Worksite Vehicle Speed Control for Fuel and Queue Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Construction vehicles often experience waiting times at loading and unloading positions, leading to inefficient machine utilization at construction sites, as they arrive sequentially rather than simultaneously to minimize idle time at resources like crushers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine a target vehicle speed for a first vehicle based on the expected arrival times of preceding and succeeding vehicles, adjusting speed to minimize fuel consumption and ensure timely arrival without causing subsequent vehicles to wait, using a threshold speed and direct vehicle communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vehicles arrive at loading and unloading positions sequentially, then the resource handling process is simple, but machine utilization is low and waiting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by calculating expected arrival times for multiple vehicles in advance and communicating these times to each other before the vehicles reach the target location. This allows vehicles to adjust their speeds proactively to arrive simultaneously, eliminating waiting time and improving machine utilization without requiring complex real-time coordination at the loading/unloading positions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If vehicle speed is reduced to minimize fuel consumption, then fuel efficiency improves, but arrival time may be delayed and subsequent vehicles may have to wait
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts vehicle speed based on real-time calculations of expected arrival times and fuel consumption estimates. Instead of using a fixed speed reduction, the system determines an optimal target speed that balances fuel efficiency with maintaining scheduled arrival times, ensuring that speed adjustments do not cause subsequent vehicles to wait while still reducing overall fuel consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the speed parameter dynamically by calculating a target vehicle speed that optimizes fuel consumption while maintaining acceptable arrival timing. The system estimates fuel consumption at different speed levels and selects the optimal speed parameter that achieves the best trade-off between energy efficiency and time constraints, communicated to the vehicle through the control system.
3Productivity
If vehicles arrive at the same time to minimize idle time at crushers, then resource utilization improves, but coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a communication system as an intermediary that facilitates coordination between vehicles. Each vehicle is equipped with a communication device that receives target arrival time information from other vehicles, enabling automatic speed adjustment without requiring complex centralized control or direct vehicle-to-vehicle negotiation. This intermediary communication layer simplifies the coordination complexity while achieving simultaneous arrival and improved resource utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a system and a method for determining a target vehicle speed for a vehicle moving between a starting location and a target location at a worksite. The method comprising: determining a first expected time-of arrival at the target location for a first vehicle; determining a second expected time-of arrival at the target location for a second vehicle, wherein the second expected time-of arrival is later than the first expected time-of arrival; determining a first time difference as the difference between the first expected time-of-arrival and the second expected time-of-arrival; estimating a fuel consumption for the first vehicle for reaching the target location at a current vehicle speed; estimating if the fuel consumption of the first vehicle for reaching the target location can be reduced by reducing the vehicle speed; and if the fuel consumption can be reduced, reducing the speed of the first vehicle to a target vehicle speed, wherein the target vehicle speed is higher than a threshold speed determined based on the first time difference.