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DE-102019112450-B4 - Combinable and separable vehicle and method for controlling the same

DE102019112450B4DE 102019112450 B4DE102019112450 B4DE 102019112450B4DE-102019112450-B4

Abstract

Combinable and separable vehicle, comprising: a front connecting section (120) and a rear connecting section (140), each provided at a front section and a rear section of a vehicle (100) respectively, and configured to be connected to another vehicle (300), a front monitoring section (162) and a rear monitoring section (182) configured to monitor a forward and a reverse area of the vehicle (100) respectively, and a control device (130) configured to determine whether another vehicle (300) is connected to the front connecting section (120) or the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle (100), based on information received from the front connecting section (120) or the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle or from the front monitoring section (162) or the rear monitoring section (182) of the vehicle (100), wherein the control device (130) is configured to control the operation of each of a front component (164) and a rear component (184) of the vehicle (100) depending on which of the front and rear connecting sections (120, 140) of the vehicle (100) is connected to another vehicle (300), wherein the control device (130) is configured to control the operation of a drive component (150) of the vehicle (100) depending on the result of a comparison between a driving energy storage quantity of the vehicle (100) and a driving energy storage quantity of another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100).

Inventors

  • Dong Eun Cha
  • Jin Ho Hwang
  • Sang Heon Lee

Assignees

  • HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
  • KIA MOTORS CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20190513
Priority Date
20181212

Claims (18)

