Vehicle Onboard Power Security Using Load Profile Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing power systems in vehicles, particularly utility and work vehicles, pose a security concern as they allow third parties to steal power when the ignition is off, and there is no effective mechanism to prevent unauthorized power usage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vehicle onboard power (VOP) system that includes a processor and telematics controller to monitor load profiles and detect changes, triggering a vehicle alert response such as moving the power source to an OFF state or sending a wireless alert notification to the owner.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the vehicle power system allows operation with ignition off to provide convenience for AC accessories, then ease of operation is improved, but security against power theft deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting load profile changes before significant power theft occurs. The processor continuously monitors the electrical system and identifies unauthorized connections by comparing current load profiles against stored baseline profiles, enabling early intervention before the thief can extract substantial power.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through continuous monitoring of load profiles and automatic comparison with stored baselines. When deviations indicating unauthorized power usage are detected, the system provides feedback by triggering alert responses that can notify vehicle owners and automatically shut off power, creating a closed-loop security mechanism.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the system continuously monitors load profiles to detect power theft, then security is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service by using the vehicle's existing processor and electrical monitoring capabilities to perform security functions. Rather than adding dedicated complex hardware, the invention leverages the vehicle's own computational resources and existing electrical architecture to detect and respond to power theft attempts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system achieves universality by making the processor serve multiple functions: it handles both the vehicle's normal operational control and the security monitoring of load profiles. The same computational resources used for vehicle management are also employed to detect unauthorized power connections, reducing the need for separate dedicated security hardware.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the system automatically shuts off power when unauthorized load changes are detected, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to false alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by storing multiple baseline load profiles that represent legitimate operational scenarios. Before shutting off power, the system compares detected load changes against these pre-stored legitimate profiles to determine whether the change represents theft or normal operation, preventing false alarms from disrupting legitimate users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to verify whether load profile changes represent legitimate or unauthorized usage. By continuously comparing real-time measurements against stored baselines and providing alert responses only when genuine threats are identified, the system reduces false alarms while maintaining security effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle onboard power (VOP) system is for a vehicle. The VOP system includes a power source, an outlet electrically connected to the power source, a processor electrically connected to the power source, and a memory. The memory has instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including determining the vehicle is in an OFF state, detecting a change in a load profile associated with the outlet, and activating a vehicle alert response based on the change in the load profile.