Power control planning and optimization for hybrid vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025074257-A1
Application number	US-202418752993-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2024
Priority date	Aug 28, 2023
Publication date	Mar 6, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes receiving, by a processor, a route having a start and a destination, pulling, by the processor, a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) points to define the route, generating, by the processor, a plurality of segments from the plurality of GPS points, and optimizing, by the processor, the plurality of segments to identify an optimal vehicle SOC so the vehicle is able to complete the route in the shortest amount of time possible.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, a route having a start and a destination; pulling, by the processor, a plurality of global positioning system (GPS) points to define the route; generating, by the processor, a plurality of segments from the plurality of GPS points; and optimizing, by the processor, the plurality of segments to identify an optimal state of charge (SOC) for a vehicle so the vehicle is able to complete the route in the shortest amount of time possible.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein generating the plurality of segments further comprises:
generating, by the processor, a map of a horizontal distance and an elevation change between the plurality of GPS points; and combining, by the processor, a subset of the plurality of GPS points into a segment based on a proximity of the plurality of GPS points in the subset and the elevation change between the plurality of GPS points in the subset being within a threshold elevation change.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
quantizing, by the processor, a state of the vehicle within the plurality of segments, the state being one of a state of charge or a speed of the vehicle; identifying, by the processor, a plurality of constraints; determining, by the processor, a cost value for each of the plurality of segments; and optimizing by the processor, the plurality of segments based at least in part on the cost value of each of the plurality of segments.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the optimizing the plurality of segments comprises:
applying, by the processor, the cost value based on the plurality of constraints to the plurality of segments; and identifying, by the processor, an optimal state of charge and an optimal speed for each of the plurality of segments based on the cost value.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
calculating, by the processor, the optimal state of charge and the optimal speed by calculating an end speed of each of the plurality of segments based on a start speed and a start state of charge.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
creating, by the processor, a plurality of trajectories comprising an optimal trajectory and a plurality of suboptimal trajectories.

7 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, a route having a start and a destination; calculating, by the processor, a plurality of segments that define the route; identifying, by the processor, a minimum cost value for the route; and generating, by the processor, a trajectory for the route, the trajectory based on a battery state of charge and vehicle speed for each of the plurality of segments.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein calculating the plurality of segments comprises combining consecutive global positioning system (GPS) data points into a segment based on a threshold elevation change.

9 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising generating, by the processor, a first state vector based on a quantized state of charge and a second state vector based on a quantized vehicle speed.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, by the processor, a cost value based on at least one constraint for the first state vector and the second state vector and saving the cost value associated with the at least one constraint to the first state vector and the second state vector.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the at least one constraint comprises at least one of a battery power limit, an SOC limit, a battery discharge stress, a battery regen stress, a fuel cell power limit, a fuel cell power rate limit, an upper speed limit, a lower speed limit, a brake resistor power limit, or a thermal system capacity.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the cost value is associated with at least one of a battery discharge cost, a battery regen cost, a time cost, a speed cost, a speed transition cost, an elevation-based SOC cost, or a final SOC cost.

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising simulating a final vehicle speed and a final battery state of charge based on a starting vehicle speed and a starting battery state of charge for each of the plurality of segments.

14 . A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, position information for a first position of a vehicle, the vehicle being powered by at least one of a fuel cell or a battery; interpolating, by the processor, an interpolated state of charge of the battery based at least in part on the first position of the vehicle; calculating, by the processor, a difference between the interpolated state of charge of the battery and a planned state of charge of the battery at a second position that is after the first position, the planned state of charge being based on a first trajectory; and sending, by the processor, a command to the fuel cell based on the difference between the interpolated state of charge and the planned state of charge.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the command is to increase a power output of the fuel cell based on the interpolated state of charge of the battery.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the command is to decrease a power output of the fuel cell based on the interpolated state of charge of the battery.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, by the processor, an actual state of charge of the battery in response to arriving at the second position; and identifying, by the processor, a second trajectory in response to the actual state of charge being different than the planned state of charge.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising commanding, by the processor, a thermal management module (TMM) to begin cooling a brake resistor based on the interpolated state of charge of the battery.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising commanding, by the TMM, the brake resistor to begin consuming power based on the interpolated state of charge of the battery.

20 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising filtering, by the processor, a planned fuel cell power output based on the interpolated state of charge of the battery.

Assignees

• Nikola Corp

Inventors

• Chapman Tyler
• Darji Mayank
• Gumaste Rohan
• Lee Jaeseung
• Maady Rashad
• Mclemore T Neil
• Phillips David
• Shafique Ashfaque B
• May Marshall Ryan

Classifications

• G01C21/3469

  Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects · CPC title

• B60L2260/52

  drive range estimation, e.g. of estimation of available travel distance · CPC title

• B60L15/2045

  for optimising the use of energy · CPC title

• B60L2260/54

  Energy consumption estimation · CPC title

• B60L58/00

  Methods or circuit arrangements for monitoring or controlling batteries or fuel cells, specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title