METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING POWER USAGE

• US 20130304380A1
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: MacNeille, Perry Robinson, Pleet, Edward Andrew, Jennings, Mark John, Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, Petersen, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,459,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/533
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes establishing a road network model on which a plurality of simulated vehicles may be run. The method also includes setting up a plurality of scenarios under which vehicle driving conditions vary to be run on the road network model. The illustrative method includes receiving energy usage related data for a plurality of simulated vehicles run in at least one of the plurality of scenarios on the road network model. The method further includes calculating a total energy consumption for each of the vehicles. The method additionally includes repeating the receiving and calculating steps to determine how various elements of the road network model and scenarios effect vehicle energy consumption.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented routing method comprising:

receiving a route origin and a route destination;

receiving at least one vehicle characteristic including fuel economy;

determining at least one driving route between the route origin and route destination;

generating a plurality of segments based on the at least one driving route;

calculating two or more monetary fuel consumption cost for at least a portion of the route based on the vehicle characteristics and the at least one driving route; and

outputting on a display the two or more monetary fuel consumption cost together with the at least one driving route and the plurality of segments.

2. The computer-implemented routing method of claim 1 further comprising evaluating the monetary fuel consumption cost along various possible routes generated and outputting a minimum energy route.

3. The computer-implemented routing method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of segments having a fuel consumption cost for that segment.

4. The computer-implemented routing method of claim 3 wherein the plurality of segments are displayed with the monetary fuel consumption cost.

5. The computer-implemented routing method of claim 1 wherein the at least one driving route is further comprising evaluating of traffic operations, speed limit, number of lanes, and road gradient.

6. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors in an embedded platform configured to receive a route origin and a route destination;

receive at least one vehicle characteristic including energy consumption;

determine at least one driving route between the route origin and route destination;

generate a plurality of segments based on the at least one driving route;

calculate a monetary energy consumption cost for at least a portion of the route based on the vehicle characteristics and the at least one driving route; and

output on a display the monetary energy consumption cost together with the at least one driving route and the plurality of segments.

7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the embedded platform is a vehicle system.

8. The computer system of claim 7 wherein the vehicle system is SYNC.

9. The computer system of claim 6 further comprising enabling a web-based application to receive the origin, destination and vehicle characteristics.

10. The computer system of claim 6 further comprising enabling a web-based application to display the energy consumption cost with the at least one driving route.

11. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of segments having an energy consumption cost for that segment.

12. The computer system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of segments are displayed with the energy consumption cost.

13. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the energy consumption cost is a monetary value associated with consumption of a battery used in an electric vehicle.

14. A machine readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform the method comprising:

receive a route origin and a route destination;

receive at least one vehicle characteristic including energy consumption;

determine at least one driving route between the route origin and route destination;

generate a plurality of segments based on the at least one driving route;

calculate a monetary fuel consumption cost for at least a portion of the route based on the vehicle characteristics and the at least one driving route; and

output on a display the monetary fuel consumption cost together with the at least one driving route and the plurality of segments.

15. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14 further comprising evaluate the monetary fuel consumption cost along various possible routes generated and outputting a minimum energy route.

16. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the plurality of segments having a fuel consumption cost for that segment.

17. The machine readable storage medium of claim 16 wherein the plurality of segments are displayed with the monetary fuel consumption cost.

18. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14 wherein the at least one driving route is further comprising evaluating of traffic operations, speed limit, number of lanes, and road gradient.

19. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14 further comprising enable a web-based application to receive the origin, destination and vehicle characteristics.

20. The machine readable storage medium of claim 14 further comprising enable a web-based application to display the fuel consumption cost with the at least one driving route.