KR101328056B1 - Method for platooning of electric car - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a proximity driving method of an electric vehicle in which a plurality of electric vehicles are physically connected to each other by a connecting member, and the plurality of electric vehicles communicate with each other or signals using the connecting member while driving in close proximity. Characterized in that you can give and receive. In the present invention, since the vehicles are driving in close proximity to each other in a physically connected state, the highway can be efficiently used so that the highway can accommodate a larger number of vehicles, and a plurality of cars driving on the road are in close proximity. Each vehicle is subject to less air resistance while driving, thus reducing energy consumption.

Electric Vehicles, Close Driving Vehicles, Connecting Members

Description

Near-Method Driving Method of Electric Vehicle {METHOD FOR PLATOONING OF ELECTRIC CAR}

The present invention relates to a method of driving a plurality of cars running on a road in close proximity, and more particularly, to a method of driving a road by connecting a plurality of vehicles in close proximity to each other, and driving in close proximity to each other The vehicles may be separated as needed and may be newly combined.

When vehicles drive on highways, two major inefficiencies arise. One is the problem of energy efficiency of each car driving on the highway. Each car must have 100% of the energy it needs to drive. In other words, the vehicle must secure and operate the necessary fuel in consideration of the driving distance before driving. However, if the car is not loaded with the exact amount of fuel required for its mileage, but with additional fuel not necessarily required for driving, this causes a problem of inefficiency. In addition, each vehicle operates with a space for transporting cargo, a space for accommodating passengers, and other facilities inside the vehicle. Therefore, the energy for moving such a facility should also be secured by the automobile itself. In addition, the energy required to move the vehicle requires not only the energy required to accelerate or brake the total weight of the vehicle, but also to overcome the aerodynamic resistance and move forward to move the volume of the vehicle in the air. It also requires energy.

Another problem of inefficiency is in terms of highway use. Persons driving on highways by vehicles must maintain a safe distance from other vehicles in case of emergency. Therefore, the vehicle occupies substantially no space on the highway, and most of the space remains as an empty space for securing a safety distance between the vehicle and the vehicle. This lowers the vehicle's transport capacity on the highway and also causes the vehicle to use unnecessary brakes, resulting in energy loss.

The number of vehicles that a lane can accommodate on highways is currently about 2,000 vehicles per hour, which has not changed much over the past two decades, despite advances in highway design and automotive technology. This is because controlling cars is fundamentally dependent on human factors such as human response time. Therefore, there was a need for a means to eliminate this inefficiency and energy waste, either on the individual car side or on the highways as a whole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method for efficiently using a highway, and to provide a method for saving energy consumed for driving a plurality of cars driving on a road. For the purpose of

The present invention includes a plurality of electric vehicles and at least one connection member for connecting the electric vehicles to each other, and the electric vehicle provides a method of driving a proximity of an electric vehicle that is physically connected to each other by the connection member.

By the above configuration, by driving in close proximity with a plurality of vehicles connected to each other, the distance between the vehicles is shortened so that not only the highway can be efficiently used but also the energy consumed to overcome the air resistance by the vehicle moving in the air is reduced. do.

The electric vehicles are connected in a line, but the rear bumper of the preceding electric vehicle and the front bumper of the following electric vehicle may be connected by the connecting member, and the front and rear electric vehicles connected by the connecting member may have a distance of 0.5 m or less. Can be.

The connection member may have sufficient damping force to have rigidity to prevent the electric vehicles connected to each other from colliding, and also have a rigidity enough to lead the following vehicle to the preceding vehicle.

The connection member may transfer information between the electric vehicles traveling in close proximity or electric power between the electric vehicles traveling in close proximity.

In addition, the electric vehicles running in close proximity may be separated or coupled to each other using the connection member while driving, or may be coupled to or separated from each other while the electric vehicles are stopped. In addition, the preceding vehicle or the following vehicle may be automatically controlled by a computer during the combination or separation of the electric vehicle. That is, the electric vehicle is controlled by a computer and can be combined or separated.

In addition, the connection member may provide a communication means for the passengers in close proximity to the electric vehicle to communicate with each other.

And, in the electric vehicle running in close proximity, information about the steering wheel, the acceleration pedal and the brake of the leading vehicle can be transmitted to the trailing vehicle through the connecting member, the leading vehicle can control the blinking or brake of the trailing vehicles, etc. have.

The present invention also provides a proximity driving method in which a plurality of electric vehicles are in close proximity to each other by physically connected to each other by a connection member, comprising: an application step of applying for joining the proximity driving vehicle by using wireless communication; An approval step of approving joining in the proximity driving vehicle; And a joining execution step of joining the proximity driving vehicle. In the joining execution step, the connection member is physically connected to the proximity driving vehicle.

