FR3132233A1 - Method and device for controlling mobile air purification devices - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a control device for controlling at least one mobile air purification device (4). The method includes: detecting a pollution area (Z1); obtaining location data of at least one mobile air purifying device (4a); detection, from the first location data, of the presence of said at least one first mobile device (4a) outside the pollution zone (Z1); remote control of said at least one first mobile device (4a) so that it moves until it reaches the pollution zone (Z1); and remote activation of air purification means on board said at least one first mobile device (4) to purify the air in the pollution zone (Z1). The invention also relates to a mobile purification device (4) and a corresponding method. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Method and device for controlling mobile air purification devices

The invention concerns the preservation of the environment and concerns, in particular, air pollution control. The invention relates in particular to methods and control devices for controlling one or more mobile air purification devices, as well as such mobile devices and purification processes implemented by such mobile devices.

Technology background

There are already systems designed to improve air quality in certain environments, particularly urban areas. These systems can take various forms, in particular those of fixed installations (towers, road blocks, etc.) equipped with means ensuring the suction and filtration of the surrounding air to extract fine particles and/or gaseous pollutants before to discharge the purified air outside.

These fixed systems are intended to treat local pollution and are especially effective in areas of high pollution such as intersections where the concentration of pollutants in the ambient air is greatest, particularly due to the incessant stopping and starting of vehicles.

Furthermore, apart from the fact that these systems are fixed and/or that their range of action is limited, their cost is very significant and only fine particles are treated which is not sufficient because they exist in urban air. other polluting components that need to be eliminated.

Furthermore, it is known to equip motor vehicles with on-board devices allowing ambient air to be filtered before introducing it into the passenger compartment. Such devices like that described in patent application EP707989A1, include a fan which sucks in outside air and which injects it into a filtration system coupled with filtration means. This technique is limited to purifying the ambient air in vehicle cabins.

Some mobile solutions also exist to clean up ambient air, but these generally suffer from reduced mobility and are not always suitable for effectively combating air pollution.

Patent application US20200348033 describes mobile air filtration devices intended for the treatment of pollution in urban areas. These devices are associated with a software application and controlled by a control unit coupled to monitoring units. However, this technique is not always satisfactory, in particular because of the risk that an insufficient number of vehicles will be available to obtain the expected improvement in air quality.

Generally speaking, existing mobile solutions do not make it possible to effectively treat the air in a polluted area, whether in an urban environment or otherwise.

A need therefore exists for a solution to effectively improve the air quality of a polluted area, regardless of the configuration of the polluted area.

An object of the present invention is to purify (or filter) the air in a polluted area.

Another object of the present invention is to effectively combat air pollution, whatever the environment considered.

Another object of the present invention is to manage a fleet of mobile devices so as to effectively purify the air in a polluted area.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a control method implemented by a control device, comprising:
- temporal and/or spatial detection of a pollution zone not satisfying a first air quality condition;
- obtaining first location data from at least one mobile air purification device, called the first mobile device;
- detection, from the first location data, of the presence of said at least one first mobile device outside the pollution zone;
- remote control of said at least one first mobile device, from the first location data, so that said at least one first mobile device moves until reaching a target position in the pollution zone; And
- remote activation of air purification means embedded in said at least one first mobile device to purify the air from the pollution zone at the target position.

The control method makes it possible to reliably and efficiently control one or more mobile air purification devices so as to effectively purify the ambient air of a pollution zone, whatever the configuration of this pollution zone. . In particular, a selection can be made to define the mobile air purification device(s) which will intervene to carry out the air purification operation, which makes the process adaptable and effective whatever the pollution zone considered. . The most appropriate mobile air purification devices can be used, that is to say those which are best able to treat the pollution in question.

It is also possible to adapt the target position where the first mobile devices are positioned to make the air purification operation even more efficient depending on the case considered.

The effectiveness of the invention is based in particular on the mobility of the mobile air purification devices and therefore their ability to move under the remote control of the control device to reach the pollution zone, possibly at target positions specified by the control device, in order to carry out an air purification action in an organized and targeted manner.

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the method comprises obtaining pollution information defining in time and/or space an air quality of an area comprising the pollution zone, in which the detection of the pollution zone is created from the pollution information.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the method comprises:
- obtaining state data relating to a fleet, called a mobile fleet, of at least one mobile air purification device comprising said at least one first mobile device, the state data comprising location data, including the first location data, indicating a location of each mobile air purification device in the mobile fleet;
- evaluation, based on state data, of a respective capacity of each mobile air purification device of the mobile fleet to purify the air in the pollution zone; And
- selection, from a result of said evaluation, of said at least one first mobile device from the mobile fleet to purify the air in the pollution zone.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the evaluation includes:
- determination, from the location data of the mobile fleet, of a respective distance between said at least one mobile air purification device of the mobile fleet and the pollution zone;
wherein said at least one first mobile device is selected to purify the air in the pollution zone upon detection that said respective distance from said at least one first mobile device satisfies a second condition.
According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the state data comprises at least one of clogging data indicating a state of clogging of air purification means on-board in said at least one mobile purification device air of the mobile fleet and battery data indicating a battery charge state of said at least one mobile air purification device of the mobile fleet,
in which the first mobile device is selected to purify the air in the pollution zone upon detection that its state of fouling and/or its state of battery charge respectively satisfy a third and/or a fourth condition.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, said at least one first mobile device is able to perform a function other than air purification, the status data indicating whether said at least one first mobile device is in the process of being purified. execution of said function,
wherein said at least one first mobile device is selected to purify the air in the pollution zone upon detection that said at least first mobile device is not performing said function.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, said at least one first mobile device is capable of performing a function other than air purification,
the method comprising: upon detection that said function is being executed by said at least one first mobile device, remotely suspending the function so as to make said at least one first mobile device available to purify the air in the area of pollution.

