DRIVER COACHING SYSTEM

• US 20140244150A1
• Filed: 02/28/2013
• Published: 08/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Boesch, Mathew Alan, Syed, Fazal Urrahman
• Granted Patent: US 9,645,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

A driver coaching system may have an input device generating an input signal indicative of a road condition. The system may also include an advisory device determining an output conveyed to a driver and indicative of a fuel efficiency rating based on an actual vehicle speed and an optimum fuel efficient speed. The advisory device may not decrease the fuel efficiency rating when the road condition does not warrant the optimum fuel efficient speed.

Claims

1. A driver coaching system, comprising:

an input device generating an input signal indicative of a road condition; and

an advisory device determining and conveying an output to a driver;

wherein the output is indicative of a fuel efficiency rating based on an actual vehicle speed and an optimum fuel efficient speed, and the advisory device refrains from decreasing the rating when the road condition does not warrant the optimum fuel efficient speed.

2. The driver coaching system of claim 1 wherein the advisory device refrains from decreasing the fuel efficiency rating when the advisory device determines that the road condition is a road sign displaying a minimum speed limit that is more than the optimum fuel efficient speed and further when the actual vehicle speed is at least the minimum speed limit.

3. The driver coaching system of claim 1 wherein the advisory device decreases the fuel efficiency rating when the advisory device determines that the road condition is a road sign displaying a minimum speed limit and further when the actual vehicle speed is less than the minimum speed limit.

4. The driver coaching system of claim 1 wherein the advisory device refrains from decreasing the fuel efficiency rating when the advisory device determines that the road condition is a road sign indicative of a maximum speed limit that is less than the optimum fuel efficient speed and further when the actual vehicle speed is up to the maximum speed limit.

5. The driver coaching system of claim 1 wherein the advisory device decreases the fuel efficiency rating when the advisory device determines that the road condition is a road sign indicative of a maximum speed limit and further when the actual vehicle speed is more than the maximum speed limit.

6. The driver coaching system of claim 1 wherein the advisory device decreases the fuel efficiency rating when the advisory device determines that the road condition is a road sign indicative of a maximum speed limit and further when the actual vehicle speed is at least 16 kilometers per hour more than the maximum speed limit.

7. The driver coaching system of claim 6 wherein the advisory device decreases the fuel efficiency rating by a squared function of the actual vehicle speed above the maximum speed limit.

8. The driver coaching system of claim 6 wherein the advisory device decreases the fuel efficiency rating by a squared function of the actual vehicle speed more than 16 kilometers per hour above the maximum speed limit.

9. The driver coaching system of claim 1 wherein the input device includes a traffic sign recognition device detecting a road sign indicative of at least one of a maximum speed limit, a minimum speed limit, an intersection, a stop sign, a traffic light, a school zone, a bump, a railroad crossing, a bridge, a pedestrian crossing, an animal crossing, a bicycle crossing, a bicycle lane, a steep incline, a steep decline, a merging lane, an embankment, an uneven road surface, a construction site, a sharp turn, and a reduced speed zone.

10. The driver coaching system of claim 9 wherein the input device includes a global position satellite unit, and the advisory device refrains from decreasing the fuel efficiency rating when the advisory device determines that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance of the road sign.

11. The driver coaching system of claim 10 wherein the input device includes a global position satellite unit that is coupled to at least one of a map database and a cloud-based input, each with a local speed limit lookup table for a plurality of routes.

12. The driver coaching system of claim 1 wherein the advisory output includes:

a controller generating an actuation signal; and

at least one of a display screen and a haptic feedback mechanism receiving the actuation signal and conveying to the driver the fuel efficiency rating to maximize an operating economy of the vehicle in response to receiving the actuation signal, and the fuel efficiency rating for the haptic feedback mechanism being one of a pedal position feedback sensory signal adjusting an intensity of pedal resistance to movement.

16. The driver coaching system of claim 10 wherein the input device includes a global position satellite unit that is coupled to at least one of a map database and a cloud-based input, each with a road condition lookup table for a plurality of road conditions.

13. A driver coaching system, comprising:

an input device generating an input signal indicative of a road condition; and

an advisory device determining and conveying an output to a driver and indicative of a fuel efficiency rating based on an actual vehicle speed and an optimum fuel efficient speed, and the advisory device refrains from decreasing the fuel efficiency rating when the vehicle is within a minimum stopping distance from the road condition.

14. The driver coaching system of claim 13 wherein the input device includes a traffic sign recognition device detecting the road condition which is a road sign indicative of at least one of a maximum speed limit, a minimum speed limit, an intersection, a stop sign, a traffic light, a school zone, a bump, a railroad crossing, a bridge, a pedestrian crossing, an animal crossing, a bicycle crossing, a bicycle lane, a steep incline, a steep decline, a merging lane, an embankment, an uneven road surface, a construction site, a sharp turn, and a reduced speed zone.

15. The driver coaching system of claim 14 wherein the input device includes a global position satellite unit, and the advisory device refrains from decreasing the fuel efficiency rating when the advisory device determines that the vehicle is within the minimum stopping distance of the road condition.

17. The driver coaching system of claim 15 wherein the driver advisory system comprises:

a stopping distance database including a lookup table of a plurality of reference minimum stopping distances for the vehicle and an associated plurality of reference vehicle speeds; and

a global position satellite unit determining a vehicle distance from the road condition;

a controller determining an instantaneous minimum stopping distance in response to comparing the actual vehicle speed to the plurality of associated reference vehicle speeds;

wherein the controller generates an overriding output signal indicative of the fuel efficiency rating in response to determining that the vehicle distance is less than the minimum stopping distance.

18. A process for operating a driver coaching system for a vehicle traveling along a route, comprising:

detecting an average vehicle speed;

detecting a road condition;

determining a speed corresponding with a road condition;

determining whether driving the vehicle at an optimum fuel efficient speed for the vehicle complies with the speed for the road condition;

determining a fuel efficiency rating when the optimum fuel efficient speed complies with the speed for the road condition; and

refraining from determining the fuel efficiency rating when the optimum fuel efficient speed does not comply with the speed for the road condition.

19. The process of claim 18, further comprising:

refraining from determining the fuel efficiency rating when a controller determines that the vehicle is within a predetermined distance from the road condition based on an input signal generated by a global position satellite unit.

20. The process of claim 18, further comprising:

determining an optimum accelerator pedal position based on a desired fuel economy and an instantaneous fuel economy;

determining a fuel economy error;

determining a rate of change of fuel economy error;

determining an accelerator pedal position modifier at the controller based on the fuel economy error, the rate of change of fuel economy error and an instantaneous engine power; and

integrating the accelerator pedal position modifier within an appropriate saturation limit to determine an optimum accelerator pedal position for a driver demand for power for a given instantaneous operating condition, and the driver is provided guidance to improve the fuel efficiency rating.