A system, a method and a computer program product for controlling the temperature of a temperature controlled vehicle compartment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintaining a vehicle compartment at a specific temperature consumes excessive energy, as existing systems require constant cooling or heating, which is cumbersome and often forgotten, leading to inefficient energy use and potential incorrect temperature settings.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that uses a camera and position sensor to identify objects within a predetermined distance and automatically activate cooling or heating based on their attributes, reducing energy consumption by only engaging temperature control when necessary, and allowing remote control via a communication module.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the vehicle compartment is kept at a certain temperature at all times, then the temperature of goods is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic sensing to detect objects within predetermined distance and activates temperature control only during periods when goods need transport, rather than maintaining continuous temperature control. The camera and position sensor periodically check for objects, and the HVAC system activates only when detection occurs, creating a periodic on-demand operation pattern that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining temperature when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects objects using the camera and position sensor, determines temperature requirements based on object attributes, and activates the HVAC system without manual intervention. This self-service automation ensures temperature control is initiated only when goods are present and need protection, eliminating the need for continuous monitoring or manual activation while maintaining reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If manual activation of temperature control is required, then energy consumption is reduced when not needed, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting objects within predetermined distance using the camera and position sensor, determining temperature requirements from object attributes, and activating the HVAC system without requiring manual user action. This automation maintains energy efficiency by avoiding unnecessary operation while completely resolving the ease of operation issue through autonomous decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives feedback from the camera and position sensor about objects in proximity, processes this information to determine temperature requirements, and adjusts HVAC activation accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system automatically adapts to changing conditions (presence/absence of goods) and eliminates the need for manual activation while maintaining optimal energy consumption.
3Reliability
If temperature control is activated in advance, then temperature maintenance is ensured, but energy consumption increases and preparation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of objects within predetermined distance before temperature control is needed, using the camera and position sensor to identify goods that require temperature maintenance. This preliminary action triggers automatic HVAC activation only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary advance preparation while ensuring temperature control is ready when goods are actually present and need protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines when temperature control preparation is needed by detecting objects and analyzing their attributes, eliminating the need for manual preparation decisions. The self-service automation handles the entire process from detection to HVAC activation, reducing preparation complexity to zero manual steps while maintaining reliable temperature control when needed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
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AI summary
The disclosure relates to a system (100) in a vehicle (1) configured to control the temperature of a temperature controlled vehicle compartment (30a,30b), the system (100) comprising: a temperature controlled vehicle compartment (30a,30b) configured to be cooled and/or heated; and a processing circuitry (102a,102b,102c) operatively connected to the temperature controlled vehicle compartment (30a,30b), configured to cause the system (100) to: detect at least a first attribute of at least a first object (5a,5b,5c,5d) within a predetermined distance from the vehicle (1), activate any of cooling or heating of the temperature controlled vehicle compartment (30a,30b) based on the at least first attribute of the at least first object (5a,5b,5c,5d). The disclosure further relates to a method for controlling the temperature of a temperature controlled vehicle compartment (30a,30b) and a computer program product (500).