According to a particular and non-limiting embodiment, the method further comprises:

- obtaining vehicle data relating to at least one stationary vehicle carrying air purification means;
- detection, from vehicle data, of the presence in the pollution zone of said at least one stationary vehicle capable of purifying the air in the pollution zone;
- determination by digital simulation of a required number of said first mobile devices to purify the air of the pollution zone in addition to said at least one stationary vehicle so as to achieve an air quality satisfying a fourth condition,
remote control and remote activation being carried out for the necessary number of first mobile devices of the mobile fleet.

According to a particular and non-limiting exemplary embodiment, during the determination by digital simulation, the respective target position of each first mobile device is determined as a function of a respective position of each stationary vehicle in the pollution zone.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an air purification method implemented by a mobile air purification device, the method comprising:
- sending, to a control device, initial location data indicating an initial position, outside a pollution zone, of the mobile air purification device;
- movement, from the initial position to a target position in the pollution zone, of the mobile air purification device controlled remotely by the control device; And
- activation, in response to an activation command coming from the control device, of air purification means embedded in said mobile air purification device to purify the air from the pollution zone at the target position.

According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the control method according to the first aspect of the invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at minus a processor.

According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a computer program which comprises instructions adapted for the execution of the steps of the purification process according to the second aspect of the invention, in particular when the computer program is executed by at minus a processor.

The computer programs mentioned in this document may use any programming language, and be in the form of source code, object code, or intermediate code between source code and code. object, such as in partially compiled form, or in any other desirable form.

According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which a computer program is recorded comprising instructions for executing the steps of the control method according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a computer-readable recording medium on which is recorded a computer program comprising instructions for executing the steps of the air purification method according to the first aspect of the invention.

On the one hand, the recording media mentioned in this document can be any entity or device capable of storing the program. For example, these media can each include a storage means, such as a ROM memory, a CD-ROM or a ROM memory of the microelectronic circuit type, or even a magnetic recording means or a hard disk.

On the other hand, these recording media can each also be a transmissible medium such as an electrical or optical signal, such a signal being able to be conveyed via an electric or optical cable, by conventional or terrestrial radio or by self-directed laser beam or by other means. The computer programs according to the invention can in particular be downloaded onto an Internet-type network.

Alternatively, the recording media may each be an integrated circuit in which the corresponding computer program is incorporated, the integrated circuit being adapted to execute or to be used in carrying out the method in question.

According to a seventh aspect, the invention relates to a control device comprising means configured to implement the control method according to the first aspect of the invention. In particular, the invention aims at a control device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the control method according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to an eighth aspect, the invention relates to a mobile air purification device comprising means configured to implement the purification process according to the second aspect of the invention. In particular, the invention relates to a mobile air purification device comprising a memory associated with a processor configured for implementing the steps of the air purification process according to the second aspect of the invention.

The different embodiments defined in this document in relation to the control process (respectively the air purification process) of the invention as well as the associated advantages apply in an analogous manner to the control device (respectively to the device mobile air purification) of the invention.

For each step of the control process (respectively the air filtration process) of the invention, the control device (respectively the mobile air purification device) of the invention may comprise corresponding means configured to carry out said stage.

Brief description of the figures

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description of the non-limiting embodiments of the invention below, with reference to the attached Figures 1 to 3, in which:

schematically illustrates an environment comprising a control device and mobile air purification devices, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a control device, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

schematically illustrates a mobile air purification device, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention;

illustrates in diagram form the different stages of a control method, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention; And

illustrates in diagram form the different stages of an air purification process, according to at least one particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

A method and a control device, as well as an air purification method and a mobile air purification device, will now be described in the following with reference jointly to Figures 1 to 5. Unless otherwise indicated , the elements common or similar to several figures bear the same reference signs and have identical or similar characteristics, so that these elements are generally not described again for the sake of simplicity.

The terms “first(s)” (or first(s)), “second(s)”, etc. are used in this document by arbitrary convention to help identify and distinguish different elements (such as devices, fleets, data, etc.) implemented in the embodiments described below.

The present invention proposes to improve the quality of the air in a polluted area using one or multiple mobile air purification devices (also called hereinafter “mobile devices”) each carrying air purification means. air (or air purification means). This or these mobile air purification devices can be controlled remotely by a control device to move to an appropriate target position in the polluted zone and the on-board air purification means of these mobile devices can be activated remotely by the control device so as to purify the air in the polluted area.

According to a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment of the invention, a control method is thus implemented by a control device, this method comprising: temporal and/or spatial detection of a pollution zone not satisfying a first air quality condition; obtaining first location data from at least one mobile air purification device, called the first mobile device; detection, from the first location data, of the presence of said at least one first mobile device outside the pollution zone; remote control of the first device, based on the first location data, so that said at least one first mobile device moves until it reaches a target position in the depollution zone; and remote activation of air purification means embedded in said at least one first mobile device to purify the air in the polluted zone at the target position.

