Electric Tractor-Trailer Delivery Planning Under Battery Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently delivering goods using the batteries of a tractor and trailers, particularly in maintaining battery levels above a certain threshold during delivery.
Innovation Solution
An information processing method and system that generate a delivery plan by obtaining tractor and trailer battery levels, along with delivery information, to ensure the tractor and trailers travel while maintaining battery levels above specified lower limits, and optionally charging at destinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the tractor uses battery power to move trailers, then delivery efficiency is improved, but the battery level of the tractor decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the battery resource into multiple trailers, each equipped with its own battery. The tractor can selectively couple with trailers that have sufficient battery charge to power the tractor's movement, thereby distributing the energy burden across multiple units rather than relying solely on the tractor's battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically selects which trailer to couple with based on real-time battery levels. The tractor information acquisition unit obtains battery information from multiple trailers, and the control unit makes dynamic decisions about which trailer to use for power transfer, optimizing the use of available energy resources throughout the delivery route.
2Length of moving object
If the tractor travels using trailer battery, then delivery range is extended, but the battery level of the trailer decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Each trailer is equipped with its own battery system with locally managed charge levels. The system allows different trailers to have different battery states, enabling the tractor to selectively couple with trailers that have sufficient charge for the required delivery distance, while leaving trailers with lower charge levels available for shorter trips or charging opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of trailer battery levels before route planning. By obtaining battery information in advance, the system can pre-determine which trailers are suitable for specific delivery segments, ensuring that the tractor couples with adequately charged trailers before embarking on extended delivery routes.
3Productivity
If multiple trailers are used for distributed goods delivery, then delivery efficiency is improved, but the complexity of battery management increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each trailer autonomously provides battery status information to the tractor through its own information acquisition unit. The trailers self-manage their battery charge levels and make themselves available or unavailable for coupling based on their own energy state, reducing the central coordination burden for battery management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where the tractor information acquisition unit regularly obtains battery level data from all trailers, and this information feeds into the route planning and trailer selection process. The control unit uses this feedback to dynamically adjust coupling decisions, ensuring optimal battery utilization across the entire fleet.
Data Source
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AI summary
An information processing method includes: obtaining tractor information including a battery level of a tractor, trailer information including battery levels of trailers, and delivery information including identification information and destinations of goods to be delivered (step S101); generating a delivery plan using the tractor information, the trailer information, and the delivery information (step S102); and outputting the delivery plan generated (step S103). The delivery plan satisfies: (a) a first condition that, when moving the plurality of trailers, the tractor travels using at least one of a battery of a trailer being moved among the plurality of trailers or a battery of the tractor; and (b) a second condition that the battery level of the tractor is kept above a first lower limit, and the battery levels of the trailers are kept above a second lower limit.