Vehicle Energy Consumer Classification for Power Shortage Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicles face challenges in ensuring sufficient propulsion power availability due to uncertainties in energy storage or transformation systems, particularly during hazardous situations, leading to potential power unavailability for critical energy consumers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for classifying energy consumers as critical or non-critical based on predicted road conditions and events, using an estimation model to prioritize power distribution to critical consumers over non-critical ones when energy or power is limited.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the energy storage or transformation system powers all energy consumers simultaneously, then the complete functionality of the vehicle is maintained, but the risk of power unavailability increases during hazardous situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments energy consumers into critical and non-critical groups based on their importance for vehicle safety and operation. This segmentation allows the system to prioritize power distribution to critical consumers during power shortages, thereby reducing the risk of power unavailability for essential functions while maintaining complete functionality when sufficient power is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary classification of energy consumers into critical and non-critical categories before power allocation decisions are needed. This advance categorization enables the control system to rapidly respond to power availability changes by immediately prioritizing critical consumers, rather than making ad-hoc decisions during hazardous situations.
2Power
If the energy storage or transformation system is designed to provide sufficient power for all consumers, then the system can meet all power demands, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic power allocation that adjusts in real-time based on predicted road conditions, vehicle state, and power availability. The system dynamically reclassifies energy consumers and redistributes power accordingly, allowing a smaller energy storage system to meet all power demands through intelligent management rather than relying on oversizing the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control system continuously monitors power consumption, state of charge, and road condition predictions to adjust power allocation strategies. This feedback loop enables the system to optimize power distribution efficiency, reducing the need for excessive power capacity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If the vehicle uses advanced monitoring and control for the energy storage system, then the availability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses preview information about upcoming road conditions to proactively adjust power allocation before power shortages occur. This preliminary action based on predicted scenarios allows the system to prevent power unavailability events rather than merely responding to them, improving reliability through forward-looking control strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system that mediates between the energy storage system and various energy consumers. This intermediary layer translates complex monitoring data into simplified power allocation decisions, managing the complexity of advanced monitoring while maintaining clear control logic for power distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
The method comprises providing preview information comprising at least one of a predicted road condition and a predicted road event; processing the preview information with an estimation model adapted to relate a risk level associated with a power unavailability for each one of the energy consumers to the at least one predicted road condition and/or predicted road event; classifying the energy consumers having a risk level higher than a predetermined risk level threshold value as critical energy consumers, and classifying the energy consumers with a risk level lower than the predetermined risk level threshold value as non-critical energy consumers; estimating a required amount of energy and/or power for powering all the energy consumers in the predetermined group of energy consumers for the predicted road condition and/or the predicted road event; estimating the available energy and/or power of the EST system; in response to determining that the required amount of energy for powering all the energy consumers in the predetermined group of energy consumers is higher than the available energy, powering the energy consumers classified as critical, and deactivating at least one of the energy consumers classified as non-critical.