Said at least one first mobile device within the meaning of the invention may be one or a plurality of mobile air purification devices, depending on the case considered. Each mobile air purification device used in the present invention can be any mobile vehicle (or machine), for example an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle, and in general any mobile vehicle carrying air purification means. air and being able to implement the control method of the invention, under the control of a control device of the invention. The mobile air purification devices within the meaning of the invention may in particular be land vehicles, such as rolling vehicles (automobile type or other), examples of embodiments of which will be described below.

The invention makes it possible to effectively combat pollution by purifying the air in a polluted area by means of one (or at least one) mobile air purification device, or even a fleet of such mobile purification devices. air, this or these mobile devices being controlled and activated remotely by a control device (or control center) so that the mobile device(s) reach the polluted zone and carry out an air purification action in said polluted area. It is thus possible to rely on one or more mobile air purification devices located outside the pollution zone to purify the air in the polluted zone. Remote management of a fleet of mobile air purification devices can in particular be adapted depending on the characteristics of the polluted area, in particular depending on the presence or absence of any other air purification resources in the area. area considered (for example stationary vehicles as described below), so as to further improve the air purification action and thus effectively combat air pollution.

There schematically illustrates an environment 1 in which at least one mobile air purification device 4 operates under the control of a control device 6 (or control system), according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. It is subsequently assumed that a plurality of mobile air purification devices 4 are used to purify the air of a polluted zone Z1. Note, however, that it is also possible to apply the invention using a single mobile air purification device to purify the air in the polluted zone Z1.

The configuration (nature, topology, etc.) of the polluted zone Z1 considered may vary depending on the case. It is assumed in this example that it is an urban environment, for example an area comprising one or more traffic lanes 8, although other types of environment are possible, the type of mobile water purification devices. air 4 used which can be adapted according to the Z1 pollution zone considered. The invention can thus be applied to polluted areas of various configurations.

We consider that an F1 fleet, called a mobile fleet, of mobile air purification devices 4 (also called “mobile air filtration devices”, or even “mobile devices” for simplicity) is deployed in a given geographical area which includes the Z1 pollution zone. The mobile air purification devices 4 are capable of purifying (or filtering, or purifying) air (air purification operation denoted 10) under the control of a control device 6 with which they cooperate. For this purpose, each mobile air purification device 4 carries air purification means (or air filtration means), these means being configured to purify (or filter) the surrounding air using any appropriate technique. . These on-board air purification means include, for example, a filter and a blower which are coupled together so as to purify the ambient air when said on-board means are activated.

According to a particular example, the air purification means on board the mobile devices 4 are configured to separate pollutants by filtration and/or by adsorption and/or by catalytic separation of the surrounding air, for example the air sucked in. by mobile devices 4.

Particular applications are possible in cases where a plurality of mobile air purification devices 4 are implemented. As already indicated, variants are however possible in which the F1 mobile fleet includes only one mobile air purification device 4.

The configuration (nature, shape, etc.) of mobile air purification devices 4 may vary depending on the case. We assume for example that the mobile devices 4 are here rolling vehicles (or machines), for example autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles, such as robots or others. We consider for example that these mobile air purification devices 4 are electrified vehicles, namely vehicles with an electric (or hybrid) motor, these mobile devices 4 being able to be of variable size depending in particular on the type of pollution zone Z1 considered and the strategy adopted to purify the air.

The mobile air purification devices 4 are configured to communicate, directly or indirectly, with the control device 6. To do this, the mobile devices 4 include for example means of communication (or connection) allowing them to be controlled (or controlled) remotely by the control device 6, and activated remotely by the control device 6 to purify the ambient air in the pollution zone Z1. These communications can for example be carried out by means of radio signals exchanged between the mobile devices 4 and the control device 6.

More particularly, the mobile air purification devices 4 are configured to be controlled remotely by the control device 6 so that said mobile devices 4 move until reaching a pollution zone Z1 previously detected by the control device 6 Thus, in response to this remote control, the mobile devices 4 move to position themselves at a respective target position in the pollution zone Z1. The target position can be specified by the control device 6 to each mobile device 4 respectively during remote control or, alternatively, the control device 6 commands the mobile devices 4 to move until reaching the pollution zone Z1 and it is the mobile devices 4 which then determine themselves (by configuration for example) their respective target position in the pollution zone Z1.

In addition, the air purification means on board the mobile devices 4 can be activated remotely by the control device 6 in order to trigger an air purification action in the pollution zone Z1 at the respective target position of each mobile device 4. This activation can be carried out for example by sending an activation command (in the form of a radio signal or other) from the control device 6 to each mobile air purification device 4 considered.

As described below, the control device 6 can be configured to select at least one mobile air purification device 4a, called the first mobile device, from the fleet F1 of mobile air purification devices 4 so that the or the selected mobile devices 4a move to the pollution zone Z1 and purify the air in the pollution zone Z1. Thus, it is possible not to use one or more other mobile air purification devices 4b among the mobile fleet F1 so that they can possibly continue a task in progress.

The control device 6 thus makes it possible to remotely manage the mobile fleet F1 so as to cause the movement of at least one mobile air purification device 4 in the pollution zone Z1 and the triggering of the on-board air purification means. air of said mobile device 4 so as to carry out an air purification operation 10 at a target position in the pollution zone Z1. For this purpose, the control device 6 can be a fixed station or possibly be embedded in one or more mobile air purification devices 4. According to a particular example, the control device 6 is distributed in a plurality of devices collectively forming the control device 6.

