Patent Application
20250129571
The present disclosure generally relates to electric work vehicles and, more particularly, to systems and methods for estimating the operating range for an electric work vehicle, such as an electric backhoe loader or any other electric construction vehicle.
Work vehicles, such as construction vehicles, are typically configured to perform various different work tasks. For instance, a “tractor-loader-backhoe” (TLB) or backhoe loader may be used to perform grading operations, lifting operations, earth-moving operations, digging or trenching operations, hammering operations, and/or the like.
For traditional engine-driven work vehicles, operators typically do not have to spend too much time worrying or considering the remaining operating time for a work vehicle (other than to check the fuel gauge periodically). However, as the industry moves to the introduction of fully electric work vehicles, operators will need to adapt to potential difference in the operating range/time of the vehicle given the overall storage capacity of the vehicle's battery module. In this regard, operators can often experience “range anxiety” when operating an electric work vehicle due to being unsure the remaining operating range of the vehicle.
Accordingly, a need exists for systems and methods for estimating the remaining operating range of an electric work vehicle to allow such range data to be provided to an operator in manner that allows the operator to make informed decisions about the operation of the vehicle.
Aspects and advantages of the technology will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the technology.
In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for estimating operating ranges for an electric work vehicle. The method includes accessing, with a computing system, data associated with a power consumption rate of an electric work vehicle, the electric work vehicle being operable in plurality of operating modes. The method also includes accessing, with the computing system, data associated with a remaining capacity of a power storage device of the electric work vehicle, and determining, with the computing system, an estimated operating range for each of the plurality of operating modes for the electric work vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the power consumption rate and the remaining capacity of the power storage device. In addition, the method includes providing, with the computing system, data indicative of the estimated operating range for each of the plurality of operating modes for presentation on a display device.
In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a system for estimating operating ranges for electric work vehicles. The system includes an electric work vehicle comprising an electric traction motor and a power storage device configured to store power for powering the electric traction motor. The electric work vehicle further includes at least one work implement assembly. The electric work vehicle is operable in plurality of operating modes. The system also includes a display device configured to present information to an operator of the work vehicle, and a computing system communicatively coupled to the display device. The computing system is configured to access data associated with a power consumption rate of the electric work vehicle, access data associated with a remaining capacity of the power storage device, determine an estimated operating range for each of the plurality of operating modes for the electric work vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the power consumption rate and the remaining capacity of the power storage device, and provide data indicative of the estimated operating range for each of the plurality of operating modes for presentation on the display device.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present technology will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the technology and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the technology.
A full and enabling disclosure of the present technology, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification and drawings is intended to represent the same or analogous features or elements of the present technology.
Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
In general, the present subject matter is directed to systems and methods for estimating the remaining operating range for an electric work vehicle. In several embodiments, the present subject matter allows for the remaining operating range to be estimated for a plurality of different work modes or “operating modes” of the vehicle. These different operating range estimates may then be presented to the operator (e.g., via display device) to allow the operator to make informed decisions about the operation of the work vehicle.
Referring now to the drawings,
As shown in
The work vehicle 10 also includes a pair of hydraulically or electrically driven work implement assemblies positioned at the opposed ends 16, 18 of the chassis 12. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the work vehicle 10 includes a loader assembly 40 supported by or relative the chassis 12 at or adjacent to its forward end 16. As shown in
Additionally, the work vehicle 10 includes a backhoe assembly 60 supported by or relative the chassis 12 at or adjacent to its aft end 18. As shown in
It should be appreciated that, although the loader assembly 40 and backhoe assembly 60 are generally described and shown herein as corresponding to hydraulically driven work implement assemblies, such assemblies may, instead, correspond to electrically driven work implement assemblies. For instance, as opposed to hydraulically-driven actuators, electrically-driven actuators may be used.