  1. A combinable and separable vehicle comprising: a front connecting section (120) and a rear connecting section (140), each provided on a front section and a rear section of a vehicle (100), respectively, and configured to be connected to another vehicle (300); a front monitoring section (162) and a rear monitoring section (182), each configured to monitor a forward area and a reverse area of the vehicle (100), respectively; and a control device (130) configured to determine whether another vehicle (300) is connected to the front connecting section (120) or the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle (100), based on information received from the front connecting section (120) or the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle, or from the front monitoring section (162). rear monitoring section (182) of the vehicle (100), wherein the control device (130) is configured to control the operation of each of a front component (164) and a rear component (184) of the vehicle (100) depending on which of the front and rear connecting sections (120, 140) of the vehicle (100) is connected to another vehicle (300), whereby the control device (130) is configured to control the operation of a drive component (150) of the vehicle (100) depending on the result of a comparison between a driving energy storage quantity of the vehicle (100) and a driving energy storage quantity of another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100).
  2. Combinable and separable vehicle according to Claim 1 , wherein in a case where it is detected that the front connecting section (120) or the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle (100) is connected to another vehicle (300), the control device (130) is configured to determine that the other vehicle (300) is connected to the front section of the vehicle (100) when a distance between the vehicle (100) and a front obstacle, measured by means of the front monitoring section (162), is equal to or less than a predetermined distance, and the control device (130) is configured to determine that the other vehicle (300) is connected to the rear section of the vehicle (100) when a distance between the vehicle (100) and a rear obstacle, measured by means of the rear monitoring section (182), is equal to or less than the predetermined distance.
  3. Combinable and separable vehicle according to Claim 1 or 2 , wherein, in a case where it is detected that each of the front connecting section (120) and the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle (100) is connected to another vehicle (300), the control device (130) is configured to determine that the other vehicles are connected to the front section and the rear section of the vehicle (100) respectively when a distance between the vehicle (100) and a front obstacle, measured by means of the front connecting section (120) and the rear connecting section (140), is reached is measured by the monitoring section (162), and a distance between the vehicle (100) and a rear obstacle, measured by the rear monitoring section (182), is equal to or less than a predetermined distance.
  4. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 3 , wherein the control device (130) is configured to terminate operation of the front monitoring section (162) and operation of the front component (164) of the vehicle (100) when it is detected that another vehicle (300) is connected to the front section of the vehicle (100).
  5. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 4 , wherein the control device (130) is configured to terminate operation of the rear monitoring section (182) and operation of the rear component (184) of the vehicle (100) when it is detected that another vehicle (300) is connected to the rear section of the vehicle (100).
  6. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 5 , wherein the control device (130) is configured to terminate a respective operation of the front monitoring section (162), the rear monitoring section (182), the front component (164) and the rear component (184) of the vehicle (100) when it is determined that other vehicles (300) are connected to the front section and the rear section of the vehicle (100).
  7. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 6 , wherein the front component (164) comprises a front headlight, a front direction indicator and a front windscreen wiper, and the rear component (184) comprises a rear brake light, a reversing light and a rear direction indicator.
  8. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 7 , wherein in a case where it is detected that the front connecting section (120) or the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle (100) is connected to another vehicle (300), the control device (130) is configured to determine that the other vehicle (300) is connected to the front section of the vehicle (100) when a distance between the vehicle (100) and a front obstacle, measured by means of the front monitoring section (162), is equal to or less than a predetermined distance in order to stop operation of the front monitoring section (162) and operation of the front component (164), and to control the rear monitoring section (182) and the rear component (184) to be in operation.
  9. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 8 , wherein, in a case where it is detected that both the front connecting section (120) and the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle (100) are connected to other vehicles (300), the control device (130) is configured to determine that the other vehicles (300) are connected to the front section and the rear section of the vehicle (100) respectively when a distance between the vehicle (100) and a front obstacle, measured by means of the front monitoring section (162), and a distance between the vehicle (100) and a rear obstacle, measured by means of the rear monitoring section (182), are equal to or less than a predetermined distance, and to operate the respective front monitoring section (162), rear monitoring section (182), front component (164), and rear component (184) of the vehicle (100) stop.
  10. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 9 , wherein the control device (130) is configured to terminate operation of the drive component (150) of the vehicle (100) when the driving energy storage quantity of the vehicle (100) is less than that of another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (300).
  11. Combinable and separable vehicle according to Claim 10 , wherein the control device (130) of the vehicle (100) is configured to grant a driving control right to a control device (330) of another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100) when the control device (130) of the vehicle (100) stops the operation of the drive component (150) of the vehicle (100).
  12. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 11 , wherein the control device (130) is configured to allow a driving energy storage device (110) of the vehicle (100) to be charged with driving energy from another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100) when the driving energy storage quantity of the vehicle (100) is less than that of the other vehicle (300).
  13. Combinable and separable vehicle according to Claim 12 , wherein the control device tung (130) is configured to provide a credit to a control device (330) of another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100) by a charge amount when the driving energy storage device (110) of the vehicle (100) is charged with the driving energy from the other vehicle (300).