In addition, the present invention comprises a first step of inviting a near driving by revealing the movement route and the destination of the first electric vehicle using a wireless communication means; A second step in which the second electric vehicle applies for close driving to the first electric vehicle; And a third step in which the first and second electric vehicles are physically connected by using the connection member.

The first and second electric vehicles connected to each other in the third step provides a proximity driving method of an electric vehicle, characterized in that to exchange power and information using the connection member. The connection of the first and second electric vehicles in the third step may be performed while driving.

In addition, the present invention is a plurality of electric vehicles; And a connection member for physically connecting the plurality of electric vehicles to each other.

The plurality of electric vehicles are connected in a line, and the rear bumper of the preceding electric vehicle and the front bumper of the following electric vehicle are connected by the connecting member.

The connection member may have sufficient damping force to prevent the electric vehicles connected to each other from colliding with each other, and the connection member may transfer information between the electric vehicles that are in close proximity to each other. Electric power may be transferred between the driving electric vehicles.

In addition, the connection member may allow the electric vehicles running in close proximity to each other or coupled to each other while driving, and may provide a communication means for passengers in the electric vehicles running in close proximity to communicate with each other.

In addition, information about the steering wheel, the acceleration pedal, and the brake of the head vehicle in the near driving electric vehicle may be transmitted to the trailing vehicle through the connecting member. You can also control flashing or brake lights.

According to the present invention, since the vehicles are driving in close proximity while being physically connected to each other, the highway can be efficiently used so that the highway can accommodate a larger number of vehicles. In addition, since a plurality of cars traveling on the road travel in close proximity, the following vehicle receives less air resistance due to the front vehicle, thereby reducing energy consumption.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

Vehicles driving on highways should have sufficient safety distances between vehicles in consideration of accidents that occur unexpectedly. Considering the human response time in case of a sudden accident, on average, a distance of 35 meters between vehicles should be ensured. Theoretically, if the distance between these vehicles can be reduced, the vehicle capacity of the highway can increase by 400%, or 8,000 vehicles per hour.

In addition, by increasing the capacity of the highway by reducing the distance between the vehicles, it is possible to increase energy efficiency by reducing aerodynamic resistance. Moving vehicles generally require force in two ways, aerodynamically. One is the force required to push the air in front of the vehicle and move forward. The other is the low pressure space (hereinafter referred to as the “low pressure zone”) behind the vehicle as the vehicle moves. Since the space in the area exerts a force in the opposite direction to the movement of the vehicle, it is the force necessary to overcome this and move the vehicle forward.

If two vehicles are running side by side, the trailing vehicle runs close to the rear of the preceding vehicle, that is, if the trailing vehicle runs in a low pressure area that occurs behind the preceding vehicle, the trailing vehicle is located in front of the vehicle. Energy will be saved because the force required to push the air is reduced. When several vehicles are traveling, the distance between the vehicle and the vehicle is very narrow, and driving in close proximity can save energy. The driving between the vehicle and the vehicle with a very narrow distance is hereinafter referred to as 'near driving', Vehicles moving while driving in close proximity are called 'neighboring vehicles'.

Experiments on close driving showed that about four vehicles saved about 35% of fuel as a result of driving on a highway at a distance of 0.5m, while driving at a distance of about 3m between cars to save about 35% of fuel. 10% savings. In general, the higher the speed of vehicles driving near, the closer the distance between vehicles, and the greater the number of vehicles participating in the proximity, the greater the energy saved by driving. In terms of individual vehicles participating in close proximity, the vehicle in the middle has the best results in terms of fuel savings, rather than the first or the next.

As such, the present invention is to increase the energy efficiency of the electric vehicle running on the highway. In addition, by reducing the space between the vehicles running on the highway to improve the capacity of the vehicle of the highway, and to drive a number of vehicles in close proximity to each other to reduce the driving effort of the driver behind the vehicle rather than the leading vehicle.

The energy efficiency improvement of the present invention is attributable to the following four aspects.

1. In long-distance operation, the vehicles are physically connected to each other to form a near-driving vehicle. As described above, energy is saved due to efficiency on the highway use and fuel reduction due to the reduced air resistance of the vehicle.

2. By linking driving operation and energy storage system of vehicles participating in close driving, all vehicles have the same energy saving efficiency regardless of vehicle position, and long-distance travel even if vehicles do not have fuel storage device individually It is possible to recover energy by accumulating energy by using energy consumed at the time of brake braking or the suspension device.