As shown in
Additionally, the work vehicle 10 may also include a storage compartment 80 (e.g., positioned in front or forward of the operator's cab 26 relative to the forward direction of travel 26). In one embodiment, the storage compartment 80 may be defined by one or more walls of the vehicle's body, such as, for example, a hood 82 configured to extend over and cover the storage compartment 80. In general, a storage volume defined by the storage compartment 80 may be configured to provide or function as storage space for various components of the work vehicle 10, such as one or more power storage and/or control components, one or more drivetrain components, and/or one or more cooling assembly components. For instance, as shown in
In several embodiments, the work vehicle 10 may be configured to function or operate within a plurality of work modes or “operating modes”. For instance, the work vehicle 10 may be configured to function or operate within a “transport mode” (or “roading mode”) during which the vehicle 10 is being driven or operated without operation of any of the hydraulically or electrically driven implement assemblies of the vehicle, such as the loader assembly 40 and/or the backhoe assembly 60. For instance, the work vehicle 10 may be operated within the transport mode while being moved to and from a work site and/or when moving around the work site without using the hydraulically or electrically driven implement assemblies. Additionally, with the work vehicle 10 being configured as a backhoe loader, the vehicle 10 may also function or operate within both a “loader mode” and a “backhoe mode”. When functioning or operating within the loader mode, the loader assembly 40 is being used to perform a task, such as a grading operation. In this regard, when in the loader mode, the operator's seat within the cab may be turned or oriented toward the forward end 16 of the vehicle 10 to allow the operator to control the operation of the loader assembly 40. When functioning or operating within the backhoe mode, the backhoe assembly 40 is being used to perform a task, such as a digging operation. In this regard, when in the backhoe mode, the operator's seat within the cab may be turned or oriented toward the aft end 18 of the vehicle 10 to allow the operator to control the operation of the backhoe assembly 60.
Additionally, in several embodiments, the work vehicle 10 may also be configured to function or operate within a given battery mode or “power consumption mode” while working within one of the operating modes, such as when the work vehicle 10 is being used to perform a task within one of the operating modes (e.g., roading when in the transport mode or grading when in the loader mode or digging when in the backhoe mode). In one embodiment, the work vehicle 10 may be configured to function or operate in at least a first power consumption mode and a second power consumption mode, with the second power consumption mode being associated with a lower power consumption rate than the first power consumption mode. As an example, the work vehicle 10 may have a “performance mode” (also referred to herein as a “high power consumption mode”) in which one or more components of the vehicle 10 (e.g., the traction motor 84 and/or one or more of the various hydraulic system components) are operated or controlled in a manner so as to maximize or enhance the performance of the vehicle 10 (leading to a higher power consumption rate) and an “eco mode” or “battery savings mode” (also referred to herein as a “low power consumption mode”) in which one or more of the components of the vehicle 10 (e.g., the traction motor 84 and/or one or more of the various hydraulic system components) are operated or controlled in a manner so as to reduce the power consumption rate of the vehicle 10. For instance, in the low power consumption mode, the operating speed range for the electric traction motor 82 and/or the hydraulics-driving motor (e.g., the motor that drives the hydraulic pump used within the hydraulic system) may be reduced to lower the power consumption rate of the work vehicle 10. Additionally, the work vehicle 10 may have a “default mode” or “normal mode” (also referred to herein as a “normal power consumption mode”) in which one or more of the components of the vehicle 10 (e.g., the traction motor 84 and/or one or more of the various hydraulic system components) are operated or controlled in a manner such that the power consumption rate of the vehicle 10 is lower than the power consumption rate of the high power consumption mode but higher than the power consumption rate of the low power consumption mode.
As indicated above, it should be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the present subject matter may be advantageously utilized with reference to various other electric work vehicles, such as various other electric construction vehicles. For instance, in addition to a backhoe loader, aspects of the present subject matter may also be applied within electric construction vehicles only including a single work implement assembly positioned at one end of the vehicle's chassis, such as a wheel loader, skid-steer loader, bulldozer, and/or the like. In such embodiments, as opposed to including three different operating modes (e.g., a transport mode, a loader mode, and a backhoe mode), the work vehicle may only include two operating modes (e.g., a transport mode and a loader mode).
Referring now to
As shown, the system 100 generally includes a computing system 102. In several embodiments, the computing system 102 may be configured to access data associated with a power consumption rate of the work vehicle 10 (e.g., in kilowatts or kW) and a remaining capacity (e.g., in kilowatt-hours or kW-h) of a power storage device of the work vehicle 10 (e.g., the remaining capacity of the battery module 86) and, based on such data, determine individual estimates of the remaining operating range of the vehicle 10 across its various operating modes. For instance, the data may include information associated with a historical/anticipated/actual power consumption rate for each of the operating modes (e.g., transport mode, loader mode, and backhoe mode). Based on this information and the data associated with the remaining capacity of the power storage device, the computing system 100 may determine or estimate the remaining operating range for the work vehicle 10 when operated within each operating mode, such as by providing a first estimated operating range for operation within the transport mode based on the historical/anticipated/actual power consumption rate associated with such mode, a second estimated operating range for operation within the loader mode based on the historical/anticipated/actual power consumption rate associated with such mode, and a third estimated operating range for operation within the backhoe mode based on the historical/anticipated/actual power consumption rate associated with such mode.
