SYSTEM AND METHOD OF VEHICLE SPEED-BASED OPERATIONAL COST OPTIMIZATION

• US 20120197504A1
• Filed: 12/23/2011
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Intellectual Property, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sujan, Vivek A., Vajapeyazula, Phani, Follen, Kenneth, Wu, An, Moffett, Barty L., Frost, Howard R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,452,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/70
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects

Abstract

A vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization module provides an optimized velocity profile over a given route while also considering imposed constraints such as deviation from time targets, deviation from maximum governed speed limits, etc. Given current vehicle speed, engine state and transmission state, the present disclosure optimally manages the engine map to provide a recommended vehicle speed that optimizes fuel consumption. Exemplary embodiments provide for offline and online optimizations relative to fuel consumption. The benefit is increased freight efficiency in transporting cargo from source to destination by minimizing fuel consumption and maintaining drivability.

Claims

1. A method for vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization for a vehicle, comprising:

accessing predetermined vehicle parameter data indicative of at least one predetermined vehicle parameter, said at least one predetermined vehicle parameter including at least one of vehicle mass, vehicle drag, vehicle rolling resistance, tire circumference, front area of vehicle, and engine friction;

accessing road terrain data indicative of at least one road terrain element, said at least one road terrain element including at least one of speed limit changes, off ramp locations, fueling locations, road grade, air density and traffic congestion;

accessing operator input data indicative of at least one operator input, said at least one operator input including at least one of fuel cost, operator cost, trip time, route beginning and ending points to define a route, and maximum vehicle speed;

performing a first optimization, wherein a vehicle speed optimization vector is determined based on said accessed predetermined vehicle parameter data, road terrain data, and said operator input data;

accessing current vehicle operating data indicative of at least two current vehicle operating conditions, said at least two current vehicle operating conditions including current vehicle speed and road grade; and

performing a second optimization to determine an optimized vehicle speed based on said current vehicle operating data and said vehicle speed optimization vector to optimize operational cost.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating an electronic recommendation signal corresponding to said determined optimized vehicle speed and communicating said determined optimized vehicle speed to a receiver.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiver comprises an engine control module.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said receiver comprises a display adapted to indicate the optimized vehicle speed to a vehicle operator and provide a measure of performance relative to said optimized vehicle speed.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said display comprises a touch-screen interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle speed optimization vector comprises a profile of speed values that yield optimal fuel economy over discrete sections of the route, said sections being defined by speed limit and grade variations, wherein the speed values provide optimal fuel economy relative to operational cost.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said performing the first optimization comprises solving for a vehicle speed vector over an engine map to minimize fuel consumption relative to operational cost.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said operational cost comprises vehicle operating costs and operator expense.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said operational cost comprises a function of fuel cost, route distance, trip time, fuel economy, and operator cost.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said operational cost is determined according to the equation

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said performing the second optimization comprises accessing the first vehicle speed optimization vector and determining new vehicle speed operating condition vector over said engine map to minimize fuel consumption relative to operational cost.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said operational cost is based on a fuel economy look-up table when said route and data inputs are known.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said operational cost is based on a function of aerodynamic loading when said route and data inputs are unknown.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said current vehicle operating condition data is acquired in real-time through a foresight window of a discrete distance interval.

15. A system adapted for vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization for a vehicle, comprising:

a vehicle parameter module containing data indicative of at least one predetermined vehicle parameter, said at least one predetermined vehicle parameter including at least one of vehicle mass, vehicle drag, vehicle rolling resistance, tire circumference, front area of vehicle, and engine friction;

a road terrain element module containing data indicative of at least one road terrain element, said at least one road terrain element including at least one of speed limit changes, off ramp locations, fueling locations, road grade, air density and traffic congestion;

an operator input module containing data indicative of at least one operator input, said at least one operator input including at least one of fuel cost, operator cost, trip time, route beginning and ending points to define a route, and maximum vehicle speed;

a vehicle operating condition module containing data indicative of at least two current vehicle operating conditions, said at least two current vehicle operating conditions including current vehicle speed and road grade; and

a vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization module adapted to;

perform a first optimization wherein a vehicle speed optimization vector is determined based on said accessed predetermined vehicle parameter data, road terrain data, and said operator input data; and

perform a second optimization to determine an optimized vehicle speed based on said current vehicle operating data and said vehicle speed optimization vector to optimize operational cost.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization module is adapted to generate an electronic recommendation signal corresponding to said determined optimized vehicle speed and communicating said determined optimized vehicle speed to a receiver.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein said receiver comprises an engine control module.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said receiver comprises a display adapted to indicate the optimized vehicle speed to a vehicle operator and provide a measure of performance relative to said optimized vehicle speed.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein said vehicle speed optimization vector comprises a profile of speed values that yield optimal fuel economy over discrete sections of the route, said sections being defined by speed limit and grade variations, wherein the speed values provide optimal fuel economy relative to operational cost.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said performing the first optimization comprises solving vehicle speed vector over an engine map to minimize fuel consumption relative to operational cost.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said operational cost comprises vehicle operating costs and operator expense.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said operational cost comprises a function of fuel cost, route distance, trip time, fuel economy, and operator cost.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said operational cost is determined according to the equation

24. The system of claim 20, wherein said performing the second optimization comprises accessing the first vehicle speed optimization vector and determining a new vehicle speed operating condition vector over said engine map to minimize fuel consumption relative to operational cost.

25. The system of claim 16, wherein said current vehicle operating condition data is acquired in real-time through a foresight window of a discrete distance interval.

26. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having stored thereon computer-readable program code for vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization for a vehicle, the computer-readable program code comprising:

computer-readable program code for accessing data indicative of at least one predetermined vehicle parameter, said predetermined vehicle parameter including at least one of vehicle mass, vehicle drag, rolling resistance, tire circumference, front area of vehicle, and engine friction;

computer-readable program code for accessing data indicative of at least one road terrain element, said at least one road terrain element including at least one of speed limit changes, off ramp locations, fueling locations, road grade, air density and traffic congestion;

computer-readable program code for accessing data indicative of at least operator input, said at least one operator input including at least one of fuel cost, operator cost, trip time, route beginning and ending points to define a route, and maximum vehicle speed;

computer-readable code for performing a first optimization, wherein a vehicle speed optimization vector is determined based on said accessed predetermined vehicle parameter data, road terrain data, and said operator input data;

computer-readable program code for accessing data indicative of at least two current vehicle operating conditions, said at least two current vehicle operating conditions including current vehicle speed and road grade;

computer-readable program code for performing a second optimization to determine an optimized vehicle speed based on said current vehicle operating data and said vehicle speed optimization vector to optimize cost; and

computer-readable program code for communicating said optimized vehicle speed and communicating said determined optimized vehicle speed to a receiver.

27. The computer program product of claim 26, further comprising computer-readable program code for disabling the vehicle speed-based operational cost optimization program code in response to an operator-initiated event.