  14. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 13 , wherein the control device (130) is configured to release the connection between another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100) and the rear connecting section (140) of the vehicle (100) when it is determined that the other vehicle (300) is connected to the rear section of the vehicle (100) and a front collision is predicted by means of the front monitoring section (162).
  15. Combinable and separable vehicle according to Claim 14 , wherein a control device (330) of the other vehicle (300), which is separate from the rear section of the vehicle (100), is configured to control a drive component (350) of the other vehicle (300) so that the other vehicle (300) is driven in a direction opposite to a direction in which a collision of the vehicle (100) is predicted.
  16. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 15 , wherein the control device (130) is configured to release the connection between the front connecting section (120) of the vehicle (100) and another vehicle (100) connected to the vehicle (100) and to control a drive component (150) of the vehicle (100) so that the vehicle (100) is driven in a direction opposite to a direction in which a collision of the vehicle (100) is predicted when it is determined that the other vehicle (300) is connected to the front section of the vehicle (100) and a front collision is predicted by means of the front monitoring section (382) of the other vehicle (300).
  17. Combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 16 , wherein the control device (130) of the vehicle (100) and a control device (330) of the other vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100) are configured to transmit and receive a command by means of communication or to share a collision prediction signal and a collision signal with each other.
  18. Method for controlling the combinable and separable vehicle according to one of the Claims 1 - 17 , wherein the method comprises: detecting a connection signal of the front connection section (120) or the rear connection section (140) of the vehicle (100), determining that the other vehicle (300) is connected to the front connection section (120) or the rear connection section (140) of the vehicle (100) based on the information received from the front monitoring section (162) or the rear monitoring section (182) of the vehicle (100), comparing a driving energy storage quantity of the vehicle (100) with a driving energy storage quantity of another vehicle (300) connected to the vehicle (100), and controlling an operation of a drive component (150) of the vehicle (100) depending on a result of the comparison.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention The present invention relates to a combinable (e.g. connectable, e.g. couplingable) and separable (e.g. detachable, e.g. uncoupling) vehicle (e.g. motor vehicle) which is combinable (e.g. connectable, e.g. couplingable) with other vehicles (e.g. motor vehicles). 2. Description of related technology Following the development of an electric vehicle, a two-seater micro-mobility solution (e.g., a two-seater micro-mobility unit) was proposed for the market. Regarding the charging of the electric vehicle, numerous initiatives and trials were undertaken to enable intermediate or mutual charging of electricity between vehicles (e.g., motor vehicles). A two-seater micromobility vehicle (e.g., a two-seater micromobility unit) operates with limited functionality, serving solely as a means of transport. Such a micromobility vehicle (e.g., such a micromobility unit) can be a two-seater environment. The foregoing content described as related technology has been provided only to help understand the background of the present invention and should not be understood as corresponding to related technology known to the person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the DE 10 2014 010 461 A1 A combinable and separable vehicle comprising: a front connecting section and a rear connecting section, each provided at a front section and a rear section of a vehicle and connected to another vehicle when the vehicle is combined with the other vehicle; a front monitoring section and a rear monitoring section, each monitoring a forward area and a reverse area of the vehicle; and a control device that determines whether the other vehicle is/will be connected to the front connecting section or the rear connecting section of the vehicle, based on information received from the front connecting section or the rear connecting section of the vehicle, or from the front monitoring section or the rear monitoring section of the vehicle; and the control device controls whether each is to be operated by a front component and a rear component of the vehicle, depending on the direction in which the vehicle is connected to the other vehicle. Further combinable and separable vehicles and relevant technologies are from the DE 10 2013 006 687 A1 and the DE 10 2015 208 585 A1 known. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention is to provide a combinable (e.g., connectable, e.g., coupling) and separable (e.g., detachable, e.g., uncoupling) vehicle (e.g., motor vehicle) which can be combined (e.g., connected, e.g., coupling) with other vehicles (e.g., motor vehicles) at a front section and a rear section thereof, and which is effective for controlling components, driving (e.g., propulsion), charging (e.g., recharging), and safety systems between the vehicles when the vehicles are combined (e.g., connected, e.g., coupled), and a method for controlling the same. The present invention provides a combinable and separable vehicle according to claim 1 and a method for controlling the combinable and separable vehicle according to claim 18. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a combinable (e.g., connectable, e.g., coupling) and separable (e.g., detachable, e.g., uncoupling) vehicle (e.g., motor vehicle) comprises: a front connecting section and a rear connecting section, each provided (e.g., each assigned) to a front section and a rear section of a vehicle (e.g., a motor vehicle) and connected/become connected to another vehicle (e.g., another motor vehicle) when the vehicle is combined (e.g., connected, e.g., coupled) with the other vehicle; a front monitoring section and a rear monitoring section, each monitoring (e.g., each assigned) a forward area (e.g., a front area) and a reverse area (e.g., a rear area) of the vehicle; and a control device that determines whether the other vehicle is/will be connected to the front connecting section or the rear connecting section of the vehicle, based on information received. is/are from the front connecting section or the rear connecting section of the vehicle, or from the front overhead The control device controls whether each of the front and rear components of the vehicle is to be operated, depending on the direction (e.g., arrangement) in which the vehicle is connected to the other vehicle. According to the invention, the control device is configured to control the operation of a drive component of the vehicle depending on the result of a comparison between the vehicle's energy storage capacity and that of another vehicle connected to the vehicle. In a case where it is detected that the front connecting section or the rear connecting section of the vehicle is/will be connected to the other vehicle, the control device can determine that the other vehicle is/will be connected to the front section of the vehicle if a distance between the vehicle and a front obstacle, measured by t