CALCULATION OF ENERGY OPTIMIZED ROUTE

• US 20100057339A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Harman Becker Automotive Systems GmbH (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Schupfner, Markus, Pryakhin, Alexey, Kunath, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,116,010 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/200
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3484 Personalized, e.g. from learned user behaviour or user-defined profiles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

Methods are provided for determining an energy optimized route for a vehicle. In one example, the method includes providing a plurality of cost factors, each cost factor influencing the energy consumption of the vehicle. At least one cost factor is selected from among the cost factors. A composite cost factor is determined using the selected at least one cost factor. An energy optimized route is then determined based on the composite cost factor. Systems are also provided for determining an energy optimized route for a vehicle. An example system includes a set of cost factors, each cost factor influencing the energy consumption of the vehicle. A classification unit is included for selecting cost factors for the route and for including the selected cost factors in a composite cost factor for the route. A calculator is also included for calculating the energy optimized route based on the composite cost factor.

Claims

1. A method for determining an energy optimized route for a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of cost factors, each cost factor influencing the energy consumption of the vehicle;

selecting at least one cost factor among the cost factors;

determining a composite cost factor using the selected at least one cost factor; and

calculating the energy optimized route based on the composite cost factor.

2. The method of claim 1 where the at least cost factor is selected from a group consisting of a user cost factor, a vehicle cost factor, a traffic cost factor, a map cost factor, and a vehicle environment cost factor.

3. The method of claim 1 where the step of selecting at least one cost factor comprises:

classifying the cost factors by the extent to which the cost factors contribute to 0 the composite cost factor by more than a predetermined threshold, where the composite cost factor including cost factors contributing by more than the predetermined threshold and excluding cost factors not contributing by more than the predetermined threshold.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting the actual energy consumption for the calculated energy optimized route;

comparing the actual energy consumption to the energy consumption determined for calculating the energy optimized route; and

adapting the composite cost factor to the comparison.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

calculating a composite cost factor for different parts of the route.

6. The method of claim 1 where each cost factor is described by a mathematical model.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a driving behaviour of the driver; and

adapting the composite cost factor to the driving behaviour of the driver.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting at least one of the following parameters;

energy consumption, used gear, accelerator activation, break activation, clutch activation, vehicle velocity, engine temperature, outside temperature, electric power consumption of the vehicle, vehicle payload, atmospheric pressure, tire pressure.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a traffic situation; and

calculating the energy optimized route taking into account the traffic situation.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a driving behaviour of a driver of the vehicle when the vehicle is driving on the calculated energy optimized route; and

adapting the calculation of the energy optimized route to the driving behaviour.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the composite cost factor determined for the different parts of the route together with the different parts of the route.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the composite cost factor for each road segment of road map data; and

storing the composite cost factors in connection with the road segments.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining an inclination of a part of the route; and

including at least an inclination cost factor in the composite cost factor of the part of the route when the inclination is larger than a predetermined inclination threshold.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting a road characteristic of the route; and

selecting the cost factors in accordance with the road characteristic; and

including the selected cost factors in the composite cost factor in accordance with the road characteristic.

15. A system for determining an energy optimized route for a vehicle, the system comprising:

a set of cost factors, each cost factor influencing the energy consumption of the vehicle;

a classification unit for selecting cost factors for the route and including the selected cost factors in a composite cost factor for the route; and

a calculator for calculating the energy optimized route based on the composite cost factor.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a database for storing the cost factors as data representing mathematical model of an aspect of energy consumption.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

a sensor for receiving information related to energy consumption, the sensor coupled to the classification unit.

18. The system of claim 17 where the sensor detects information that includes:

actual energy consumption,

engine speed,

vehicle speed,

activation of accelerator,

activation of clutch,

activation of brake,

vehicle weight,

driving behaviour of user,

user identity, and

any combination of the information.