Additionally, upon determining the estimated operating range for each operating mode, such estimated operating ranges may be presented to the operator (e.g., via an associated display device) to allow the operator to make decisions regarding further operation of the work vehicle 10. For instance, based on the historical/anticipated/actual power consumption rates and the remaining capacity of the power storage device, the computing system 102 may determine that the work vehicle 10 can operate or function continuously in a given operating mode as follows: the transport mode for four (4) hours; the loader mode for two (2) hours; and the backhoe mode for one (1) hour. By presenting this information to the operator, he/she may, for example: (1) determine that the current task being performed can be completed given the remaining operating range; (2) determine that the current task being performed cannot be completed and that a different task should be performed based on the current operating range (e.g., by switching from a backhoe-related task to a loader-related task assuming that the loader mode provides additional operating time); (3) determine that, given the vehicle's location relative to its charging station, work will need to be stopped immediately or within a given period of time to allow the work vehicle to be driven in the transport mode to the charging station; and/or (4) make any other suitable determinations or work decisions based on the operating range data as presented.
In general, the computing system 102 may comprise any suitable processor-based device known in the art, such as a computing device or any suitable combination of computing devices. Thus, in several embodiments, the computing system 102 may include one or more processor(s) 104 and associated memory device(s) 106 configured to perform a variety of computer-implemented functions. As used herein, the term “processor” refers not only to integrated circuits referred to in the art as being included in a computer, but also refers to a controller, a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic controller (PLC), an application specific integrated circuit, and other programmable circuits. Additionally, the memory device(s) 106 of the computing system 102 may generally comprise memory element(s) including, but not limited to, a computer readable medium (e.g., random access memory (RAM)), a computer readable non-volatile medium (e.g., a flash memory), a floppy disk, a compact disc-read only memory (CD-ROM), a magneto-optical disk (MOD), a digital versatile disc (DVD) and/or other suitable memory elements. Such memory device(s) 106 may generally be configured to store suitable computer-readable instructions that, when implemented by the processor(s) 104, configure the computing system 102 to perform various computer-implemented functions, such as one or more aspects of the function and/or related method(s) described below. In addition, the computing system 102 may also include various other suitable components, such as a communications circuit or module, one or more input/output channels, a data/control bus and/or the like.
It should be appreciated that, in several embodiments, the computing system 102 may correspond to an existing computing system of the work vehicle 10 or the computing system 102 may correspond to a separate computing system. For instance, in one embodiment, the computing system 102 may form all or part of a separate plug-in module or computing device that is installed relative to the work vehicle 10 to allow for the disclosed system and method to be implemented without requiring additional software to be uploaded onto existing control devices of the work vehicle 10.
In several embodiments, the memory 106 of the computing system 102 may include one or more databases for storing information received and/or generated by the computing system 102. For instance, as shown in
In accordance with aspects of the present subject matter, the data stored within the database 108 can be organized or categorized by operating mode. For instance, the power consumption database 108 may store data associated with the historical/anticipated/actual power consumption rates for the work vehicle 10 when operated in each of the various operating modes (e.g., the transport mode, loader mode, and backhoe mode). In addition, the power consumption data associated with each operating mode may be further sub-divided into specific power consumption rates when paired with a given power consumption mode, such as specific power consumption rates for each operating mode when functioning in the high power consumption mode, the normal power consumption mode, the lower power consumption mode, and/or any other suitable power consumption modes associated with the work vehicle. Moreover, the power consumption data associated with each operating mode may also be sub-divided into the specific tasks or functions associated with a given operating mode. For instance, within the loader mode, separate consumption rates or other power consumption data may be stored for specific loader-related tasks, such as grading tasks, earth-moving tasks, etc. Similarly, within the backhoe mode, separate consumption rates or other power consumption data may be stored for specific backhoe-related tasks, such as digging tasks, hammering/breaking tasks, etc.
As indicated above, the power consumption database 108 may store data associated with historical power consumption rates. Such data may, in several embodiments, relate to the power consumption of the electric work vehicle 10 during prior or past work events or operating periods, such as power consumption data for operation of the work vehicle 10 over a given set of prior days, weeks, months, years, etc. For instance, when the work vehicle 10 is being operated in a given operating mode, power consumption data may be continuously gathered and stored within the database 108, which may then be used by the computing system 102 to calculate or determine power consumption rates of the work vehicle 10. For instance, using this data, the computing system 102 may calculate a power consumption rate(s) associated with each operating mode (e.g., an average or mean overall power consumption rate(s), an average or mean power consumption rate(s) associated with given work conditions or work tasks, an average or mean power consumption rate(s) associated with a given operator, etc.). In one embodiment, the historical power consumption rates may be based on data collected prior to the most recent charging event for the work vehicle 10. It should also be appreciated that the historical power consumption rates may be based, in whole or in part, on past power consumption data associated with other electric work vehicles, such as similarly configured work vehicles as compared to the work vehicle 10 within which the disclosed system 100 is being used (e.g., other electric backhoe loaders).
