Dynamic assignment of electric vehicle operational characteristics based on vehicle site
AssigneeTextron Inc.
InventorChristopher Alexander Boehm
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of operating a vehicle, wherein the vehicle comprises an onboard controller, the method comprising automatically detecting operation of the vehicle within a site defined by a geographic boundary; and providing to the vehicle operational characteristics associated with the site, wherein the onboard controller causes the vehicle to operate in accordance with the operational characteristics while the vehicle remains within the site.
Claims18
A method of operating an open cabin vehicle (OCV), wherein the OCV comprises an onboard controller, the method comprising:
- automatically detecting by a fleet management system operation of the OCV LUV within a site defined by a geographic boundary, wherein the fleet management system is located remotely from the OCV and wherein the site has a governing body associated therewith for establishing regulations regarding operation of the OCV within the site;
- accessing from a database associated with the fleet management system operational characteristics associated with the site, wherein the operational characteristics comprise the regulations established by the governing body;
- and
- wirelessly communicating by the fleet management system to the onboard controller the operational characteristics associated with the site;
- wherein the onboard controller controls operation of the OCV by a driver in accordance with the operational characteristics communicated by the fleet management system while the OCV remains within the site;
- and
- wherein the operational characteristics comprise a combination of two or more of vehicle battery charge characteristics, vehicle battery discharge characteristics, data privacy requirements, a motor controller software version, and smart regeneration characteristics.
A fleet management system for managing a plurality of remotely-located electric open cabin vehicles (EVs) each comprising a passenger seating area, a canopy over the passenger seating area, and an onboard computer for controlling operation of the EV, the fleet management system configured to:
- automatically detect operation of the EVs within a site defined by a geographic boundary using geopositioning system (GPS) data, wherein the site has associated therewith a governing body for establishing regulations regarding operation of the EVs within the site;
- access from a database operational characteristics associated with the site, wherein the operational characteristics comprise the regulations established by the governing body;
- and
- send to the onboard computers of the EVs data comprising the operational characteristics;
- wherein the onboard controllers of the EVs operate the EVs accordance with the operational characteristics received from the fleet management system while the EVs remain within the site;
- and
- wherein the operational characteristics comprise maximum vehicle speed, vehicle battery charge characteristics, vehicle battery discharge characteristics, data privacy requirements, a motor controller software version, and smart regeneration characteristics.
An electric lightweight utility vehicle (EV) for operation within a site defined by a geographic boundary and having a governing body associated therewith for establishing regulations regarding operation of the EV within the site, the EV comprising:
- a passenger seating area;
- a canopy disposed over the passenger seating area;
- a motor controller for controlling application of rotational torque applied to wheels of the EV;
- and
- an onboard controller for sending commands to the motor controller to control operation thereof, the onboard controller further configured to receive operational characteristics from a remotely-located fleet management system via a wireless communications network, wherein the operational characteristics comprise the regulations established by the governing body associated with the site and are stored in a database accessible by the fleet management system;
- wherein the onboard controller operates the EV in accordance with the operational characteristics while the EV remains within the site;
- and
- wherein the operational characteristics comprise a combination of vehicle battery charge characteristics, vehicle battery discharge characteristics, data privacy requirements, a motor controller software version, and smart regeneration characteristics.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.