SELF-ORDERING OF FLEET VEHICLES IN A PLATOON
First Claim
1. A method of self-ordering a first vehicle relative to one or more other vehicles to operate the first and one or more other vehicles in a platoon, the method comprising:
- within the first vehicle;
monitoring through intra-vehicle communication a first quality parameter of a first driver of the first vehicle;
monitoring, through inter-vehicle communication between the first vehicle and a second vehicle of the one or more other vehicles, a second quality parameter of a second driver of the second vehicle;
determining a best driver from among the first and second drivers in accordance with a comparison between the first quality parameter of the first driver and the second quality parameter of the second driver; and
in accordance with a result of the comparison between first quality parameter of the first driver and the second quality parameter of the second driver;
for a first result of the comparison, determining the first vehicle to be a leading vehicle relative to the second vehicle and generating a LEADER signal for use by the first vehicle to assume a leading position in the platoon relative to the second vehicle, orfor a second result of the comparison, determining the first vehicle to be a following vehicle relative to the second vehicle and generating a FOLLOWER signal for use by the first vehicle to assume or maintain a following position in the platoon relative to the second vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Highway vehicle platoon management is provided. Driver quality parameters are used together with vehicle physical characteristic and performance information to select an ordering of the vehicles within the platoon. The vehicles within the platoon mutually self-order to select the ordering of the vehicles within the platoon for enhanced safety and efficiency. The driver quality parameters together with the vehicle physical characteristic and performance information is also used to reward best drivers with preferred locations within the platoon. The vehicles within the platoon mutually self-order to reward best drivers with preferred locations within the platoon. An existing vehicle platoon is selectively split into two or more smaller platoons for improving overall safety and efficiency. Two or more smaller vehicle platoons are selectively aggregated into a larger single platoon for improving overall safety and efficiency.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of self-ordering a first vehicle relative to one or more other vehicles to operate the first and one or more other vehicles in a platoon, the method comprising:
within the first vehicle; monitoring through intra-vehicle communication a first quality parameter of a first driver of the first vehicle; monitoring, through inter-vehicle communication between the first vehicle and a second vehicle of the one or more other vehicles, a second quality parameter of a second driver of the second vehicle; determining a best driver from among the first and second drivers in accordance with a comparison between the first quality parameter of the first driver and the second quality parameter of the second driver; and in accordance with a result of the comparison between first quality parameter of the first driver and the second quality parameter of the second driver; for a first result of the comparison, determining the first vehicle to be a leading vehicle relative to the second vehicle and generating a LEADER signal for use by the first vehicle to assume a leading position in the platoon relative to the second vehicle, or for a second result of the comparison, determining the first vehicle to be a following vehicle relative to the second vehicle and generating a FOLLOWER signal for use by the first vehicle to assume or maintain a following position in the platoon relative to the second vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of platoon management by a first vehicle relative to one or more other vehicles travelling together to selectively operate the first and one or more other vehicles in a platoon, the method comprising:
within the first vehicle; monitoring through intra-vehicle communication a first safety and/or efficiency parameter of the first vehicle; monitoring, through inter-vehicle communication between the first vehicle and a second vehicle of the one or more other vehicles leading the first vehicle, a second safety and/or efficiency parameter of the second vehicle; determining as a relative capabilities parameter a magnitude of a difference between the first safety and/or efficiency parameter of the first vehicle and the second safety and/or efficiency parameter of the second vehicle; comparing the relative capabilities parameter with a predetermined capabilities threshold; and in accordance with a result of the comparison between the relative capabilities parameter and predetermined capabilities threshold; for a first result of the comparison, determining the second vehicle leading the first vehicle while travelling together to be a capable platoon leader vehicle relative to the first vehicle and generating a JOIN signal for use by the first vehicle to assume a following role in a platoon relative to the second vehicle, or for a second result of the comparison, determining the second vehicle leading the first vehicle while travelling together to be an incapable platoon leader vehicle relative to the first vehicle and generating a SPLIT signal for use by the first vehicle to discontinue the following role in the platoon relative to the second vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A system for platoon management by an associated first vehicle relative to one or more other vehicles travelling together to selectively operate the first and one or more other vehicles in a platoon, the system comprising:
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a platoon control unit configured to be disposed in the associated first vehicle, the platoon control unit comprising; a processor; a non-transient memory device operatively coupled with the processor; and logic stored in the non-transient memory and executable by the processor to determine authenticity of deceleration command signals, wherein the logic of the platoon control unit is executable by the processor to; monitor through intra-vehicle communication a first safety and/or efficiency parameter of the first vehicle; monitor, through inter-vehicle communication between the first vehicle and a second vehicle of the one or more other vehicles leading the first vehicle, a second safety and/or efficiency parameter of the second vehicle; determine as a relative capabilities parameter a magnitude of a difference between the first safety and/or efficiency parameter of the first vehicle and the second safety and/or efficiency parameter of the second vehicle; compare the relative capabilities parameter with a predetermined capabilities threshold; and in accordance with a result of the comparison between the relative capabilities parameter and predetermined capabilities threshold; for a first result of the comparison, determine the second vehicle leading the first vehicle while travelling together to be a capable platoon leader vehicle relative to the first vehicle and generate a JOIN signal for use by the first vehicle to assume a following role in a platoon relative to the second vehicle, or for a second result of the comparison, determine the second vehicle leading the first vehicle while travelling together to be an incapable platoon leader vehicle relative to the first vehicle and generate a SPLIT signal for use by the first vehicle to discontinue the following role in the platoon relative to the second vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification