Method and apparatus for implementing a vehicle inspection waiver program

• US 10,431,020 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McQuade, Charles Michael, Fakkema, Fred, Brinton, Brett, Brinton, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher, Jerry-Daryl
• Application Number:
  US15/369,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20170084091A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0638 Engine speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/0657 Engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• 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 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/045 Monitoring control system parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 9/002 of filter regeneration, e.g. detection of clogging
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/029 : the exhaust gas treating apparatus being a particulate filter
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/018 : Certifying business or products
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 : communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 : Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 : Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction

Abstract

Position data received wirelessly from a vehicle enrolled in an inspection waiver program are employed to determine when the enrolled vehicle is approaching an inspection station. After determining that the enrolled vehicle is approaching an inspection station, and if the enrolled vehicle has a valid inspection waiver, a bypass confirmation can selectively be provided to the vehicle operator, authorizing the operator to bypass the inspection station. The task of determining when an enrolled vehicle is approaching the location of an inspection station can be performed using a processor disposed in the vehicle, or at a remote location separate from both the vehicle and the inspection station, or at the inspection station. The inspection stations can be mobile so that their locations are varied to prevent operators from intentionally avoiding an inspection, as may occur with fixed inspection stations.

Claims

1. A method of administering a vehicle inspection program, utilizing inspection stations, each having an inspection station location, on an enrolled fleet of vehicles that each includes a suite of sensors, including a position sensor, that produce sensor data as each enrolled vehicle is being operated, sensor data being collected on a bus, and each enrolled fleet vehicle having a driver, and comprising:

continuously comparing the position sensor data for each vehicle with the inspection station locations to determine if any fleet vehicle is approaching an inspection station;

for each fleet vehicle, continuously delivering vehicle sensor data from the bus to a computer and using the computer to analyze vehicle sensor data, thereby creating a set of analysis results;

for each instance of a fleet vehicle approaching an inspection station, making a determination as to whether to permit the fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station to bypass inspection, based at least in part on the analysis results;

presenting the determination to each driver of a fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station and personnel of the inspection station being approached; and

inspecting fleet vehicles wherein a determination has been to not permit a fleet vehicle to bypass inspection, and not inspecting fleet vehicles wherein a determination has been made to permit a fleet vehicle to bypass inspection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of analysis results includes a preliminary assessment of driver proficiency, and wherein the preliminary assessment of driver proficiency is used in making each determination as to whether to permit a fleet vehicle to bypass inspection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein each preliminary assessment of driver proficiency, uses at least one from a group of alerts, received during a preceding time period and consisting essentially of:

a hard-braking alert;

a roll stability control alert; and

an anti-lock braking system alert.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein each fleet vehicle also produces accelerometer data and each preliminary assessment of driver proficiency includes an analysis of accelerometer data to arrive at an indication of driver steadiness within a preceding time period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein some vehicles in the fleet of vehicles have engaged in a number of sudden accelerations, each having a severity, and wherein each analysis of accelerometer data includes a computation of a sudden acceleration score, based on the number and severity of sudden accelerations.

6. The method of claim 4, further wherein in instances in which a fleet vehicle is inspected, inspection results are automatically compared with an accelerometer data history to determine the accuracy of analysis and improve the accuracy of analysis.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein each set of analysis results also relate to vehicle integrity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each set of analysis results relate to integrity of each enrolled fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the presence of faults.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the presence of a brake system fault.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the presence of a safety fault.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the probability of a condition which could cause an on-road failure, requiring a fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station to pull to the side of the roadway.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the probability of engine overheating.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein inspection station utilization rate is an additional factor in determining whether to permit a fleet vehicle approaching the inspection station to bypass inspection.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said analysis is performed in a computer that is onboard each fleet vehicle.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said analysis is performed at a remote computer that receives data by telemetry from each fleet vehicle.

17. A system for selectively granting bypass permissions to a fleet of vehicles that are enrolled in an inspection bypass program, the method comprising:

a suite of sensors, disposed within each fleet vehicle, and adapted to gather a set of parameters, including brake temperature, oil temperature, brake pressure, roll stability control and anti-lock braking system status;

a bus assembly adapted to gather said information from said sensors;

a mechanism for determining when an enrolled fleet vehicle is approaching an inspection station;

a telematics and data processing assembly, configured to, for each fleet vehicle, receive data from said suite of sensors and to analyze the data from said suite of sensors, thereby creating a set of analysis results and to make a determination as to whether to permit any of the fleet vehicles that are approaching an inspection station to bypass inspection, based at least in part on the analysis results for that vehicle.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein each set of analysis results includes a preliminary assessment of driver proficiency.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each preliminary assessment of driver proficiency, use at least one from a group of alerts, received during a preceding time period and consisting essentially of:

a hard-braking alert;

a roll stability control alert; and

an anti-lock braking system alert.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein each set of analysis results relate to vehicle integrity.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the presence of faults.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the presence of a brake system fault.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the presence of a safety fault.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the presence of a safety fault which could cause an on road failure, requiring a fleet vehicle to pull to the side of the roadway.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein each set of analysis results relate to the probability of engine overheating.