Method and system for operating a motor vehicle

• US 10,214,216 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2016
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Attensperger, Tobias, Reiff, Moritz, Sorge, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hlavka, David J
• Application Number:
  US15/546,461
• Publication Number:
  US 20170361843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/169 Remaining operating distance or charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/05 Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/021 Clutch engagement state
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0666 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/083 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/086 Power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/305 target power to auxiliaries
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 : Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 : Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 : Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/087 : where the control system corrects or modifies a request from the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 : Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 : Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 : Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A method for operating a motor vehicle by detecting a destination input by a motor vehicle occupant; and determining which residual range of the motor vehicle will be indicated at the destination. If the determined residual range is less than a predetermined threshold value, the motor vehicle is operated in a consumption optimizing mode during which the motor vehicle is operated to carry out automatic measures for reducing the consumption of the motor vehicle until reaching the destination.

Claims

1. A method for operating a motor vehicle, comprising:

detecting a destination input by a vehicle occupant;

determining a residual range of the motor vehicle indicated at the destination;

if the determined residual range is smaller than a predetermined threshold value;

operating the motor vehicle in a consumption optimizing mode in which the motor vehicle is operated with automatic carrying out of measures for lowering the consumption of the motor vehicle until the destination is reached, wherein

each of the measures is continuously evaluated with respect to an influence on the reduction of fuel consumption achievable,

each of the measures is continuously evaluated with respect to an influence on a restriction imposed on a driver of the motor vehicle, and

each of the measures are activated and deactivated depending on their respective continuously determined influences on the lowering of consumption and on the restriction imposed on the driver until the destination is reached such that the residual range at least corresponds to the threshold value and the restriction imposed on the driver that is due to the measures is minimized.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of measures for reducing consumption are carried out until reaching the destination, the plurality of measures comprising:

providing warning indications regarding a driving style of the driver;

reducing a maximum available output of the motor vehicle;

reducing a maximum available torque of the motor vehicle,

limiting a highest achievable speed of the motor vehicle;

reducing a power consumption of at least one electric consumer of the motor vehicle;

deactivating a four-wheel drive of the motor vehicle;

outputting navigation instructions for a direction to the destination along a determined route with optimized consumption;

uncoupling an engine of the motor vehicle from a transmission of the motor vehicle;

lowering a chassis of the motor vehicle;

setting a pressure point by means of an active gas pedal of the motor vehicle which signals an accelerator position that is not to be exceeded; and

reducing the power consumption of the engine cooling system.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein an evaluation of each of the measures with respect to their influence on the reduction of consumption that can be achieved and on the restriction imposed on the driver takes place as a function of continuously provided ambient conditions of the motor vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the following variables is provided among ambient conditions:

ambient temperature;

humidity of air;

ambient brightness;

type of the road surface;

type of the road;

curviness of the road;

gradient of the street; and

speed limits.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an evaluation of each of the measures with respect to their influence on the restriction imposed on the driver takes place as a function of a provided driver'"'"'s profile characterizing the behavior of the driver.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the greater an evaluated influence of each of the respective measures on the reduction of consumption that can be achieved and on the restriction imposed on the driver, the greater a consumption reduction value and the greater a value that is taken into account for a restriction imposed by each measure that is assigned during an activation and deactivation of each measure.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein an activation and deactivation of at least one of the measures takes place depending on whether a longitudinal guidance of the motor vehicle controlling the driver assistance system is activated.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the consumption optimizing mode is deactivated as soon as the motor vehicle reaches the destination.

9. A system for operating a motor vehicle, comprising:

a navigation device for detecting a destination input by a motor vehicle occupant;

a control device which is adapted to determine which residual range of the motor vehicle will be indicated at the destination, and to operate the motor vehicle in a consumption optimizing mode, during which the motor vehicle is operated to carry out automatic measures for reducing a consumption of the motor vehicle until reaching the destination, wherein if the determined residual range is less than a predetermined threshold value, the control device is adapted to continuously evaluate each of the measures with respect to the influence that can be achieved on a reduction of consumption;

wherein the control device is designed in order to

continuously evaluate each of the measures with respect to an influence on a restriction imposed on the driver of the motor vehicle;

evaluate the measures depending on continuously determined influences on the reduction of the consumption and on the restriction imposed on the driver until reaching the destination and to activate and deactivate the measures in such a manner that that motor vehicle reaches the destination with a residual range which corresponds at least to the threshold value and which minimizes the restriction imposed on the driver.