VEHICLE FUELING ROUTE PLANNING

• US 20150106001A1
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Venkatesh, Lee, Benjamin F., Cutler, Scott J., Korovesis, Peter Christ
• Granted Patent: US 9,151,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

An estimated fuel consumption may be determined for a route for a vehicle. At least in part on the estimated fuel consumption, it may be determined that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is insufficient for the vehicle to traverse the route and/or one or more waypoints may be identified within a predetermined distance of the route, e.g., waypoints for refueling the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

determine an estimated fuel consumption for a route for the vehicle;

determine, based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption, that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is insufficient for the vehicle to traverse the route; and

recommend one or more waypoints within a predetermined distance of the route for refueling the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to estimate a fuel cost for the route based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the estimated fuel consumption is based in part on comparing collected data stored in the computer to operator characteristics stored in a personalized hardware system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the estimated fuel consumption is based in part on collected data stored in the computer relating to at least one of a weather condition, a traffic condition, and a construction condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to recommend a waypoint based at least on one of a driving history of the vehicle and user input concerning a preferred waypoint.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use data received from a remote server in part to determine at least one of the estimated fuel consumption and the one or more waypoints.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use data received via operator input to the computer in part to recommend the one or more waypoints.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to:

generate at least a second route between the starting point and the ending point; and

present each of the route and the second route for selection in a human machine interface along with an estimated fuel cost for each of the route and the second route.

9. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

identify a starting point and an ending point of a vehicle trip;

generate at least a first route and a second route between the starting point and the ending point;

determine, for each of the first route and the second route, an estimated fuel consumption for the vehicle; and

provide each of the first route and the second route for selection in a human machine interface that also displays an estimated fuel cost for each of the first route and the second route.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the estimated fuel consumption for at least one of the first route and the second is based in part on comparing collected data stored in the computer to operator characteristics stored in a personalized hardware system.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the estimated fuel consumption for at least one of the first route and the second route is based in part on collected data stored in the computer relating to at least one of a weather condition, a traffic condition, and a construction condition.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer is further configured to recommend a waypoint for at least one of the first route and the second route based at least on one of a driving history of the vehicle and user input concerning a preferred waypoint.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer is further configured to use data received from a remote server in part to determine at least one of the estimated fuel consumption, the first route, and the second route.

14. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

identify a starting point and an ending point of a vehicle trip;

generate a route between the starting point and the ending point;

generate an first estimated fuel consumption for the route;

make a first determination, based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption, that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is sufficient for the vehicle to traverse the route;

after the vehicle has begun to traverse the route, and after the first estimate of fuel consumption, generate a second estimate of fuel consumption for a remaining portion of the route;

monitor the amount of fuel in the vehicle as the vehicle traverses the route;

make a second determination that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is not sufficient for the vehicle to reach the ending point of the route; and

recommend a waypoint for refueling the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer is further configured to recommend the waypoint based at least on one of a driving history of the vehicle and user input concerning a preferred waypoint.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer is further configured to estimate a fuel cost for the route based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the estimated fuel consumption is based in part on comparing collected data stored in the computer to operator characteristics stored in a personalized hardware system.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer is further configured to recommend a waypoint based at least on one of a driving history of the vehicle and user input concerning a preferred waypoint.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the computer is further configured to use data received from a remote server in part to determine at least one of the first estimate of fuel consumption, the second estimate of fuel consumption, and the waypoint.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the first estimate of fuel consumption and the second estimate of fuel consumption is based in part on collected data stored in the computer relating to at least one of a weather condition, a traffic condition, and a construction condition.