Читать книгу Smart Charging Solutions for Hybrid and Electric Vehicles - Группа авторов - Страница 15

The paradigm of “smart” is relatively novel and rupturing the conventional product developing organization. The conceptualization of connotation demands a systematic approach. The approaches vary based on the utility and target users. A developer takes three different approaches, considering the target, to determine which functionalities are to be added. The first approach is to add smartness to the target applications accessible to users of the device. Adding functionalities to an application so that the users can monitor, control, and execute the workings of a connected system smartly is an example of the first approach.

The second approach adds functionalities to the device instead of the application that connects the user and the device. An example of the second approach is adding sensors and programmed microcontrollers to a device to operate intelligently based on the sensor data and computed parameters. The user interface connected in the second approach can be limited to data visualizations and minimal control operations. The third approach is an amalgamation of both the first and second approaches. Both the target user application and the devices connected are upgraded to develop a smart environment.

The developers of smart charging take the third approach. The third approach ensures that the overall system is intelligent to make decisions even when it is not able to coordinate with the connected devices or software. For example, while in operation, the cable connecting the distribution transformer and the charging station of a smart charging system experience a higher current than the normal value. As per the first approach, the information of fault will be conveyed to the operator of the monitoring station and the fault will continue until the operator signals to shut down the operation. There is a possibility that the cables will be damaged by the time operator responds, the operator did not respond due to negligence, or there was a communication breakdown leading to non-receipt of information at the operator end. If the second approach is taken, although the system will shut down due to fault, the operator will have no information to detect the cause of the fault. However, if the third approach is taken, the operator will get information about the fault and the system will shut down operation on its own. The third approach ensures the safety of the system and saves time working on fault correction.