The mobile air purification devices 4 are for example capable of carrying out any primary function, other than the air purification function implemented by their on-board air purification means. Thus, the mobile devices 4 can be configured to perform a primary transport type function for example (to transport individuals and/or goods for example). The mobile devices 4 can possibly be requisitioned by the control device 6 upon detection that they are not carrying out their primary function, so as to limit the nuisance linked to the air purification operation 10 in the Z1 pollution zone and to optimize the use and cost of mobile devices 4 of the F1 mobile fleet.

By nature, the mobile air purification devices 4 can move, for example by driving in the traffic lanes 3 in the present case ( ).

However, the invention is not limited to traffic routes, the mobile air purification devices can move in various types of environment. Alternatively, the mobile air purification devices 4 can move on sidewalks, which allows them in particular to be complementary to stationary vehicles configured to also clean the air, such as vehicles parked on the side of the road. pavement. It is thus possible to ensure better decontamination efficiency at the preferred pedestrian crossing point. For example, the mobile air purification devices 4 can be small mobile devices authorized to travel on sidewalks or to be inserted between parked vehicles, but possibly which are not intended to park on the road.

Thus, the mobile air purification devices 4 can be stationary or moving when they are selected and requisitioned by the control device 4 to intervene in the pollution zone Z1. The mobile air purification devices 4a, selected from the mobile fleet F1, can thus be controlled remotely by the control device 6 to move from an initial position outside the pollution zone Z1 to a target position in the Z1 pollution zone. The control device 6 can also remotely activate the air purification means embedded in the selected mobile devices 4a in order to purify the surrounding air of the pollution zone Z1. The manner in which the mobile air purification device(s) 4a are selected, then controlled and activated remotely will be described below in particular examples, the number of mobile devices 4a thus selected may vary depending on the case.

According to a particular non-limiting example, at least one stationary vehicle 8 forming a fleet F2, called a stationary fleet, is also deployed in the pollution zone Z1 in addition to the mobile fleet F1. As shown by way of example in , we subsequently consider that this stationary fleet F2 comprises a plurality of stationary vehicles 8 although variants are possible in which only one stationary vehicle 8 is present and used in the pollution zone Z1. Note, however, that embodiments are possible in which the mobile fleet F1 is used to purify the air of the pollution zone Z1 without involving such a stationary fleet F2.

By nature, stationary vehicles 8 are static. It is assumed in this example that the stationary vehicles 8 are parked on the roadway of the traffic lanes 8 in the pollution zone Z1 ( ).

The stationary vehicles 8 also carry air purification means capable of being used to purify the air in the Z1 pollution zone. The stationary vehicles 8 may for example be electric motorized vehicles equipped with air purification means intended to separate pollutants by filtration and/or adsorption and/or catalysis of the outside air introduced into the passenger compartment. The stationary vehicles 8 can also be vehicles with rechargeable hybrid engines equipped with purification means capable of purifying the air in the passenger compartment as well as the outside air. These purification means can ensure the catalytic separation and/or adsorption and/or filtration of pollutants from the emissions of the heat engine at the level of the exhaust line (TWC system for the treatment of NOx, hydrocarbons and carbon oxides). carbon CO from gasoline engines; GPF system of particulate filters for gasoline engines; DOC system for treating hydrocarbons and CO from Diesel engines; SCR and/or “NOxTrap” system for trapping/treatment of NOx; system DPF of particle filters for Diesel engines; ASC system for the treatment of ammonia NH3 from Diesel engines, etc.).

Indeed, the latter, although generally fitted to combustion engines, can be adapted in a manner known in itself to adsorb pollutants at temperatures lower than those of the exhaust gases (temperatures lower than 100°C and preferably below 50°C).

According to a particular example, the control device 6 is configured to detect the presence of stationary vehicles 8 in the pollution zone Z1, for example from vehicle data obtained which relate to the stationary vehicles 8, and to determine by digital simulation a required number of mobile devices 4 to purify the air of the pollution zone Z1 in addition to the stationary vehicles 8 so as to achieve a given objective, namely an air quality satisfying a specific condition in the pollution zone Z1. The control device 6 can then remotely control the necessary number of mobile devices 4 and remotely activate their on-board air purification means as already described.
The control device 6 can also be configured to determine, during the digital simulation, the respective target position of each remotely controlled mobile device 4, as a function of a respective position of each first stationary vehicle 8 in the pollution zone Z1 .

The control device 6 ( ) is configured to implement a control process. This control process is now described in more detail according to non-limiting embodiments.

In a first operation, the control device 6 carries out temporal and/or spatial detection of a pollution zone Z1 which does not satisfy a first air quality condition. In other words, the control device 6 determines, in time and/or space, a pollution zone Z1 which must be purified according to the control process. This first air quality condition defines, for example, a threshold level of air quality below which the ambient air of an area is considered to be polluted.

For this purpose, the control device 6 obtains, for example, pollution information (or air quality information) defining in time and/or space an air quality of a zone comprising the pollution zone Z1 , and then detects the pollution zone Z1 from this pollution information. This pollution information can be obtained in any appropriate way (this information can be acquired by sensors embedded in the control device 6 or can be received from at least one other measuring device).

In a second operation, the control device 6 obtains first location data from at least one mobile air purification device 4. More precisely, we consider by way of example that these first location data here characterize the devices mobile air purification 4a ( ), also subsequently called “first” mobile devices 4a.

