Vehicle Platoon Routing Using Wind Drag and Energy Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transportation systems lack insights into optimizing vehicle platooning decisions regarding which vehicles to include, when to travel, and how to travel to maximize efficiency, leading to less efficient routes and operations.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing processors to determine wind information and calculate wind drag and parasitic energy losses along routes, allowing for the selection of optimal vehicle groups and travel adjustments to minimize energy consumption and optimize routes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If vehicles travel alone without platooning, then each vehicle maintains operational independence and flexibility, but wind drag forces and parasitic energy losses increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vehicles into platoons that travel together in coordinated groups. By merging vehicles into platoons, the system reduces individual vehicle wind drag and parasitic energy losses through aerodynamic benefits, while the coordination system manages the platoon as a unified entity rather than separate vehicles
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it manages platoon formation, optimizes routing for energy efficiency, coordinates travel timing, and reduces overall energy consumption. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into a single integrated platform
2Productivity
If current coordination systems are used for vehicle platooning, then some energy efficiency improvements are achieved, but lack of wind information insight prevents optimal routing and timing decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system obtains wind information in advance of vehicle travel and uses this preliminary data to optimize platoon routing and timing decisions. By having wind conditions known beforehand, the system can pre-calculate optimal paths and schedules that minimize energy consumption rather than reacting to conditions during travel
Solution Approach 2:
The coordination system continuously monitors wind conditions and uses this feedback to adjust platoon routing, timing, and formation. The system incorporates wind information into its decision-making process, continuously optimizing transportation efficiency based on real-time and historical wind data
3Ease of operation
If operators direct platoons without wind drag consideration, then operational simplicity is maintained, but energy efficiency and fuel costs deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The coordination system automatically optimizes platoon routing and timing based on wind information without requiring manual operator intervention for complex calculations. The system serves itself by autonomously making energy-efficient decisions, freeing operators from complex optimization tasks while reducing fuel consumption through intelligent routing
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 approach enables more efficient vehicle grouping and routing decisions, reducing fuel costs and labor hours while improving safety by accounting for wind conditions, thereby enhancing overall transportation system productivity.
Implementation Method 1
determine one or more of wind drag or a parasitic energy loss for travel by different potential groups of the plural vehicles based on the wind information
Implementation Method 2
determine one or more of wind drag or a parasitic energy loss for travel by different potential groups of the plural vehicles
Data Source
AI summary
A system determines wind information for achieving a desired outcome for travel of a selected group of one or more vehicles along one or more routes. The system determines wind drag and/or a parasitic energy loss for travel by different potential groups of vehicles based on the wind information. The system determines the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of plural, different locations along the one or more routes, visually presents the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss for each of the different groups of vehicles, and/or determines the selected group of the one or more vehicles from the different groups of vehicles for travel along the one or more routes to achieve the desired outcome based on the wind drag and/or parasitic energy loss that is determined.