Vehicle Power-to-the-Box Controller for Energy Usage Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Power-to-the-Box (PttB) systems lack efficient tracking and control mechanisms for power usage, making it difficult for users to accurately measure, record, and invoice energy consumption, especially in applications like construction sites where multiple devices are used.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that integrates a controller within the vehicle to track and record power usage events, convert them into cost values, and generate invoices, featuring automated control to prevent excessive power usage, using a graphical user interface for user interaction and data logging, with the ability to pause and resume job tracking across multiple locations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Power-to-the-Box systems are implemented in vehicles to supply electricity to worksites and campsites, then the ability to provide external power is improved, but the tracking and control of power usage becomes complex and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically tracks power usage events, calculates cost values using energy cost factors, generates invoices, and monitors power consumption without requiring manual intervention. The controller autonomously manages the entire power accounting process from usage detection to invoice generation, eliminating the need for complex manual tracking mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors power usage events and provides real-time feedback through generated invoices that show accumulated energy consumption and costs. This feedback loop enables users to track their power usage patterns and adjust behavior accordingly, simplifying the management of complex power consumption across multiple devices and locations
2Device complexity
If manual tracking of power usage is implemented, then system complexity is reduced, but accuracy in measuring and recording energy consumption deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual tracking mechanisms with an automated electronic controller that continuously monitors power usage events. The controller automatically measures energy consumption, converts it to cost values using energy cost factors, and records data without human intervention, ensuring high measurement precision while maintaining manageable system complexity through software-based solutions
3Productivity
If automated control features are added to prevent excessive power usage, then power consumption control is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller automatically monitors power usage against predefined limits and autonomously takes corrective actions such as shutting off power or generating alerts when thresholds are exceeded. This self-managing control mechanism prevents excessive power consumption without requiring complex manual control systems or constant user intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors power consumption and provides real-time feedback through automated control actions when usage exceeds predefined limits. This feedback-driven approach enables efficient power management by automatically adjusting system behavior based on current consumption patterns, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining high productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Power to the box systems and methods are provided herein. An example system includes a human machine interface of a vehicle, a power to the box system of the vehicle, and a controller having a processor and a memory, the processor executing instructions stored in the memory to determine actuation of a power to the box system of a vehicle, determine usage parameters of the power to the box system of the vehicle during a period of use extending from the actuation to a terminating event, generate a message that includes information indicative of the usage parameters; and transmit the message to a receiving party.