Virtual trainer for in vehicle driver coaching and to collect metrics to improve driver performance
First Claim
1. A system to train a driver during operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:
- (a) an interface to at least one vehicle data generating component that generates time-indexed vehicle data when the vehicle is operating;
(b) a display to locally present on a first portion of the display a map relevant to a present geographic location of the vehicle and to further present concurrently on a second portion of the display driver feedback information during vehicle operation; and
(c) at least one processor logically coupled to the display, the at least one processor configured to evaluate driver performance by;
(i) automatically analyzing the time-indexed vehicle data to determine if any of the time-indexed vehicle data has crossed a first predefined threshold, and if so automatically directing presentation, on the second portion of the display, driver feedback information indicating the first predefined threshold has been crossed and refraining from reporting to any remote entity that the first predefined threshold has been crossed; and
(ii) automatically analyzing additional time-indexed vehicle data to determine if any of the additional time-indexed vehicle data crosses a second predefined threshold; and
, if so, automatically directing presentation, on the second portion of the display, driver feedback information indicating the second predefined threshold has been crossed and using a wireless data link to automatically report to a remote computing device that the second predefined threshold has been crossed; and
(d) a local input mechanism to accept a driver entered explanation for a second predefined threshold crossing that was reported to the remote computing device.
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Abstract
A method of providing visual feedback to a driver based on data collected during vehicle operation. A processor at the vehicle analyzes vehicle data, and determines when predetermined threshold values have been reached for particular parameters. Whenever such a threshold is reached, an audible indication is provided to the driver, indicating that the baseline has been exceeded. Certain parameters have at least two threshold values. When a first threshold value is reached, an alert is presented to the driver, but no data is recorded or reported. When a second threshold value is reached, another alert is presented to the driver, and data is recorded for reporting to a driver manager or supervisor. This approach provides a driver warning, that if they correct the triggering behavior, their supervisor is never notified of that behavior. However, if the behavior escalates, and the second threshold is breached, the behavior is recorded.
211 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system to train a driver during operation of a vehicle, the system comprising:
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(a) an interface to at least one vehicle data generating component that generates time-indexed vehicle data when the vehicle is operating; (b) a display to locally present on a first portion of the display a map relevant to a present geographic location of the vehicle and to further present concurrently on a second portion of the display driver feedback information during vehicle operation; and (c) at least one processor logically coupled to the display, the at least one processor configured to evaluate driver performance by; (i) automatically analyzing the time-indexed vehicle data to determine if any of the time-indexed vehicle data has crossed a first predefined threshold, and if so automatically directing presentation, on the second portion of the display, driver feedback information indicating the first predefined threshold has been crossed and refraining from reporting to any remote entity that the first predefined threshold has been crossed; and (ii) automatically analyzing additional time-indexed vehicle data to determine if any of the additional time-indexed vehicle data crosses a second predefined threshold; and
, if so, automatically directing presentation, on the second portion of the display, driver feedback information indicating the second predefined threshold has been crossed and using a wireless data link to automatically report to a remote computing device that the second predefined threshold has been crossed; and(d) a local input mechanism to accept a driver entered explanation for a second predefined threshold crossing that was reported to the remote computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of producing a performance metric indicative of a performance of a driver based on at least one metric corresponding to the driver'"'"'s operation of a vehicle, and sharing that metric with the driver during driving, comprising:
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(a) automatically collecting first vehicle data for evaluation of the driver'"'"'s performance while the vehicle is operating, the first vehicle data including at least two of idle data, acceleration data, speed data, braking data, vehicle location data, and length of time data; (b) using a computing device to automatically analyze the first vehicle data and determine if a driver has crossed any one of a plurality of first baselines, each of the plurality of first baselines associated with a different type of the collected first vehicle data; (c) for each first baseline that is crossed, automatically displaying on a local display of the vehicle one of a plurality of first events associated with the respective first baseline that was crossed, each associated first event indicating which of the plurality of first baselines has been crossed, and refraining from reporting any first event to any remote entity; (d) automatically collecting second vehicle data while the vehicle is operating, the second vehicle data including data of a type corresponding to at least one first baseline that was crossed; (e) using the computing device to automatically analyze the second vehicle data and determine if a driver has crossed any one of a plurality of second baselines, each of the plurality of second baselines associated with one of the different types of vehicle data, and further using the computing device to determine if the length of time data indicates that any one of the plurality of first baselines has remained crossed for longer than an associated predetermined time limit; (f) for each second baseline that is crossed, automatically displaying on the local display one of a plurality of second events associated with either the respective second baseline that was crossed or the respective first baseline that has remained crossed for longer than its associated predetermined time limit, each associated second event indicating which of the plurality of second baselines has been crossed or which of the first baselines has remained crossed, and automatically using a wireless data link to report a second event of the plurality of second events to a remote computing device; (g) accepting, via an input mechanism in the vehicle, a driver explanation for the second event that was reported to the remote computing device; and (h) automatically reporting each entered explanation to the remote computing device using the wireless data link. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon to carry out a method, the method comprising:
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(a) automatically collecting vehicle data associated with a driver'"'"'s performance while the driver is operating a vehicle, the vehicle data including idle data, acceleration data, speed data, braking data, vehicle location data, and length of time data; (b) automatically analyzing the vehicle data to determine if a driver has crossed any one of a plurality of first baselines, each of the plurality of first baselines associated with a different specific metric; (c) for each first baseline that is crossed, automatically locally displaying one of a plurality of first events associated with the respective first baseline that was crossed, each associated first event indicating which of the plurality of first baselines has been crossed, and refraining from reporting any first event driver information to any remote entity; (d) automatically analyzing the vehicle data to determine if a driver has crossed any one of a plurality of second baselines, each of the plurality of second baselines associated with one of the different specific metrics, and further using a computing device to determine if the length of time data indicates that any one of the plurality of first baselines has remained crossed for longer than an associated predetermined time limit; (e) for each second baseline that is crossed, automatically locally displaying one of a plurality of second events associated with either the respective second baseline that was crossed or the respective first baseline that has remained crossed for longer than its associated predetermined time limit, each associated second event indicating which of the plurality of second baselines has been crossed or which of the first baselines has remained crossed, and automatically using a wireless data link to report any second event to a remote computing device; (f) providing an input mechanism in the vehicle via which the driver can enter an explanation for any second event that was reported to the remote computing device; and (g) automatically reporting each entered explanation to the remote computing device using the wireless data link.
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Specification