Method for replacing a module of a vehicle, a control device, a vehicle, a system, a computer program and a computer-readable medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11592834-B2
Application number	US-201917051193-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2019
Priority date	May 28, 2018
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

A method for replacing a first module (30, 40) of a vehicle (1) with a new module (30, 30′, 40). The vehicle (1) includes: at least one drive module (30); and at least one functional module (40). The vehicle (1) has a unique vehicle identity. The method includes: setting (s101) the vehicle (1) into a maintenance mode indicating that the vehicle (1) is not available for operation; and preparing (s102) the vehicle (1) for physical disconnection of the first module (30, 40); when the first module (30, 40) has been physically disconnected from the vehicle (1) and the new module (30, 30′, 40) has been physically connected to the vehicle (1): establishing (s103) an electrical connection between the new module (30, 30′, 40) and the vehicle (1); assigning (s104) the new module (30, 30′, 40) the unique vehicle identity of the vehicle (1); setting (s105) the vehicle (1) into an operational mode; and verifying s106) the electrical connection of the new module (30, 30′, 40).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, performed by a control device of a vehicle assembled from a set of modules, for replacing a first module of the vehicle with a new module from the set of modules, the vehicle comprising:
at least one drive module; and
at least one functional module;
wherein the at least one drive module comprises a pair of wheels and is configured to be autonomously operated and drive the assembled vehicle, the vehicle further comprising a unique vehicle identity, the method comprising:
setting the vehicle into a maintenance mode indicating that the vehicle is not available for operation; and
preparing the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module;
the method further comprising, when the first module has been physically disconnected from the vehicle and the new module has been physically connected to the vehicle:
establishing an electrical connection between the new module and the vehicle;
after the establishing the electrical connection between the new module and the vehicle, assigning the new module the unique vehicle identity of the vehicle and thereby linking the new module to the vehicle;
setting the vehicle into an operational mode; and
verifying the electrical connection of the new module.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is set into the maintenance mode based on a received command from a control center arranged in communication with the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is set into the maintenance mode based on a command from an operator, received via an operator interface on the vehicle or via a smart device.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein preparing the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module comprises controlling the modules, such that the at least one drive module is not supporting the load of the at least one functional module.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the at least one functional module is controlled to extend at least one support leg, such that the load of the at least one functional module is supported by the at least one support leg.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein preparing the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module comprises deleting the unique vehicle identity of the vehicle from the first module.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein preparing the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module comprises saving operational data of the first module in the first module.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein preparing the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module comprises electrically disconnecting the first module from the vehicle.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
instructing the new module to operate as a master or as a slave.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein setting the vehicle into a maintenance mode involves setting some or all modules of the vehicle into a maintenance mode.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein verifying the electrical connection of the new module comprises transmitting a verification to a control center arranged in communication with the vehicle.

12. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing a program of instructions which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to claim 1 .

14. A control device of a vehicle assembled from a set of modules, the control device being configured for replacing a first module of the vehicle with a new module from the set of modules, the vehicle comprising:
at least one drive module; and
at least one functional module;
wherein the at least one drive module comprises a pair of wheels and is configured to be autonomously operated and drive the assembled vehicle, wherein the vehicle further comprises a unique vehicle identity, the control device being configured to:
set the vehicle into a maintenance mode indicating that the vehicle is not available for operation; and
prepare the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module;
wherein the control device is configured to prepare the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module by electrically disconnecting the first module from the vehicle;
wherein the control device is further configured to, when the first module has been physically disconnected from the vehicle and the new module has been physically connected with the vehicle:
establish an electrical connection between the new module and the vehicle;
after the establishing the electrical connection between the new module and the vehicle, assign the new module the unique vehicle identity of the vehicle and thereby link the new module to the vehicle;
set the vehicle into an operational mode; and
verify the electrical connection of the new module.

15. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to set the vehicle into a maintenance mode based on a received command from a control center arranged in communication with the vehicle.

16. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to set the vehicle into a maintenance mode based on a command from an operator, received via an operator interface on the vehicle or via a smart device.

17. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to prepare the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module by controlling the modules, such that the at least one drive module does not support the load of the at least one functional module.

18. The control device according to claim 17 , wherein the control device is configured to control the at least one functional module to extend at least one support leg, such that the load of the at least one functional module is supported by the at least one support leg.

19. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to prepare the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module by deleting the unique vehicle identity of the vehicle from the first module.

20. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to prepare the vehicle for physical disconnection of the first module by saving operational data of the first module locally in the first module.

21. The control device according to claim 14 , further being configured to instruct the new module to operate as a master or as a slave.

22. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to set the vehicle into a maintenance mode by setting some or all modules of the vehicle into a maintenance mode.

23. The control device according to claim 14 , wherein the control device is configured to verify the electrical connection of the new module by transmitting a verification to a control center arranged in communication with the vehicle.

24. A vehicle assembled from a set of modules, the vehicle comprising:
at least one drive module; and
at least one functional module;
wherein the vehicle further comprises a control device according to claim 14 .

25. A system, configured for replacing a first module of a vehicle assembled from a set of modules wit

Assignees

• Scania Cv Ab

Inventors

• Claesson André
• Sjödin Robert
• Ährlig Linus
• Teppola Sami
• Kallio Mikko
• Skeppström Tomas
• Colling Morgan

Classifications

• G07C5/006

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title

• B62D63/025 Primary

  Modular vehicles (superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025) · CPC title

• B60W2556/45

  External transmission of data to or from the vehicle · CPC title

• B60P3/42

  convertible from one use to a different one (vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media, rail-and-road vehicles B60F) · CPC title

• B60K1/02

  comprising more than one electric motor · CPC title