Wired Vehicle Fleet Control for Collision-Free Bendable Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control systems for wired vehicle fleets struggle to prevent collisions between bendable connection elements, which are crucial for efficient energy and resource transfer between vehicles in agricultural settings, particularly when vehicles are moving and their connection heights vary.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a supply unit connected to two vehicles via bendable connection elements, with a control unit that adjusts the height of these elements and determines vehicle waylines to maintain a cascading arrangement, preventing collisions by ensuring one connection element's height is always lower than the other, and includes safety zones to anticipate and avoid potential collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vehicles are allowed to move freely in a wired vehicle fleet, then operational flexibility and productivity are improved, but the risk of collision between bendable connection elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the height of connection elements and recalculates waylines in real-time as vehicles move, allowing operational flexibility while maintaining collision avoidance through continuous adaptation of connection parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors vehicle positions and connection element states, using this feedback to dynamically adjust heights and waylines, ensuring collision-free operation while maintaining productive vehicle movement
2Device complexity
If the height of bendable connection elements is fixed, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to avoid collisions between connection elements is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs variable height connection elements that can be dynamically adjusted through telescopic masts and winches, enabling collision avoidance while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated control
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the height parameter of connection elements dynamically based on vehicle positions and predicted trajectories, enabling collision avoidance without requiring complex mechanical structures by using automated parameter adjustment
3Device complexity
If waylines are planned without considering connection element heights, then path planning is simplified, but collisions between connection elements cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically recalculates waylines based on current connection element heights and predicted vehicle positions, integrating height considerations into path planning through automated real-time computation rather than fixed pre-planned routes
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs preliminary recalculation of waylines before vehicle movements that could cause collisions, anticipating potential conflicts and adjusting paths in advance to prevent collisions between connection elements
Data Source
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AI summary
A wired vehicle fleet (2) having a first vehicle (4) connected with a supply unit (3a) by a first bendable connection element (6) and a second vehicle (5) connected with the supply unit (3a) by a second bendable connection element (7) is controlled by a control unit to avoid a collision between the first and the second bendable connection elements (6, 7).