In a third operation, the control device 6 detects, from the first location data obtained, the presence of the first mobile devices 4a outside the pollution zone Z1. These first location data define, for example, geographic coordinates or any other information making it possible to estimate the position of the first mobile devices 4a. This detection operation may optionally include a selection of the first mobile devices 4a in question from the mobile fleet F1 as described below.

According to a particular example, the first location data obtained by the control device 6 relate more generally to the mobile air purification devices 4 of the mobile fleet F1, of which the first mobile devices 4a belong. The control device 6 then detects, among the mobile fleet F1, the presence of the first mobile devices 4a outside the pollution zone Z1.

According to a particular example, the control device 6 obtains state data relating to the mobile fleet F1, this state data comprising location data (including the aforementioned first location data), indicating a location of each device mobile air purification 4 from the F1 mobile fleet. The control device 6 then evaluates, from the state data, a respective capacity of each mobile air purification device 4 of the mobile fleet F1 to purify the air in the pollution zone Z1 (i.e. that is to say to carry out the air purification operation 10 as shown in ). The control device 6 then selects, from a result of this evaluation, said first mobile devices 4a from the mobile fleet F1 to purify the air in the pollution zone Z1. In this particular example, the mobile air purification devices 4b are not selected to depollute the air of the pollution zone Z1, for example due to the fact that these devices are not considered to have the capacity to participate effectively to the depollution operation (because of their position too far away for example) or because a sufficient number of first mobile devices 4a has already been selected to carry out the air purification operation 10.

According to a particular example, during the aforementioned evaluation, the control device 6 determines, from the location data of the mobile fleet F1, a respective distance between each mobile air purification device 4 of the mobile fleet F1 on the one hand, and the Z1 pollution zone on the other hand. The control device 6 then selects each mobile air purification device 4 (or at least part of them), as a first mobile device 4a to purify the air in the pollution zone Z1, upon detection that said mobile air purification device considered is located at a respective distance from the pollution zone Z1 which satisfies a second condition (for example if this respective distance is less than a limit distance). Thus, only the mobile air purification devices 4 which are sufficiently close to the pollution zone Z1 to carry out the air purification operation 10 are selected, which makes it possible to improve the efficiency of the depollution process.

According to a particular example, the aforementioned state data comprises at least one of the clogging data indicating a state of clogging of air purification means on-board in the mobile air purification devices 4 of the fleet mobile F1 and battery data indicating a battery charge state of the mobile air purification devices 4 of the mobile fleet F1. For this purpose, the mobile air purification devices 4 can be configured to transmit fouling data and/or battery data to the control device 6. The mobile air purification devices 4 include, for example, sensors for measuring the clogging of on-board air purification means and/or measuring the charge of an on-board battery. The control device 6 then selects each mobile air purification device 4 (or at least part of them), as a first mobile device 4a to purify the air in the pollution zone Z1, upon detection that the state of fouling and/or the state of battery charge of said mobile air purification device considered respectively satisfy a second and/or a third condition. A mobile air purification device 4 is for example selected if its state of contamination is lower than a limit level of contamination and/or if its state of battery charge is greater than a limit charge level. Thus, only the mobile air purification devices 4 which are most capable of carrying out the air purification operation 10 are selected to intervene in the pollution zone Z1, which makes it possible to improve efficiency. of the depollution process and management of the F1 mobile fleet.

According to a particular example, the mobile air purification devices 4 of the mobile fleet F1 (including the first mobile devices 4a) are capable of performing a function, called primary function, other than air purification. The aforementioned status data which is used by select the first mobile devices 4a can further indicate whether the mobile air purification devices 4 of the mobile fleet F1 are currently performing this primary function. This primary function may possibly vary depending on the mobile device considered. The control device 6 can then select each mobile air purification device 4 (or at least part of them), as a first mobile device 4a to purify the air in the pollution zone Z1, upon detection that said mobile air purification device considered is not executing the primary function. Thus, only the mobile air purification devices 4 which are available to carry out the air purification operation 10 are selected, which makes it possible to improve the efficiency of the depollution process and the management of the mobile fleet F1 . In particular, the control device 6 can advantageously requisition mobile air purification devices 4 which are not already occupied with another task deemed to have more priority in relation to the air purification operation 10, which makes it possible to optimize their use. The ability of mobile air purification devices 4 to be multifunctional gives them an additional advantage from the point of view in particular of their cost and their versatility. The mobile air purification devices 4 can for example be configured to perform a primary transport (or other) function.

According to a particular example, the air purification operation 10 that we wish to carry out is considered to have priority in relation to the aforementioned primary function. Thus, upon detection that the primary function is being executed by one (or more) first mobile devices 4a, the control device 6 remotely suspends the primary function at said (or more) first mobile device 4a so as to make this (or these) latter available to purify the air in pollution zone Z1. To do this, the control device 6 sends for example to each first mobile device 4a concerned a suspension command, in response to which the first recipient mobile devices 4a suspend their primary function. This remote suspension of the primary function by the control device 6 can possibly be carried out during the remote control operation which follows.

In a fourth operation, the control device 6 remotely controls the first mobile devices 4a previously detected (or selected, if a selection is made as previously described) so that these first mobile devices 4a move until reaching a target position in the Z1 pollution zone. This remote control can be carried out by geolocation, that is to say from location data relating to the first mobile devices 4a considered, this location data being able to be obtained or received by the control device 6 in any way appropriate (these location data are for example transmitted by the first mobile devices 4a during their remotely controlled movement). For this purpose, the control device 6 sends for example one or more control commands to the first mobile devices 4a to cause the desired movement(s) until reaching the pollution zone Z1.

