Enhanced vehicle operation

• US 10,061,314 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2016
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US15/236,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20180046186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 701 25
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/22 including control of suspension systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0088 Adaptive recalibration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0622 Air-fuel ratio
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/223 Stiffness
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/24 Direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18 Propelling the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/082 Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0221 involving a learning process

Abstract

A plurality of segments of a predetermined route are identified based on a plurality of transition points. A setting of at least one of a plurality of vehicle subsystems is adjusted according to an assigned operating mode when a vehicle enters one of the segments. The vehicle subsystems are actuated according to the assigned operating mode. The assigned operating mode is one of a plurality of operating modes. Each operating mode includes at least one predetermined setting for each one of the vehicle subsystems. The predetermined settings are defined according to data collected from operation of the vehicle in the route by a user.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the computer to:

identify a plurality of segments of a predetermined route based on a plurality of transition points;

adjust a setting of at least one of a plurality of vehicle subsystems according to an assigned operating mode when a vehicle enters one of the segments; and

actuate the vehicle subsystems according to the assigned operating mode;

wherein the assigned operating mode is one of a plurality of operating modes, each operating mode including at least one predetermined setting for each one of the vehicle subsystems, the predetermined settings for each operating mode defined according to data collected from operation of the vehicle in the route by a specific user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include instructions to adjust the setting upon reaching one of the transition points.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the route includes a start point and wherein the instructions further include instructions to actuate the vehicle subsystems to move the vehicle along the predetermined route for a plurality of laps, each lap starting from the start point and ending upon arriving to the start point and including the assigned operating modes for each of the segments of the route.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of laps includes a first lap and a second lap, and wherein the assigned operating mode for at least one of the segments of the route during the second lap is different than the assigned operating mode for the segment of the route for the first lap.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle subsystems include at least one of a suspension subsystem, a propulsion subsystem, and a steering subsystem.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify one of the segments that includes a portion having a radius of curvature below a predetermined radius of curvature threshold.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the instructions further include instructions to assign one of the operating modes to the segment that includes the portion having the radius of curvature below the predetermined radius of curvature threshold.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include instructions to identify one of the segments that includes a portion having a radius of curvature exceeding a predetermined radius of curvature threshold and to assign one of the operating modes to the one of the segments.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include instructions to assign one of the operating modes to one of the segments lacking an assigned operating mode.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further include instructions to receive the transition points from a second user.

11. A method, comprising:

identifying a plurality of segments of a predetermined route based on a plurality of transition points;

adjusting a setting of at least one of a plurality of vehicle subsystems according to an assigned operating mode when a vehicle enters one of the segments; and

actuating the vehicle subsystems according to the assigned operating mode;

wherein the assigned operating mode is one of a plurality of operating modes, each operating mode including at least one predetermined setting for each one of the vehicle subsystems, the predetermined settings for each operating mode defined according to data collected from operation of the vehicle in the route by a specific user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising adjusting the setting upon reaching one of the transition points.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the route includes a start point and wherein the method further comprises actuating the vehicle subsystems to move the vehicle along the predetermined route for a plurality of laps, each lap starting from the start point and ending upon arriving to the start point and including the assigned operating modes for each of the segments of the route.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the plurality of laps includes a first lap and a second lap, and wherein the assigned operating mode for at least one of the segments of the route during the second lap is different than the assigned operating mode for the segment of the route for the first lap.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the vehicle subsystems include at least one of a suspension subsystem, a propulsion subsystem, and a steering subsystem.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising identifying one of the segments that includes a portion having a radius of curvature below a predetermined radius of curvature threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising assigning one of the operating modes to the segment that includes the portion having the radius of curvature below the predetermined radius of curvature threshold.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising identifying one of the segments that includes a portion having a radius of curvature exceeding a predetermined radius of curvature threshold and to assign one of the operating modes to the one of the segments.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising assigning one of the operating modes to one of the segments lacking an assigned operating mode.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving the transition points from a second user.