CONTROLLER PROFILE BASED CONTROL OF A CARGO VEHICLE

• US 20170351255A1
• Filed: 06/07/2016
• Published: 12/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: ANDERSON, EVELYN R., BENDER, MICHAEL, BOONE, MICHAEL, CHILDRESS, RHONDA L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,330,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/28 with correlation of data from several navigational instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0214 in accordance with safety or protection criteria, e.g. avoiding hazardous areas monitoring the location of vehicles within a certain area, e.g. forbidden or allowed areas, in traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/13
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0297 by controlling means in a control room

Abstract

A method, system, and/or computer program product determines an alternate route for a cargo vehicle based on driving profiles of vehicle controllers and sensor readings from another cargo vehicle. One or more processors receive output from a cargo sensor and a camera, on a first cargo vehicle that is controlled by a first controller. The output from the cargo sensor and the camera describe an amount of movement of first cargo being transported by the first cargo vehicle. The processor(s) evaluate a profile of a second controller of a second cargo vehicle that is transporting second cargo similar in type to the first cargo, and determine an alternate route for the second cargo vehicle based on the profile of the second controller. The processor(s) then transmit instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on the alternate route.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, output from a cargo sensor and a camera on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the cargo sensor and the camera describe an amount of movement of first cargo being transported by the first cargo vehicle, and wherein the first cargo vehicle is controlled by a first controller;

determining, by one or more processors, an amount of cargo shifting that the first cargo has experienced based on an analysis of sensor readings from the cargo sensor and pictures from the cargo camera;

determining, by one or more processors, that the first cargo has shifted beyond a predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle based on the output from the cargo sensors and the pictures from the cargo camera;

receiving, by one or more processors, output from vehicle sensors on the first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle;

determining, by one or more processors, that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the first cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle;

evaluating, by one or more processors, a profile of a second controller of a second cargo vehicle that is transporting second cargo, wherein the first cargo and the second cargo are of a same type of cargo;

determining, by one or more processors, a first alternate route for the second cargo vehicle based on the profile of the second controller of the second cargo vehicle, wherein the first alternate route differs from an original planned route for the second cargo vehicle; and

transmitting, by one or more processors, instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on the first alternate route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second controller is a human operator, and wherein the profile of a second controller is based on a driving history of the human operator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors and based on the profile of the second controller, a likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions to modify a driving style of the second controller; and

in response to determining that the likelihood that the second controller will modify the driving style of the second controller is less than a predetermined level, transmitting, by one or more processors, instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on a second alternate route.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions to the second controller include trade-off analytics accounting for cost risk of damage to the second cargo, cost risk of being late in delivering the second cargo, and additional costs to the second controller for using the first alternate route to deliver the second cargo.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second controller is presented with said costs in association with alternatives to reduce said costs, wherein the alternatives comprise changing driving habits of the second controller and using different routes by the second cargo vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the profile of the second controller is based on an inability of an on-board computer on the second vehicle to control operations of the self-driving vehicle along the original planned route without damaging the second cargo in the self-driving vehicle beyond a predetermined limit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, wherein the second controller is an on-board computer on the self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the on-board computer on the second cargo vehicle direct self-driving vehicle vehicular physical control mechanisms to take the self-driving vehicle on the first alternate route.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, by one or more processors and based on the profile of the second controller, a likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions to take the second cargo vehicle on the first alternate route;

in response to determining that the likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions to take the second cargo vehicle on the first alternate route is less than a predetermined level, determining, by one or more processors and based on the profile of the second controller, a likelihood that the second controller will follow instructions to take the second cargo vehicle on a second alternate route; and

in response to determining that the likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions take the second cargo vehicle on the second alternate route is greater than the predetermined level, transmitting, by one or more processors, instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on the second alternate route.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the cargo sensors are from a group consisting of a microphone, a camera, a mechanical vibration sensor, and a chemical sensor.