The control device 6 can assign a respective target position for each first mobile device 4a according to various parameters, and remotely control the first mobile devices 4a so that they reach the respective target position assigned to them. Alternatively, the control device 6 remotely controls the first mobile devices 4a in order to ensure that they enter the pollution zone Z1, without however imposing a particular target position in the zone Z1.

In a fifth operation, the control device 6 remotely activates the purification means embedded in the first mobile devices 4a to purify the air in the pollution zone Z1 at the target positions reached.

Such a control process makes it possible to reliably and efficiently control one or more mobile air purification devices so as to effectively purify the ambient air of the pollution zone Z1, whatever the configuration of this zone Z1. In particular, a selection can be made to define the mobile air purification device(s) which will intervene to carry out the air purification operation, which makes the process adaptable and effective whatever the pollution zone Z1. considered. Thanks to this process, we can use the most appropriate mobile air purification devices, that is to say those which are best able to treat the pollution in question. In addition, remote control makes it possible to adapt the route of each mobile air purification device so as to optimize their movements and limit the dangers during travel, in particular the dangers for the population in urban environments or even the dangers collision protection for mobile air purification devices in difficult-to-access environments.

It is also possible to adapt the target position where the first mobile devices 4a are positioned to make the air purification operation 10 even more efficient depending on the case considered.

The effectiveness of the control process relies in particular on the mobility of the mobile air purification devices and therefore their ability to move under the remote control of the control device to reach the polluted area, possibly at target positions specified by the control device itself, in order to carry out an air purification action in an organized and targeted manner.

Thus, according to a particular example, during the control process the control device 6 obtains vehicle data relating to at least one stationary vehicle 8 carrying air purification means, and detects from these vehicle data the presence in the pollution zone Z1 of said at least one stationary vehicle 8 capable of purifying the air of the pollution zone Z1. It is assumed in this example that the vehicle data relates to a plurality of stationary vehicles 8 located in the pollution zone Z1 and that the control device 6 therefore determines from the vehicle data the presence of the stationary vehicles 8 in question in the pollution zone Z1. Please note, however, that variants are possible in which the vehicle data relate to a fleet F2, called a stationary fleet, of stationary vehicles, at least one of which is located outside the Z1 pollution zone. In this case, the control device 6 can detect, from the vehicle data, the presence of at least one stationary vehicle 8 in the pollution zone Z1 among the stationary fleet.

Still according to the example above, the control device 6 can further determine by digital simulation a required number of first mobile devices 4a to purify the air of the pollution zone Z1 in addition to the stationary vehicles 8 detected in the zone of pollution Z1, so as for example to achieve during the air purification action 10 an air quality satisfying a fourth condition. This fourth condition defines, for example, a limit level of air quality that the air in pollution zone Z1 must reach (possibly within a specific time). In particular, the control device 6 can remotely activate the stationary vehicles 8 detected in the pollution zone Z1 in order to purify the ambient air. In addition, remote control and remote activation as previously described are carried out for the required number (determined by simulation) of first mobile devices 4a of the mobile fleet F1. In other words, the control device 6 carries out remote control and remote activation during the fourth and fifth operations previously described, so that the required number of first mobile devices 4a moves and activates its on-board data purification means. air to purify the air in pollution zone Z1. The control device 6 can thus adapt the number of mobile air purification devices that it deploys in the pollution zone Z1 in order to improve the efficiency of the air purification operation 10 depending on the configuration of the area, resources already present on the site, etc.

According to a particular example, during the determination by digital simulation described above, the respective target position of each first mobile device 4a is further determined by the control device 6 as a function of a respective position of each stationary vehicle 8 in the Z1 pollution zone. The respective position of the stationary vehicles 8 is for example determined from the aforementioned vehicle data. The control device 6 can thus adapt the position of the mobile air purification devices 4a which it deploys in the pollution zone Z1 in order to further improve the effectiveness of the air purification operation 10. depending on the configuration of the area, the layout of resources already present on the site, etc.

To carry out a digital simulation as indicated in the examples above, the control device 6 can for example establish a model (for example an optimal air purification function) by digital simulation (for example by aerodynamic simulation of the Fluent or other), from the number and possibly also the respective position of the stationary vehicles 8 present in the pollution zone Z1. This model then defines the number of first mobile devices 4a required, and possibly their respective target position, to maximize the air purification process in the pollution zone Z1, with a view, for example, to achieving satisfactory air quality. the fourth condition mentioned above. We can thus maximize the filtration efficiency from the F1 mobile fleet in addition to the stationary vehicle(s) 8 present on site.

Furthermore, the mobile air purification devices 4 previously described ( ) are configured to implement an air purification process in cooperation with the control device 6. In particular, each aforementioned first mobile device 4a cooperates with the control device 6 to carry out a movement from outside the zone of pollution Z1 in said pollution zone Z1, and to purify the ambient air at a target position in the pollution zone Z1.

We now consider the implementation of an air purification process implemented by a first mobile device 4a among the mobile fleet F1, in cooperation with the control device 6, according to a particular non-limiting example. The same purification process can be implemented by each first mobile device 4a.