3. The components required for the vehicle are modularized, and the vehicle can be connected or disconnected as needed, so that the vehicle in operation can be configured to the size required for the intended travel destination, thereby carrying the energy consumed by carrying unnecessary vehicle components. Can be saved. For example, each vehicle can additionally connect or separate a passenger accommodation space or a cargo accommodation space so that the size of the vehicle can be adjusted by connecting only necessary modules according to the number of passengers on board or the capacity of the cargo to be carried.

4. In addition, if additional energy storage device is needed in consideration of the total distance that the vehicle must travel or the distance between the energy charging station and the charging station existing in the travel route, connect the additional energy storage device and disconnect it if unnecessary. Because of this, it is possible to operate with only the battery of the optimized size necessary for driving the vehicle.

Hereinafter, a method of driving a proximity of an electric vehicle in which a plurality of electric vehicles are connected to each other according to the present invention will be described.

It is provided with a physical connecting member that connects each other so that the vehicles can run in close proximity such that the distance between the rear bumper of the vehicle running in front and the front bumper of the vehicle running behind is preferably 0.5 meters or less.

The connection member may transmit force and load between the connected vehicles.

The connecting member may resist or have a damping force to prevent the connected vehicles from approaching and colliding with each other.

The connection member may transfer power between vehicles that are in close proximity and may also transmit information between vehicles that are in close proximity.

The connecting member allows another electric vehicle to automatically join or leave the vehicle while the vehicle is running without stopping.

The connecting member allows people in the vehicles participating in the proximity driving to exchange information or communicate with each other.

The connection member may transmit a control signal necessary for controlling the vehicle and may transmit a signal indicating the state of the vehicle.

The driver of the leading vehicle among the vehicles driving in close proximity may operate the vehicle manually or by using an automatic driving control method using an automatic driving apparatus, and the following vehicles follow the leading vehicle. In this case, the steering wheel, the acceleration pedal, the brake, and the like of the following vehicle may be controlled by the driver of the first vehicle.

Each vehicle participating in the proximity driving contributes a proportional amount of energy required for the entire driving vehicles to move.

The brakes or suspension of the vehicles running in close proximity may be provided with means for energy recovery, and the recovered energy is divided evenly among the vehicles participating in the close driving to be charged in the energy charging unit.

Vehicles driving in close proximity may communicate with vehicles that do not join the proximity driving using wireless communication, but are trying to join the proximity driving, thereby determining whether to join the proximity driving.

The vehicle joined to the near driving and the vehicle not joining the close driving may communicate with each other through wireless communication to exchange information about a method (procedure) of joining the close driving.

If it is advantageous for a particular vehicle to join the proximity driving in consideration of its destination, the vehicle may join the proximity driving.

A vehicle that is driving in close proximity may be able to isolate its vehicle if it needs to reach its point of departure from proximity vehicles considering its destination, or if it needs to leave from the proximity vehicle for other reasons. .

If you exceed the number of vehicles you can join in close proximity, you can no longer join new vehicles.

Proximity vehicles may have special joining criteria to allow consolidation, and new vehicles may not join unless the proximity vehicle approves the consolidation.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a modular electric vehicle (hereinafter referred to as an 'independent electric vehicle') is connected to another electric vehicle (hereinafter referred to as 'dependent electric vehicle'), which is modular, and is larger and more complete. The electric vehicle of the form can be configured. The modular subordinate electric vehicle may include one or more of the following configurations.

Active passenger module with power means: having power supply means such as power generating means, power converter, steering and other drive means, and also means for accommodating passengers.

Passive passenger module without power means: There is space for accommodating passengers with seats, but no means for driving an electric vehicle.

Active cargo module with power means: having power supply means such as power generating means, power converter, motor, steering and other driving means, and also having space for freight transportation.

Passive cargo modules without power means: There is space for freight transport, but no means for driving electric vehicles.

In addition, the electric vehicle according to the present invention can connect or disconnect the modular power module, by connecting the power module can extend the energy storage capacity and further increase the vehicle travel distance. Such a power module may include one or more of the following.

The power module has electrical energy storage means such as a battery.

The power module has a chemical energy storage means capable of producing electrical energy. For example, it may include a fuel cell or a gas turbine.

The power module has a mechanical power source that can be controlled by electrical signals such as engines, propellers or jet turbines.

The power module may be driven by a power drive system of the vehicle, such as an electric motor and a steering.

Hereinafter, an example in which the present invention is specifically applied and used will be described.