Additionally, as indicated above, the power consumption database 108 may store data associated with the actual or current power consumption rates of the work vehicle. Specifically, in addition to using power consumption data from prior or past work events or operating periods to determine historical power consumption rates, the computing system 102 may calculate a power consumption rate for the work vehicle 10 based on the actual power consumption occurring during the current operating period (e.g., by using power consumption data for the period of time across which the work vehicle 10 has been continuously operating, such as over the last several hours, or since the most recent charging event for the work vehicle 10). For example, in one embodiment, the power consumption data collected following a charging event for the work vehicle 10 may be used to calculate the actual or current power consumption rates of the work vehicle 10 until the next charging event occurs, at which point such previously collected data may be considered historical power consumption data and a new set of power consumption data may be collected upon further operation of the work vehicle.
Moreover, the power consumption data collected and stored within the power consumption database 108 may, in several embodiments, be categorized or organized based on the identity of the operator of the work vehicle 10. Specifically, different operators will use the work vehicle 10 in different ways and, thus, different power consumption rates may be applicable based on which operator is currently operating the vehicle 10. For instance, some operators may push the vehicle 10 to its limits or otherwise operate the vehicle more aggressively (and, thus, may be subject to higher power consumption rates) while other operators may operate the work vehicle 10 in a more conservative or less aggressive manner (and, thus, may be subject to lower power consumption rates). Accordingly, the computing system 102 may, in one embodiment, be configured to receive or access data associated with the identity of the current operator of the vehicle 10 (e.g., by collecting log-in credentials or other identifying information). The power consumption data collected while such operator is operating the work vehicle 10 may then be stored within the power consumption database in association with that particular operator to allow operator-specific power consumption rates (e.g., both historical and current/actual rates) to be calculated or determined by the computing system 102. Such data may then be used to provide a more accurate estimate of the remaining operating range for the work vehicle 10. Specifically, the operating range estimates may be tailored or customized based on how aggressively or conservatively a given operator typically uses (or is currently using) the machine.
Additionally, the memory 106 of the computing system 102 may include a power storage capacity database 110 storing data associated with the remaining power capacity of the energy storage device of the work vehicle 10. For instance, with reference to the embodiment of the work vehicle 10 shown in
Moreover, as shown in
Additionally, as indicated above, the computing system 102 may also be configured to determine the remaining operating range for each operating mode across the various different power consumption modes. For instance, assuming the above-described example relates to the estimated operating ranges for operation within the vehicle's low power consumption mode, a similar set of estimated operating ranges may also be determined for any of the other power consumption modes, such as the high power consumption mode and/or the normal power consumption mode. As an example, the computing system 102 may determine that the effective or applied power consumption rates for each operating mode when in the high power consumption mode is 12 kW for operation within the transport mode, 24 kw for operation within the loader mode, and 30 kw within the backhoe mode. In such an example, assuming that the remaining power capacity of the energy storage device is 40 kilowatt-hours (kW-h), the computing system 102 may determine that the remaining operating range are 3.33 hours of continuous operation in the transport mode, 1.66 hours of continuous operation in the loader mode, and 1.33 hours of continuous operation in the backhoe mode
It should be appreciated that the specific power consumption data used by the computing system 102 to estimate or determine the remaining operating ranges may differ or vary depending on how long the vehicle 10 has been operating within a given operating mode and/or various other factors. For instance, when the work vehicle 10 is initially started-up following a charging event, the computing system 102 may be configured to rely primarily or entirely on historical power consumption data for the vehicle 10 to provide estimates regarding the remaining operating ranges within each operating mode. However, as the work vehicle is subsequently operated for a given period of time such that current or actual power consumption data can be collected for the vehicle's operation, such data may be used (alone or in combination with the historical power consumption data) to provide estimates regarding the remaining operating ranges within each operating mode. For instance, in one embodiment, the historical and actual power consumption data for a given operating mode may be weighted based at least in part on how long the work vehicle has been operating within such mode across the current operating period. As an example, when initiating a work task within a given operating mode immediately following the initial start-up of the vehicle 10 after being charged, a weighting factor of one (1) may be applied to the historical power consumption data and a weighting factor of zero (0) may be applied to the actual power consumption data (to the extent any exists at that point in time) so that the historical data is used exclusively to provide initial estimates of the operating ranges. However, as the vehicle operates within the operating mode over time, the weighting factor applied to the historical power consumption data may be reduced while the weighting factor applied to the actual power consumption data may be increased to give more weight to the data being collected in real-time as the work task is being performed.