10. A computer program product comprising one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage mediums, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive output from a cargo sensor and a camera on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the cargo sensor and the camera describe an amount of movement of first cargo being transported by the first cargo vehicle, and wherein the first cargo vehicle is controlled by a first controller;

program instructions to determine an amount of cargo shifting that the first cargo has experienced based on an analysis of sensor readings from the cargo sensor and pictures from the cargo camera;

program instructions to determine that the first cargo has shifted beyond a predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle based on the output from the cargo sensors and the pictures from the cargo camera;

program instructions to receive output from vehicle sensors on the first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle;

program instructions to determine that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the first cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle;

program instructions to evaluate a profile of a second controller of a second cargo vehicle that is transporting second cargo, wherein the first cargo and the second cargo are of a same type of cargo;

program instructions to determine a first alternate route for the second cargo vehicle based on the profile of the second controller of the second cargo vehicle, wherein the first alternate route differs from an original planned route for the second cargo vehicle; and

program instructions to transmit instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on the first alternate route.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the second controller is a human operator, and wherein the profile of a second controller is based on a driving history of the human operator.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

program instructions to determine, based on the profile of the second controller, a likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions to modify a driving style of the second controller; and

program instructions to, in response to determining that the likelihood that the second controller will modify the driving style of the second controller is less than a predetermined level, transmit instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on a second alternate route.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the instructions to the second controller include trade-off analytics accounting for cost risk of damage to the second cargo, cost risk of being late in delivering the second cargo, and additional costs to the second controller for using the first alternate route to deliver the second cargo.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the second controller is presented with said costs in association with alternatives to reduce said costs, wherein the alternatives comprise changing driving habits of the second controller and using different routes by the second cargo vehicle.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the profile of the second controller is based on an inability of an on-board computer on the second vehicle to control operations of the self-driving vehicle along the original planned route without damaging the second cargo in the self-driving vehicle beyond a predetermined limit.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, wherein the second controller is an on-board computer on the self-driving vehicle, and wherein the instructions to the on-board computer on the second cargo vehicle direct self-driving vehicle vehicular physical control mechanisms to take the self-driving vehicle on the first alternate route.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, further comprising:

program instructions to determine, based on the profile of the second controller, a likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions to take the second cargo vehicle on the first alternate route;

program instructions to, in response to determining that the likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions to take the second cargo vehicle on the first alternate route is less than a predetermined level, determine, based on the profile of the second controller, a likelihood that the second controller will follow instructions to take the second cargo vehicle on a second alternate route; and

program instructions to, in response to determining that the likelihood that the second controller will follow the instructions take the second cargo vehicle on the second alternate route is greater than the predetermined level, transmit instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on the second alternate route.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the cargo sensors are from a group consisting of a microphone, a camera, a mechanical vibration sensor, and a chemical sensor.

19. A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer readable storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the stored program instructions comprising:

program instructions to receive output from a cargo sensor and a camera on a first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the cargo sensor and the camera describe an amount of movement of first cargo being transported by the first cargo vehicle, and wherein the first cargo vehicle is controlled by a first controller;

program instructions to determine an amount of cargo shifting that the first cargo has experienced based on an analysis of sensor readings from the cargo sensor and pictures from the cargo camera;

program instructions to determine that the first cargo has shifted beyond a predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle based on the output from the cargo sensors and the pictures from the cargo camera;

program instructions to receive output from vehicle sensors on the first cargo vehicle, wherein the output from the vehicle sensors describes a movement of the first cargo vehicle;

program instructions to determine that the movement of the first cargo vehicle has caused the first cargo to shift beyond the predetermined amount in the first cargo vehicle;

program instructions to evaluate a profile of a second controller of a second cargo vehicle that is transporting second cargo, wherein the first cargo and the second cargo are of a same type of cargo;

program instructions to determine a first alternate route for the second cargo vehicle based on the profile of the second controller of the second cargo vehicle, wherein the first alternate route differs from an original planned route for the second cargo vehicle; and

program instructions to transmit instructions to the second controller to take the second cargo vehicle on the first alternate route.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein the second cargo vehicle is a self-driving vehicle, and wherein the profile of the second controller is based on an inability of an on-board computer on the second vehicle to control operations of the self-driving vehicle along the original planned route without damaging the second cargo in the self-driving vehicle beyond a predetermined limit.