OPTIMIZED FUEL ECONOMY DURING CRUISE CONTROL USING TOPOGRAPHY DATA

• US 20170291605A1
• Filed: 04/12/2016
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Grewal, Amanpal S., Homyak, David E., Muscaro, David C.
• Application Number:
  US15/096,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20170291605A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2310/244 changing target speed or setting a new target speed, e.g. changing algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/188 Controlling power parameters of the driveline, e.g. determining the required power
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions

Abstract

A motor vehicle cruise control system having an input for entering a desired vehicle speed. A vehicle speed deviation having a range both above and below the desired vehicle speed is entered. A memory at least temporarily saves a highway topography data set for a highway currently being traversed by a motor vehicle. A controller distinguishes an approaching highway topography change from a current highway topography condition using data from the highway topography data set; and calculates a modified vehicle speed having increased fuel economy for traversing the highway topography change compared to a fuel economy at a selected vehicle speed for the current highway topography condition and to change the vehicle speed to the modified vehicle speed having the increased fuel economy prior to reaching the upcoming highway topography change.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle cruise control system, comprising:

a memory at least temporarily saving a highway topography data set for a highway currently being traversed by a motor vehicle;

a controller acting to;

distinguish an approaching highway topography change from a current highway topography condition using data from the highway topography data set; and

calculate a modified vehicle speed having increased fuel economy for traversing the highway topography change compared to a fuel economy at a selected vehicle speed for the current highway topography condition and to change the vehicle speed to the modified vehicle speed having the increased fuel economy prior to reaching the upcoming highway topography change.

2. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, further including a vehicle speed deviation range selected by an operator of the motor vehicle and input to the controller.

3. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle speed deviation range includes a first speed higher than the selected vehicle speed and a second speed lower than the selected vehicle speed.

4. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is in communication with a GPS database to identify a distance between the motor vehicle and the highway topography change.

5. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the most fuel efficient operation for subsequently returning from the modified vehicle speed to the selected speed after the motor vehicle traverses the highway topography change and reaches a substantially flat highway portion.

6. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 3, wherein the controller orders a vehicle speed decrease prior to the motor vehicle reaching a downhill portion of the highway.

7. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 6, wherein the vehicle speed decrease is bounded by a minimum value of the second speed.

8. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 3, wherein the controller orders a vehicle speed increase prior to the motor vehicle reaching an uphill portion of the highway.

9. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 8, wherein the vehicle speed increase is bounded by a maximum value of the first speed.

10. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 8, wherein the controller of the cruise control system calculates a point on an uphill portion of the highway at which the motor vehicle is allowed to slow below a high speed operating condition down toward the selected speed prior to reaching a crest point of the uphill portion.

11. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, wherein a non-linear fuel consumption is included in the calculation of the increased fuel economy.

12. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, wherein a vehicle drag characteristic is included in the calculation of the increased fuel economy.

13. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 1, wherein an axle torque is included in the calculation of the increased fuel economy.

14. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 2, wherein the vehicle speed deviation “

SD”

range includes one of a speed deviation “

SD”

value above but not below the selected speed, or a speed deviation “

SD”

value below but not above the selected speed.

15. A motor vehicle cruise control system, comprising:

an input for entering a desired vehicle speed;

an input for entering a vehicle speed deviation having a range both above and below the desired vehicle speed;

a memory at least temporarily saving a highway topography data set for a highway currently being traversed by a motor vehicle; and

a controller acting to;

distinguish an approaching highway topography change from a current highway topography condition using data from the highway topography data set; and

calculate a modified vehicle speed having increased fuel economy for traversing the highway topography change compared to a fuel economy at a selected vehicle speed for the current highway topography condition and to change the vehicle speed to the modified vehicle speed having the increased fuel economy prior to reaching the upcoming highway topography change.

16. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 15, further including:

a vehicle speed deviation range selected by an operator of the motor vehicle and input to the controller; and

the vehicle speed deviation range includes a first speed higher than the selected vehicle speed and a second speed lower than the selected vehicle speed.

17. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 16, wherein:

the controller orders a vehicle speed decrease prior to the motor vehicle reaching a downhill portion of the highway; and

the vehicle speed decrease is bounded by a minimum value of the second speed.

18. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 16, wherein:

the controller orders a vehicle speed increase prior to the motor vehicle reaching an uphill portion of the highway; and

the vehicle speed increase is bounded by a maximum value of the first speed.

19. The motor vehicle cruise control system of claim 15, wherein the the calculation of the modified vehicle speed having increased fuel economy includes:

a non-linear fuel consumption;

a vehicle drag characteristic; and

an axle torque.

20. A method for using a cruise control system for improving energy efficient operation of a motor vehicle, comprising:

inputting a desired vehicle speed;

entering a vehicle speed deviation having a range both above and below the desired vehicle speed;

saving in a memory a highway topography data set for a highway currently being traversed by a motor vehicle;

actuating a controller to distinguish an approaching highway topography change from a current highway topography condition using data from the highway topography data set;

calculating a modified vehicle speed having increased fuel economy for traversing the highway topography change compared to a fuel economy at a selected vehicle speed for the current highway topography condition; and

changing the vehicle speed to the modified vehicle speed having the increased fuel economy prior to reaching the upcoming highway topography change.