System and approach for dynamic vehicle speed optimization

• US 10,272,779 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2016
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc. (Garrett Motion, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Garrett Transportation I Inc. (Garrett Motion, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tschanz, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen H
• Application Number:
  US15/211,889
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036543A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 20/11 using model predictive control [MPC] strategies, i.e. control methods based on models predicting performance utilising navigation and traffic information in the control strategy B60W20/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0028 Mathematical models, e.g. for simulation
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/16 Driving resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0005 with arrangements to save energy
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A system and approach for a vehicle system. The vehicle system may include a vehicle, a propulsion device (e.g., a combustion engine or electric motor), and a controller. The propulsion device may at least partially power the vehicle. The controller may be in communication with the propulsion device and may control the propulsion device according to a target speed of the vehicle. The controller may include a model of energy balances of the vehicle and may use the model to estimate energy losses over a travel horizon of the vehicle. The controller may optimize a cost function over the travel horizon of the vehicle based at least in part on the estimated energy losses to set an actual speed for the vehicle. The estimated energy losses may include one or more of aerodynamic drag, vehicle friction, and conversion efficiency from the propulsion device.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a vehicle;

a propulsion device configured to at least partially power the vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the propulsion device for controlling the propulsion device according to a target speed of the vehicle; and

wherein;

the controller includes a model of energy balances of the vehicle and is configured to use the model to estimate energy losses over a travel horizon of the vehicle;

the controller is configured to optimize a cost function over the travel horizon of the vehicle based at least in part on the estimated energy losses and the target speed to determine an actual speed for the vehicle;

the controller is configured to control the propulsion device to cause the vehicle to travel at the determined actual speed for the vehicle;

the controller is configured to optimize the cost function at least in part by minimizing the energy losses relative to the target speed; and

the controller includes a cruise control module and the target speed is a user specified cruise control speed.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the set actual speed for the vehicle is the actual speed of the vehicle after a user has specified the user specified cruise control speed.

3. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the travel horizon of the vehicle is a time interval.

4. The vehicle system of claim 3, wherein the model of energy balances of the vehicle includes a parameter of road grades of roads on which the vehicle is to travel over the travel horizon.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the model of energy balances of the vehicle includes a parameter of a current road grade on which the vehicle is positioned.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the model of energy balances of the vehicle includes a mass of the vehicle as a parameter.

7. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the estimated energy losses includes energy loss due to aerodynamic drag.

8. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the estimated energy losses include energy loss due to friction.

9. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the estimated energy losses include energy loss due to conversion efficiency from the propulsion device.