Vehicle fueling route planning

• US 9,151,631 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2013
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Lee, Benjamin F., Cutler, Scott J., Korovesis, Peter Christ, Krishnan, Venkatesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLDMAN, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US14/052,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20150106001A1
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/36 Input/output arrangements for on-board computers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3626 Details of the output of route guidance instructions traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968

Abstract

An estimated fuel consumption may be determined for a route for a vehicle. At least in part based on the estimated fuel consumption, it may be determined that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is insufficient for the vehicle to traverse the route and/or one or more waypoints may be identified within a predetermined distance of the route, e.g., waypoints for refueling the vehicle. The estimated fuel consumption may be determined in a computer system included in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer for a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

determine an estimated fuel consumption for a route for the vehicle at least in part based on identifying an operator of the vehicle, and comparing collected data stored in the computer to characteristics of the identified operator;

determine, based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption, that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is insufficient for the vehicle to traverse the route; and

recommend one or more waypoints within a predetermined distance of the route for refueling the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to estimate a fuel cost for the route based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operator characteristics are stored in a personalized hardware system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the estimated fuel consumption is based in part on collected data stored in the computer relating to at least one of a weather condition, a traffic condition, and a construction condition.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to recommend a waypoint based at least on one of a driving history of the vehicle and user input concerning a preferred waypoint.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use data received from a remote server in part to determine at least one of the estimated fuel consumption and the one or more waypoints.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use data received via operator input to the computer in part to recommend the one or more waypoints.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to:

generate at least a second route between the starting point and the ending point; and

present each of the route and the second route for selection in a human machine interface along with an estimated fuel cost for each of the route and the second route.

9. A method, comprising:

determining, in a vehicle computer, an estimated fuel consumption for a route for the vehicle at least in part based on identifying an operator of the vehicle, and comparing collected data stored in the computer to characteristics of the identified operator;

determining, based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption, that an amount of fuel in the vehicle is insufficient for the vehicle to traverse the route; and

recommending one or more waypoints within a predetermined distance of the route for refueling the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising estimating a fuel cost for the route based at least in part on the estimated fuel consumption.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the operator characteristics are stored in a personalized hardware system.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the estimated fuel consumption is based in part on collected data stored in the computer relating to at least one of a weather condition, a traffic condition, and a construction condition.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising recommending a waypoint based at least on one of a driving history of the vehicle and user input concerning a preferred waypoint.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising using data received from a remote server in part to determine at least one of the estimated fuel consumption and the one or more waypoints.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising using data received via operator input to the computer in part to recommend the one or more waypoints.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generate at least a second route between the starting point and the ending point; and

present each of the route and the second route for selection in a human machine interface along with an estimated fuel cost for each of the route and the second route.