It should also be appreciated that the computing system 102 may be configured to dynamically or continuously update/adjust the estimated operating ranges for the work vehicle 10 during operation thereof. For instance, as the storage capacity or state-of-charge of the power storage device changes and/or the effective power consumption rate(s) changes, the computing system 102 may be configured to update or adjust the estimated operating ranges in real-time or near real-time to provide the operator with an accurate estimate of the ranges.
Referring still to
In general, the user interface 120 may include one or more output or user feedback devices, such as display screens, speakers, indicator lights, and/or the like, which are used to provide feedback or notifications to the operator. For instance, as shown in
It should be appreciated that the user interface 120 may also be configured to receive inputs from the operator. As such, the user interface 120 may include one or more input devices 122, such as touchscreens, keypads, touchpads, knobs, buttons, sliders, switches, mice, microphones, communications ports (including I/O channels) and/or the like, which are configured to receive user inputs. For instance, the input device(s) 122 may be used to provide user inputs associated with the selection of an operating mode or a power consumption mode for the work vehicle 10 or to provide log-in credentials to allow the operator's identity to be authenticated or identified.
In the illustrated embodiment, the user interface 120 is shown as forming part of the computing system 102. However, in other embodiments, the notification module 114 may be configured to generate and transmit data associated with the estimated operating ranges to one or more devices separate from or remote to the computing system 102, such as one or more separate computing devices 150. In general, the separate computing device(s) 150 may be configured to be in communication with the computing system 102 (e.g., via a wired or wireless connection-indicated by dashed line 151 in
It should be appreciated that the computing device(s) 150 may generally correspond to any suitable device or combination of devices configured to communicate with the computing system. For instance, the computing device(s) 150 may correspond to a mobile or portable client device, such as a smartphone or a tablet. As shown in
Referring now to
In addition, as shown in
Referring now to
It should be appreciated that
Referring now to
As shown in
Additionally, at (406), the method 400 includes determining an estimated operating range for each of the plurality of operating modes for the electric work vehicle based at least in part on the data associated with the power consumption rate and the remaining capacity of the power storage device. As indicated above, based on the data associated with the power consumption of the work vehicle 10 and the storage capacity of the vehicle's energy storage device, the computing system 102 may be configured to determine an estimated operating range for the work vehicle. In particular, the computing system 102 may determine estimated operating ranges for each operating mode of the vehicle 10 (including in combination with each potential power consumption mode of the vehicle 10).
Moreover, at (408), the method includes providing data indicative of the estimated operating range for each of the plurality of operating modes for presentation on a display device. As indicated above, upon determining estimated operating ranges for the work vehicle 10, the computing system 102 may be configured to provide such range data for presentation to the operator via a display device, such as device 124 or device 158. The operator may then view the range data and make informed work decisions regarding further operation of the work vehicle 10.
It is to be understood that the steps of the disclosed control logic, algorithms, and/or methods are performed by the computing system 102 upon loading and executing software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g., a computer hard drive, an optical medium, e.g., an optical disc, solid-state memory, e.g., flash memory, or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any of the functionality performed by the computing system 102 described herein, such as the control logic, algorithms, and/or methods, is implemented in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on a tangible computer readable medium. The computing system 102 loads the software code or instructions via a direct interface with the computer readable medium or via a wired and/or wireless network. Upon loading and executing such software code or instructions by the computing system 102, the computing system 102 may perform any of the functionality of the computing system 102 described herein, including any steps of the control logic, algorithms, and/or methods described herein.
The term “software code” or “code” used herein refers to any instructions or set of instructions that influence the operation of a computer or controller. They may exist in a computer-executable form, such as machine code, which is the set of instructions and data directly executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller, a human-understandable form, such as source code, which may be compiled in order to be executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller, or an intermediate form, such as object code, which is produced by a compiler. As used herein, the term “software code” or “code” also includes any human-understandable computer instructions or set of instructions, e.g., a script, that may be executed on the fly with the aid of an interpreter executed by a computer's central processing unit or by a controller.
This written description uses examples to disclose the technology, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the technology, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the technology is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63591487 | Oct 2023 | US |