1. The present invention can be used when several people each want to go from one city to another with their own electric vehicle. Drivers first use their vehicle to travel to their appointments. For example, you promise to meet each other at a place like a highway rest area, and each person starts from their own car and meets at the rest area. In the appointment place, the vehicles are connected to each other using a connecting member to form a proximity driving vehicle to move to the destination city. In this case, one driver may drive the first vehicle, and other drivers or passengers may communicate with each other, such as chatting or playing games, using an inter-vehicle network provided in a connection member that connects the vehicles to each other in close driving. Proximity driving may be set to allow only certain people to join in advance. In this case, other vehicles may not be informed of the destination of the proximity vehicle or the movement route, and the vehicle may not be allowed to participate in the proximity driving. When arriving at the target city of interest, the vehicles participating in the proximity driving are separated from each other and moved to their final destinations such as their respective hotels. The fuel savings of each vehicle participating in the close driving are the same and correspond to the ratio of the total amount of fuel saved as the moving vehicles move.

2. A driver, A, who travels from city A to city B by vehicle, may disclose his / her route and destination to an unspecified number of drivers by means of wireless communication, and may invite a vehicle capable of driving in close proximity. . Then, a driver named U, who is moving to city C located between city A and city B, suggests that the driver hears the movement route and destination of the impaired driver and forms a close driving to the driver. A's vehicle and A's vehicle may be connected to each other in a passive manner, or a computer-connected system may automatically connect the A's vehicle and A's vehicle to form a proximity driving vehicle. If A's vehicle is the first vehicle and A's driving a close-by-vehicle, he may see other tasks or take a rest in his vehicle. Other vehicles can join their driving close to knowing their destinations and routes. If you are tired after driving a certain amount of time and you want a shift, you will be notified to other drivers through the network inside the proximity vehicle. If the bottle in the rear of the near driving vehicle wants to drive first, the bottle proceeds to separate its vehicle from the close driving vehicle. The bottled vehicle enters the computer control mode, and the bottled vehicle is disconnected from the front vehicle and the rear vehicle while the proximity vehicles are running at a constant speed. Then, the bottled vehicle moves to the side lane of the lane in which the proximity vehicle is traveling, and the proximity vehicle is temporarily separated. After that, the vehicle behind the bottle is connected to the vehicle in front of the bottle to form a proximity vehicle once the vehicle is excluded from the computer control mode. Then, the bottle vehicle switches from the computer control mode to the manual mode, and the bottle accelerates its own vehicle and moves forward to the front of the proximity driving vehicle. After that, when the driver driving the first vehicle of the close driving vehicle connects his vehicle to the rear of the bottle vehicle, the close driving vehicles including the bottle vehicle are formed again, and the bottle is driving the close driving vehicles. A will be able to rest. When the proximity vehicle approaches the city of C, which is the destination of the city, the computer of the vehicle with GPS navigation informs the city of the car, and Eol separates his vehicle from the driving vehicle, and then the city of C, which is his destination. Will enter, and the remaining close-by vehicles will continue to operate. The amount of fuel saved by the vehicle in the proximity driving is proportional to the amount of fuel saved in the entire driving vehicles while the vehicle departs from the driving.

3. The modular electric vehicle of the present invention can effectively handle various schedules. For example, suppose you have a person who needs to work on three schedules a day. Bring two children to school in the morning, go shopping at lunch, and bring a soccer team with their children from school to the soccer practice field in the afternoon. Between these three schedules, you should go home and see your work. In this case, a modular electric vehicle according to the present invention can be used. In the morning, a two-seater passenger module is connected to the vehicle to take the children to school. On returning home, the passenger module is removed and the cargo module is connected to the vehicle for shopping. In other words, the goods purchased in the shopping cart loaded on the module to return home. When he returns home, he unloads the cargo module and connects a multi-passenger passenger module that can accommodate 11 people to the vehicle. He then uses a vehicle with a multi-passenger passenger module to go to school to pick up a soccer team and take him to the practice field. This allows the driver to save fuel by not needing to carry a multi-passenger passenger module or cargo module all the time, as appropriate modular configurations can be connected or disconnected.

4. Using the power module of the present invention can travel effectively. For example, a driver may want to travel long distances to a particular destination. The travel distance far exceeds the mileage that the driver's modular electric vehicle can travel without recharging. In addition, the distance between the electric vehicle charging station and the charging station on the travel route is so large that it exceeds the distance that can be reached without recharging. The driver then connects a power module, for example a gas turbine power module, to the electric vehicle before leaving for travel. The power module extends the range the car can travel without recharging, allowing you to finish your journey safely. In addition, when the fuel of the gas turbine power module is exhausted, the driver can refuel the fuel for the gas turbine power module at the gas station, and there are more gas stations for the gas turbine power module than the charging station for the electric vehicle. There is no. After arriving at the destination, the gas turbine power module is detached from the vehicle when traveling or traveling around the destination. In long distance travel, you can benefit from increased mileage by the power module, and at the destination you can separate it so that unnecessary fuel is not wasted.

