SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREDICTING WEATHER PERFORMANCE FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20160137208A1
• Filed: 10/14/2015
• Published: 05/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fathym, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fathym, Inc.
• Inventors: Powers, Richard M., Mickey, John C., Reeves, E. Duer
• Granted Patent: US 9,616,897 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/26 Wheel slip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/40 Coefficient of friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/30 Auxiliary equipments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/068 Road friction coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/076 Slope angle of the road
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0098 Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 13/04 movable to allow or prevent passage E01F13/12, E01F15/12 take precedence; removing part of barrier for occasional passage E01F13/024; gates for allowing passage through fences E06B11/02
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/40 Arrangements responsive to adverse atmospheric conditions, e.g. to signal icy roads or to automatically illuminate in fog; Arrangements characterised by heating or drying means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3691 Retrieval, searching and output of information related to real-time traffic, weather, or environmental conditions arrangements for giving variable traffic instructions G08G1/09
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/015 with provision for distinguishing between two or more types of vehicles, e.g. between motor-cars and cycles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/095 : Traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096708 : where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 : where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 : where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 : where the route is computed offboard

Abstract

Systems and methods for obtaining data about road conditions as they pertain to an individual vehicle, using this information to build a model of vehicle behavior as a function of its environment, and aggregating information concerning multiple vehicles along with data from other sources in order to predict vehicle behavior in future environments.

Claims

1. A method for use in predicting vehicle performance over a road segment, comprising:

establishing a wireless connection between a processing unit of a vehicle and a database having road surface information for a travel path of the vehicle, wherein said road surface information is compiled from vehicles previously passing over at least a portion of said travel path;

receiving, at the processing unit, road surface information for upcoming road segments along said travel path;

accessing stored profile information for the vehicle, wherein said profile information includes wheel slip information indexed to at least a portion of said road surface information;

calculating an estimated wheel slip of said vehicle for at least one upcoming road segment along said travel path using said stored profile information and said road surface information; and

upon said estimated wheel slip exceeding a predetermined threshold, generating a safety output.