Vehicle Speed Trajectory Planning for Auxiliary Energy Trade-Offs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle energy management systems fail to consider additional components like freezers and thermal systems when planning trips, leading to suboptimal energy efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A computer system determines a vehicle speed trajectory by estimating energy consumption for both the prime mover and vehicle speed independent power consumers, considering constraints such as time of arrival and speed limits, to optimize overall energy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the vehicle speed is reduced to lower prime mover energy consumption, then the first energy consumption decreases, but the second energy consumption increases because the vehicle speed independent power consumer operates for a longer duration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirst energy consumptionVSAvoidsecond energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the vehicle speed parameter dynamically to optimize total energy consumption. By adjusting speed along the road path, the system balances the trade-off between prime mover energy consumption (which decreases with lower speed) and vehicle speed independent power consumer energy consumption (which increases with lower speed due to longer operation time).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic speed adjustment rather than maintaining a constant speed. The vehicle speed trajectory is continuously optimized based on road path characteristics, traffic conditions, and energy consumption models, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and achieve optimal total energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If the vehicle speed is increased to reduce the operation time of vehicle speed independent power consumers, then the second energy consumption decreases, but the first energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecond energy consumptionVSAvoidfirst energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes the vehicle speed parameter to minimize total energy consumption. By increasing speed in certain segments, the system reduces the operation time of vehicle speed independent power consumers, thereby reducing their energy consumption, while accepting increased prime mover energy consumption only when beneficial for overall efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts speed based on real-time conditions and pre-calculated optimal trajectories. Rather than maintaining a fixed high or low speed, the system varies speed along the road path to achieve optimal balance between prime mover and auxiliary power consumer energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Use of energy by moving object

If conventional trip planning is used that only considers prime mover energy consumption, then the first energy consumption is optimized, but the overall energy efficiency deteriorates due to ignoring vehicle speed independent power consumers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirst energy consumptionVSAvoidthird energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the optimization of prime mover energy consumption with vehicle speed independent power consumer energy consumption into a unified total energy consumption model. By considering both components simultaneously, the system achieves optimal overall energy efficiency rather than optimizing only the prime mover, which would lead to suboptimal total energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The energy management system performs multiple functions: it optimizes prime mover energy consumption, optimizes vehicle speed independent power consumer energy consumption, and ensures compliance with constraint criteria. This multi-functional approach enables comprehensive energy optimization that conventional single-objective systems cannot achieve.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20250289409A1System for setting a vehicle speed trajectory in response to energy consumption

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 VOLVO TRUCK CORP

AI summary

A computer system has processing circuitry to determine a start position and an end position for operating a vehicle along an upcoming road path, estimate a first energy consumption for a plurality of vehicle speed trajectories from the start position to the end position, estimate a time period for operating the vehicle for each one of the plurality of vehicle speed trajectories, estimate a second energy consumption for a vehicle speed independent power consumer of the vehicle for each one of the estimated time periods, determine a third energy consumption, the third energy consumption being a sum of the first and second energy consumptions, and set a vehicle speed trajectory for controlling the vehicle speed between the start position and the end position in response to the third energy consumption for the plurality of vehicle speed trajectories and at least one constraint criterion.