Applications for using mass estimations for vehicles
First Claim
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1. A method, comprising:
- identifying a first vehicle and a second vehicle at a data processing center;
receiving at the data processing center sensor data from the first vehicle and the second vehicle, the sensor data useful for calculating a first mass estimation and a second mass estimation of the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively;
performing, at the data processing center, calculations for the first mass estimation for the first vehicle and the second mass estimation for the second vehicle using the sensor data received from the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively;
determining which of the first vehicle and the second vehicle are assigned a lead position and a following position in a platoon based on the first and the second mass estimations of the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively; and
coordinating the platoon between the first vehicle and the second vehicle by;
directing the first vehicle and the second vehicle to rendezvous and engage in the platoon;
communicating to and sharing among the first vehicle and the second vehicle the assigned lead the following positions in the platoon as determined from the calculated mass estimations of the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively, the communication and sharing of the assigned lead and following positions enabling the two vehicles to each know their assigned position at a point of contact of the rendezvous,wherein the first vehicle and the second vehicle each assume their assigned position at the point of contact of the rendezvous.
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Abstract
Various applications for use of mass estimations of a vehicle, including to control operation of the vehicle, sharing the mass estimation with other vehicles and/or a Network Operations Center (NOC), organizing vehicles operating in a platoon and/or partially controlling the operation of one or more vehicles operating in a platoon based on the relative mass estimations between the platooning vehicles. When vehicles are operating in a platoon, the relative mass between a lead and a following vehicle may be used to scale torque and/or brake commands generated by the lead vehicle and sent to the following vehicle.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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identifying a first vehicle and a second vehicle at a data processing center; receiving at the data processing center sensor data from the first vehicle and the second vehicle, the sensor data useful for calculating a first mass estimation and a second mass estimation of the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively; performing, at the data processing center, calculations for the first mass estimation for the first vehicle and the second mass estimation for the second vehicle using the sensor data received from the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively; determining which of the first vehicle and the second vehicle are assigned a lead position and a following position in a platoon based on the first and the second mass estimations of the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively; and coordinating the platoon between the first vehicle and the second vehicle by; directing the first vehicle and the second vehicle to rendezvous and engage in the platoon; communicating to and sharing among the first vehicle and the second vehicle the assigned lead the following positions in the platoon as determined from the calculated mass estimations of the first vehicle and the second vehicle respectively, the communication and sharing of the assigned lead and following positions enabling the two vehicles to each know their assigned position at a point of contact of the rendezvous, wherein the first vehicle and the second vehicle each assume their assigned position at the point of contact of the rendezvous. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method, comprising:
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generating sensor data for a first vehicle, the sensor data usable for estimating a first mass of the first vehicle; calculating a mass estimation for the first vehicle based on the generated sensor data; sharing the calculated mass estimation for the first vehicle with one or more additional vehicle(s); and coordinating a platoon between the first vehicle and the one or more additional vehicles, an assigned position of the first vehicle in the platoon relative to the one or more additional vehicles in the platoon at least partially determined by the mass estimation of the first vehicle, the coordinating of the platoon involving; directing the first vehicle and the one or more additional vehicles to rendezvous and engage in the platoon; and the first vehicle assuming the assigned position in the platoon relative to the one or more additional vehicles after rendezvousing with the one or more additional vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification