SEMI-AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE PROVIDING AN AUXILIARY POWER SUPPLY

• US 20120193153A1
• Filed: 01/29/2011
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: WELLBORN, CARL W., DECALUWE, MARY ELLEN, RAINBOLT, JIM K., CLARK, ROGER A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,627,908 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/14.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/42 Adaptation of control equipment on vehicle for actuation from alternative parts of the vehicle or from alternative vehicles of the same vehicle train B60L15/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/28 Trailers
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/30 Trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2300/14 Tractor-trailers, i.e. combinations of a towing vehicle and one or more towed vehicles, e.g. caravans; Road trains
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 59/04 driven from propulsion unit on trailer
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle is described, and includes a chassis supported on first and second axles coupled to a plurality of wheels, a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels, a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle, a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels, a high-voltage electrical energy storage system, an extra-vehicle communications system, and an extra-vehicle sensory system. A control system operatively couples to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system. A coupling device is configured to electrically couple the semi-autonomous vehicle to the parent vehicle, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system.

Claims

1. A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle, including:

a chassis supported on first and second axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;

a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels;

a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle;

a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels;

a high-voltage electrical energy storage system;

an extra-vehicle communications system;

an extra-vehicle sensory system;

a control system operatively coupled to the propulsion system, the steering system, and the braking system;

a coupling device, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle; and

an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.

2. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels includes an electrically-powered wheel motor coupled to one of the wheels.

3. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein the steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle comprises independently controllable first and second electric wheel motors coupled to first and second ones of the wheels.

4. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein the steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle includes an electrically-actuated rack-and-pinion steering system coupled to one of the wheels.

5. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein the braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels includes an electric wheel motor coupled to one of the wheels and a power inverter system configured to operate in a regenerative braking mode.

6. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein the extra-vehicle communications system comprises a wireless communications system operative to communicate with a communication system of the parent vehicle.

7. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein the extra-vehicle sensory system includes a front sensor configured to detect a target device mounted on the parent vehicle.

8. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 7, wherein the extra-vehicle sensory system is configured to determine a linear range, a relative speed, and a trajectory of the parent vehicle correlated to the detected target device mounted on the parent vehicle.

9. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 7, wherein the front sensor configured to detect the target device mounted on the parent vehicle comprises one of a radar system, a lidar system, and a digital image capture and processing system.

10. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to a high-voltage electrical energy power management system of the parent vehicle.

11. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 10, wherein the electric power management system is configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage electrical energy power management system of the parent vehicle via the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.

12. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a sealable storage and conveyance system.

13. A semi-autonomous vehicle couplable to a parent vehicle, including:

a chassis supported on axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;

a propulsion system configured to transfer torque to one of the wheels;

a steering system configured to control direction of travel of the semi-autonomous vehicle;

a braking system configured to apply braking force to the wheels;

an energy storage system;

an extra-vehicle communications system;

an extra-vehicle sensory system;

a control system connected to the propulsion system, the steering system, the braking system, the extra-vehicle communications system and the extra-vehicle sensory system; and

a coupling device, the coupling device consisting essentially of a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle; and

an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.

14. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 13, wherein the energy storage system comprises a liquid fuel storage system and the liquid fuel storage system is configured to transfer liquid fuel to an internal combustion engine operatively coupled to an electric generator.

15. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 14, wherein the electric generator is electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system.

16. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 13, wherein the energy storage system comprises a liquid fuel storage system and the liquid fuel storage system is configured to transfer the liquid fuel to a fuel cell electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system.

17. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 13, wherein the control system is operative to control transfer of electric power between the high-voltage electrical energy storage system of the semi-autonomous vehicle and the energy storage system of the parent vehicle via the coupling device consisting essentially of the high-voltage DC electrical power bus.

18. A semi-autonomous vehicle, including:

a chassis supported on axles coupled to a plurality of wheels;

a propulsion system, a steering system, and a braking system;

an energy storage system;

an extra-vehicle communications system;

an extra-vehicle sensory system;

a control system connected to the propulsion system, the steering system, the braking system, the extra-vehicle communications system and the extra-vehicle sensory system; and

a coupling device for coupling to a parent vehicle, the coupling device comprising a high-voltage DC electrical power bus electrically coupled to the high-voltage electrical energy storage system, the coupling device configured to electrically couple the high-voltage electrical energy storage system to the parent vehicle, and a mechanical link element; and

an electric power management system configured to control flow of electric power originating from the high-voltage electric power storage system to the high-voltage DC electrical power bus of the coupling device.

19. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 18, wherein the mechanical link element comprises a high tensile strength cable.

20. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 18, wherein the mechanical link element comprises a flexible mechanical shroud element encasing the high-voltage DC electrical power bus, the flexible mechanical shroud element configured to become a rigid connection when extended to a predetermined length.