7) including computer program code (11); the memory circuitry (7) and the computer program code (11) configured to, with the processing circuitry (7), cause the apparatus (1) at least to perform: obtaining information from a solar powered vehicle (31) wherein the information comprises at least a current location of the solar powered vehicle (31); obtaining information (25) relating to distribution of solar power in a predetermined area; using the obtained information to determine a solar power char ging strategy (27); and enabling the solar powered vehicle (31) to access the solar power charging strategy (27).