More particularly, the first mobile device 4a sends, to the control device 6, initial location data indicating an initial position, outside the pollution zone Z1, in which it is located. The first mobile device 4a, controlled remotely by the control device 6, then moves from the initial position to a target position in the pollution zone Z1. The first mobile device 4a further activates, in response to an activation command coming from the control device 6, its on-board air purification means to purify the air of the pollution zone Z1 at the target position.

Remote control may include at least one control command received by the first mobile device 4a from the control device 6, this command causing movement towards the target position.

According to a particular example, the first mobile device 4a sends, to the control device 6, second location data indicating a position of the first mobile device 4a while the latter carries out the movement, to allow monitoring and control, by the control device 6, the movement of the first mobile device 4a from its initial position to the target position in the pollution zone Z1. Second location data can thus be transmitted periodically to the control device 6.
According to a particular example, the first mobile device 4a evaluates the air quality of the pollution zone Z1 while the air purification operation 10 is in progress. This evaluation is for example carried out by means of at least one measurement sensor embedded in the first mobile device 4a (for example by measuring local pollution reduction effectiveness (air diagnosis)). The first mobile device 4a can thus analyze the results of the evaluation. Upon detection that the air quality of the pollution zone Z1 reaches a fourth condition, the first mobile device 4a stops (or deactivates) its on-board air purification means.

As already described, this fourth condition defines, for example, a limit level of air quality that the air in pollution zone Z1 must reach.

The air purification process thus allows one or more mobile air purification devices located outside a pollution zone Z1 to move to intervene effectively in the zone in order to purify the ambient air.

There schematically illustrates a control device 6 configured to control one or more first mobile devices 4a as described above, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The control device 6 can for example take the form of a calculator.

The control device 6 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations previously described with regard to the and/or steps of the control process described below with regard to the . Examples of such a control device 6 include, but are not limited to, a server or laptop. The elements of the control device 6, individually or in combination, can be integrated into a single integrated circuit, into several integrated circuits, and/or into discrete components. The control device 6 can be produced in the form of electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The control device 6 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 20 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the control method (or process) and/or for executing the instructions of the software(s) embedded in the control device 6. The processor 20 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The control device 6 further comprises at least one memory 22 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory, such as EEPROM , ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on the memory 22. The memory 22 can thus constitute an information medium according to a particular embodiment in that it comprises a computer program PG1 comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method (or process) for controlling the invention.

According to a particular example, the control device 6 comprises a communication interface 24 for communicating with the mobile air purification devices 4, and more particularly with the first mobile devices 4a as previously described. The communication interface 24 may include for example an RF radio frequency interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the Bluetooth® type ( according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the frequency band 868 MHz, LTE (from the English “Long-Term Evolution” or in French “Evolution à long term”), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced).

There schematically illustrates a mobile air purification device 4 configured to purify air in a pollution zone Z1 as described previously, according to a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The mobile air purification device 4 can for example take the form of a rolling robot or an autonomous or semi-autonomous rolling vehicle.

The mobile air purification device 4 is for example configured for the implementation of the operations previously described with regard to the and/or steps of the air purification process described below with regard to the . Examples of such a mobile air purification device 4 include, but are not limited to, a rolling vehicle equipped with a computer. The mobile air purification device 4 may in particular comprise one or more integrated circuits. The mobile air purification device 4 may comprise electronic circuits or software (or computer) modules or even a combination of electronic circuits and software modules.

The mobile air purification device 4 comprises one (or more) processor(s) 40 configured to execute instructions for carrying out the steps of the air purification method (or process) and/or for executing the instructions from the software(s) embedded in the mobile air purification device 4. The processor 40 may include integrated memory, an input/output interface, and various circuits known to those skilled in the art. The mobile air purification device 4 further comprises at least one memory 42 corresponding for example to a volatile and/or non-volatile memory and/or comprises a memory storage device which may comprise volatile and/or non-volatile memory , such as EEPROM, ROM, PROM, RAM, DRAM, SRAM, flash, magnetic or optical disk.

The computer code of the embedded software(s) comprising the instructions to be loaded and executed by the processor is for example stored on the memory 42. The memory 42 can thus constitute an information medium according to a particular embodiment in that it comprises a PG2 computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the air purification method (or process) of the invention.

According to a particular example, the mobile air purification device 4 comprises a communication interface 44 for communicating with the control device 6 as previously described. The communication interface 44 may include for example an RF radio frequency interface, for example of the Wi-Fi® type (according to IEEE 802.11), for example in the 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, or of the Bluetooth® type ( according to IEEE 802.15.1), in the 2.4 GHz frequency band, or Sigfox type using UBN (Ultra Narrow Band) radio technology, or LoRa in the frequency band 868 MHz, LTE (from the English “Long-Term Evolution” or in French “Evolution à long term”), LTE-Advanced (or in French LTE-advanced).

According to a particular example, the mobile air purification device 4 comprises on-board air purification means 46 configured to purify (or filter, or purify) the ambient air, for example by means of a blower coupled to a air filter. The mobile air purification device 4 may optionally also include means for measuring the state of fouling of the onboard air purification means 46 to monitor the state of fouling as previously described.

According to a particular example, the mobile air purification device 4 comprises a battery 48 to deliver the energy necessary to carry out the required movements and to operate the on-board air purification means 46, and may optionally also include means of monitoring the state of charge of the battery 48 as previously described.

According to a particular example, the mobile air purification device 4 also comprises an air quality sensor 50 for measuring air quality, for example in order to monitor the air quality in the pollution zone Z1 while the air purification operation 10 is in progress.

