VEHICLE PROPULSION OPERATION

• US 20180273047A1
• Filed: 03/27/2017
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Wang, Yan
• Application Number:
  US15/469,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20180273047A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/06 Combustion engines, Gas turbines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18072 Coasting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18154 Approaching an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/60 Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A period of time that a vehicle propulsion will be deactivated at a traffic stop is predicted. A distance for a vehicle to coast without input from the vehicle propulsion to stop the vehicle at the traffic stop is determined between the vehicle and the traffic stop when the predicted period of time exceeds a time threshold. The vehicle propulsion is deactivated when the vehicle reaches a start of the predicted distance.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer programmed to:

predict a period of time that a vehicle propulsion will be deactivated at a traffic stop;

predict a distance for a vehicle to coast without input from the vehicle propulsion to stop the vehicle at the traffic stop when the predicted period of time exceeds a threshold; and

deactivate the vehicle propulsion when the vehicle reaches a start of the predicted distance.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to actuate a brake to stop the vehicle at an end of the predicted distance.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to reactivate the vehicle propulsion when the predicted period of time expires.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to maintain the vehicle propulsion when the predicted period of time is below the time threshold.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine the predicted period of time based on data collected from another vehicle at the traffic stop.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine the predicted distance based on a location of another vehicle ahead of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine the predicted period of time based on a traffic light duration at the traffic stop.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the computer is further programmed to maintain the propulsion when a remaining portion of the traffic light duration is below a traffic light duration threshold.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to determine the predicted distance based on a predicted deceleration of the vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further programmed to actuate a brake when the vehicle is predicted to move past an end of the predicted distance.

11. A method, comprising:

predicting a period of time that a vehicle propulsion will be deactivated at a traffic stop;

predicting a distance for a vehicle to coast without input from the vehicle propulsion to stop the vehicle at the traffic stop when the predicted period of time exceeds a time threshold; and

deactivating the vehicle propulsion when the vehicle reaches a start of the predicted distance.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising actuating a brake to stop the vehicle at an end of the predicted distance.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising reactivating vehicle propulsion when the predicted period of time expires.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining the vehicle propulsion when the predicted period of time is below the time threshold.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the predicted period of time based on data collected from another vehicle at the traffic stop.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the predicted distance based on a location of another vehicle ahead of the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the predicted period of time based on a traffic light duration at the traffic stop.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising maintaining the propulsion when a remaining portion of the traffic light duration is below a traffic light duration threshold.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the predicted distance based on a predicted deceleration of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising actuating a brake when the vehicle is predicted to move past an end of the predicted distance.