Claims (28)

delete Claim 2 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. A plurality of electric vehicles; And at least one connecting member connecting the electric vehicle to each other. In the electric vehicle is a proximity driving method of the electric vehicle that is physically connected to each other by the connecting member, The electric vehicles are connected in a line, the rear bumper of the preceding electric vehicle and the front bumper of the following electric vehicle is connected by the connecting member characterized in that the driving method of the electric vehicle. Claim 3 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 2, The front and rear electric vehicle connected by the connecting member is a close driving method of the electric vehicle, characterized in that less than 0.5 meters. Claim 4 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 2, The connecting member has a strength enough to drive the preceding electric vehicle trailing electric vehicle, characterized in that the proximity driving of the electric vehicle. Claim 5 was abandoned upon payment of a set-up fee. The connecting member has a sufficient damping force to prevent the electric vehicle connected to each other collision, characterized in that the driving method of the electric vehicle. Claim 6 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 2, The connection member is a proximity driving method of an electric vehicle, characterized in that for transmitting information between the electric vehicles running in close proximity. Claim 7 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 2, The connection member is a proximity driving method of an electric vehicle, characterized in that for transmitting electric power between the electric vehicles running in close proximity. Claim 8 was abandoned when the registration fee was paid. The method of claim 2, The connecting member is a proximity driving method of an electric vehicle, characterized in that the electric vehicle can be connected to or separated from each other in a stationary state. Claim 9 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The method of claim 2, The connecting member, the electric vehicle is a driving method of the electric vehicle, characterized in that separated or coupled to each other while driving. Claim 10 has been abandoned due to the setting registration fee. The electric vehicle is connected or separated from each other, the driving method of the electric vehicle characterized in that it is automatically controlled by a computer provided in the electric vehicle. Claim 11 was abandoned when the registration fee was paid. The method of claim 2, The connecting member is a proximity driving method of an electric vehicle, characterized in that for providing a communication means for passengers in close proximity to the electric vehicle to communicate with each other. Claim 12 is abandoned in setting registration fee. The method of claim 2, The proximity driving method of the electric vehicle, characterized in that the information about the steering wheel, the acceleration pedal and the brake of the leading vehicle is transmitted to the following vehicle through the connecting member. Claim 13 has been abandoned due to the set registration fee. The method of claim 2, The method of claim 1, wherein the leading vehicle of the adjacent vehicle is capable of controlling the blinking or the brake of the following vehicles. delete delete A first step of encouraging proximity driving by revealing a movement route and a destination of the first electric vehicle using a wireless communication means; A second step in which the second electric vehicle applies for close driving to the first electric vehicle; And And a third step in which the first and second electric vehicles are physically connected by using a connection member. 17. The method of claim 16, The first and second electric vehicles connected to each other in the third step is a close driving method of the electric vehicle, characterized in that for exchanging power and information using the connection member. 17. The method of claim 16, In the third step, the first and second electric vehicles are connected to each other. A plurality of electric vehicles; And a connecting member for physically connecting the plurality of electric vehicles to each other. The electric vehicles are connected in series, but the rear bumper of the preceding electric vehicle and the front bumper of the following electric vehicle are connected by the connecting member, characterized in that the driving vehicle. delete 20. The method of claim 19, The front and rear electric vehicle connected by the connecting member is a close driving electric vehicle, characterized in that the distance is less than 0.5 meters. 20. The method of claim 19, The connecting member has a sufficient damping force to prevent the electric vehicles connected to each other to drive close to each other, characterized in that. 20. The method of claim 19, The connecting member is a close-drive electric vehicle, characterized in that to transfer information between the electric vehicles running in close proximity. 20. The method of claim 19, The connecting member is capable of transferring electric power (electrical power) between the electric vehicles running in close proximity. 20. The method of claim 19, The connecting member is a close-drive electric vehicle, characterized in that the near-drive electric vehicles are separated from each other or coupled while driving. 20. The method of claim 19, The connecting member is a proximity driving electric vehicle, characterized in that for providing a communication means for the passengers in close proximity to the electric vehicle to communicate with each other. 20. The method of claim 19, In the proximity driving electric vehicle, the driving vehicle, characterized in that the information about the steering wheel, the acceleration pedal and the brake of the leading vehicle is transmitted to the following vehicle through the connecting member. 20. The method of claim 19, The leading vehicle of the electric vehicle running close to each other, characterized in that for controlling the flicker or brake lights of the following vehicles.