There illustrates a diagram of the different stages of a control process implemented by a control device 6 (as for example described above).

During a first step 60, a pollution zone Z1 not satisfying a first air quality condition is detected temporally and/or spatially.

During a second step 62, first location data for at least one mobile air purification device, called the first mobile device, are obtained.

During a third step 64, the presence of said at least one first mobile device 4a (one or a plurality of these devices) is detected outside the pollution zone Z1, from the first location data obtained. This detection step may include in particular a selection from a mobile fleet of mobile air purification devices, as already described.

During a fourth step 66, said at least one first mobile device 4a is controlled remotely, from the first location data, so that said at least one first mobile device 4a moves until reaching a target position in the Z1 pollution zone.

During a fifth step 68, air purification means embedded in said at least one first mobile device 4a are activated remotely to purify the air of the pollution zone Z1 at the target position.
There illustrates a diagram of the different stages of an air purification process implemented by a mobile air purification device 4a, subsequently called first mobile device (as for example described above).

During a first step 80, initial location data from the first mobile device 4a are sent to a control device 6. These initial location data indicate an initial position, outside a pollution zone Z1, of the first mobile device 4a.

During a second step 82, the first mobile device 4a, controlled remotely by the control device 6, moves from its initial position to a target position in the pollution zone Z1.

During a third step 84, air purification means on board the first mobile device 4a are activated, in response to an activation command coming from the control device 6, to purify the air in the processing zone. pollution Z1 at the target position.

According to alternative embodiments, the variants and examples of the operations described above in relation to Figures 1-3 apply respectively to the stages of the control process and to the stages of the air purification process represented in Figures 4 and 5 .

A person skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments and variants described above constitute only non-limiting examples of implementation of the invention. In particular, those skilled in the art may consider any adaptation or combination of the embodiments and variants described above, in order to meet a very specific need.

The present invention is therefore not limited to the embodiments described above but extends in particular to a control process (and a purification process respectively) which would include secondary steps without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. . The same would apply to devices configured for the implementation of such processes.

Claims (10)

Control method implemented by a control device (6), comprising:
- temporal and/or spatial detection (60) of a pollution zone (Z1) not satisfying a first air quality condition;
- obtaining (62) first location data from at least one mobile air purification device (4a), called the first mobile device;
- detection (64), from the first location data, of the presence of said at least one first mobile device (4a) outside the pollution zone (Z1);
- remote control (66) of said at least one first mobile device (4a), from the first location data, so that said at least one first mobile device moves until reaching a target position in the pollution zone ( Z1); And
- remote activation (68) of air purification means embedded in said at least one first mobile device (4a) to purify the air from the pollution zone at the target position.
Method according to claim 1, comprising:
- obtaining state data relating to a fleet (F1), called a mobile fleet, of at least one mobile air purification device (4) comprising said at least one first mobile device (4a), the data of state including location data, including the first location data, indicating a location of each mobile air purification device (4) of the mobile fleet;
- evaluation, from state data, of a respective capacity of each mobile air purification device (4) of the mobile fleet to purify the air in the pollution zone; And
- selection, from a result of said evaluation, of said at least one first mobile device (4a) from the mobile fleet (F1) to purify the air in the pollution zone. Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which the evaluation comprises:
- determination, from the location data of the mobile fleet (F1), of a respective distance between said at least one mobile air purification device (4) of the mobile fleet and the pollution zone (Z1);
wherein said at least one first mobile device (4a) is selected to purify the air in the pollution zone (Z1) upon detection that said respective distance from said at least one first mobile device satisfies a second condition.
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one first mobile device (4a) is capable of performing a function other than air purification, the status data indicating whether said at least one first device mobile (4a) is currently executing said function,
wherein said at least one first mobile device (4a) is selected to purify the air in the pollution zone (Z1) upon detection that said at least first mobile device is not executing said function. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which said at least one first mobile device (4a) is capable of performing a function other than air purification, the method comprising:
upon detection that said function is being executed by said at least one first mobile device (4a), remote suspension of the function so as to make said at least one first mobile device available to purify the air in the zone of pollution (Z1). Method according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising:
- obtaining vehicle data relating to at least one stationary vehicle (8) carrying air purification means;
- detection, from vehicle data, of the presence in the pollution zone (Z1) of said at least one stationary vehicle (8) capable of purifying the air in the pollution zone;
- determination by digital simulation of a required number of said first mobile devices (4a) to purify the air of the pollution zone (Z1) in addition to said at least one stationary vehicle (8) so as to achieve a quality of air 'air satisfying a fourth condition,
the remote control and remote activation being carried out for the required number of first mobile devices of the mobile fleet. Method according to claim 6, in which during the determination by digital simulation, the respective target position of each first mobile device (4a) is determined as a function of a respective position of each stationary vehicle (8) in the pollution zone. Air purification method implemented by a mobile air purification device (4a), comprising:
- sending, to a control device (6), initial location data indicating an initial position, outside a pollution zone, of the mobile air purification device;
- movement, from the initial position to a target position in the pollution zone, of the mobile air purification device (4a) controlled remotely by the control device (6); And
- activation, in response to an activation command coming from the control device, of air purification means on board said mobile air purification device (4a) to purify the air in the pollution zone at the position target. Control device (6) comprising a memory (22) associated with at least one processor (20) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Mobile air purification device (4a) comprising a memory (42) associated with at least one processor (40) configured for implementing the steps of the method according to claim 8.