US 12,307,539 B2
Method for operating a transport system and corresponding transport system
Vladimir Idelevitch, Nuremberg (DE); Maximilian Ertl, Ingolstadt (DE); and Stephan Beutler, Ingolstadt (DE)
Assigned to AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed by AUDI AG, Ingolstadt (DE)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2018, as Appl. No. 15/935,425.
Claims priority of application No. 102017206291 (DE), filed on Apr. 12, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2018/0300836 A1, Oct. 18, 2018
Int. Cl. G06Q 50/40 (2024.01); G06Q 10/0631 (2023.01); G06Q 10/0835 (2023.01)
CPC G06Q 50/40 (2024.01) [G06Q 10/06315 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0835 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a transport system for transporting a passenger motor vehicle, the method comprising:
assembling, based upon a received transport means request, a plurality of transport means into a total set of transport means, wherein each transport means of the plurality of transport means is an electric motor vehicle configured to move independently of one another and a subset of transport means of the total set of transport means is configured to transport the passenger motor vehicle;
determining a number of transport means of the total set of transport means sufficient for carrying out the transport means request depending on a type, a volume, or a weight of the passenger motor vehicle to be transported and one or more transport starting locations;
selecting from the total set of transport means, the subset of transport means corresponding to the determined transport means number, wherein, selecting each transport means for the subset of transport means includes:
comparing a quantity of energy needed for reaching one or more transport destination locations with a remaining residual quantity of energy of the respective transport means of the subset of transport means to determine whether each transport means of the subset of transport means has a sufficient residual quantity of energy;
exchanging energy from a transport means of the subset of transport means with the sufficient residual quantity of energy to charge a transport means of the subset of transport means that does not have the sufficient residual quantity of energy;
evaluating a suitability of each transport means of the subset of transport means including determining a distance of the one or more transport destination locations from a charging device for the respective transport means, wherein respective transport means are only assigned to the subset of transport means when the quantity of energy needed for reaching the one or more transport destination locations is less than the remaining residual quantity of energy of the respective transport means;
and identifying an availability of each transport means of the subset of transport means, wherein each transport means is available after the transport means is not assigned to a pre-existing subset of transport means;
calculating and displaying a time of arrival of the subset of transport means at the one or more transport starting locations based on a time of arrival of each transport means of the subset of transport means;
autonomously conveying the subset of transport means to the one or more transport starting locations;
after the one or more transport starting locations are reached, transporting the passenger motor vehicle, by the subset of transport means, to one or more transport destination locations; and
after the one or more transport destination locations have been reached by the subset of transport means, canceling the subset of transport means.