Vehicle Route Control Using Wireless Charging for Welfare Drivers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Welfare vehicles with drivers having lower limb impairments face increased time and trouble during power feeding operations due to the need for external cable connections at contact type power feed facilities, which can be time-consuming and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control system that includes a power reception apparatus for wireless power feeding, a storage device for vehicle and power feed facility information, and a processing apparatus that creates travel routes with a higher number of wireless power feed facilities when the vehicle is a welfare vehicle, allowing for autonomous travel and reduced external power feeding requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If contact type power feed facility is used, then power can be supplied to the vehicle, but cable connection work outside the vehicle is required which increases time and trouble for welfare vehicle drivers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable connection system with a wireless power feed system. The wireless power feed facility transmits power through electromagnetic fields without requiring physical cable connections, thereby eliminating the time-consuming and troublesome cable plugging/unplugging operations that welfare vehicle drivers with lower limb impairments must perform at contact type power feed facilities.
2Ease of operation
If travel route is optimized to include more wireless power feed facilities for welfare vehicles, then power feeding convenience is improved, but travel distance or required time period may become longer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different travel route optimization strategies for different vehicle types. For welfare vehicles, the route prioritizes wireless power feed facility availability to reduce operational burden. For other vehicles, the route prioritizes shortest distance or time. This localized optimization approach tailors the route characteristics to the specific needs of each vehicle category.
3Reliability
If welfare vehicle drivers perform cable connection work outside the vehicle, then power feeding can be completed, but drivers with lower limb impairments experience increased difficulty and trouble
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless power feed system enables the vehicle to receive power automatically without requiring the driver to perform manual cable connection operations. The power reception apparatus on the vehicle autonomously establishes wireless communication with the power feed facility and receives power, making the power feeding process a self-service operation that does not require the driver to exit the vehicle or manipulate physical connectors.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle information DB holds information on whether or not a vehicle falls under a welfare vehicle provided with an assistance apparatus for a driver who has a lower limb impairment. A power feed facility DB holds position information of a power feed facility and information indicating whether the power feed facility falls under a contact type power feed facility or a wireless power feed facility. A processing apparatus creates a travel route such that a larger number of wireless power feed facilities are included along the travel route when the vehicle falls under the welfare vehicle than when the vehicle does not fall under the welfare vehicle.