Method and device for planning a travel route for a vehicle

• US 9,291,469 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Hoch, Nicklas, Werther, Bernd, Anders, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwari, Maceeh
• Application Number:
  US14/008,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052373A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,467 Days
• Field of Search: 701/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3676 Overview of the route on the road map
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3682 output of POI information on a road map G01C21/3614, G01C21/3685 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096844 where the complete route is dynamically recomputed based on new data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096866 where the complete route is shown to the driver

Abstract

A method for planning a travel route for a vehicle including an energy storage unit includes a) transmitting a destination sequence to an arithmetic logic unit coupled to a data memory storing data concerning a road network, b) calculating a route sequence for the destination sequence, c) calculating a projected amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit for the route sequence, d) ascertaining, at least for one destination in the destination sequence, based on the projected amount of energy remaining, the road network and a projected energy consumption, points in the road network still reachable from this destination with the projected amount of energy remaining, and e) generating, for at least the one destination, a graphic map depiction in which this destination and the points in the road network still reachable from this destination are visually represented. A corresponding device for carrying out the method is also described.

Claims

1. A method for planning a travel route for a vehicle including an energy storage unit for storing energy to power the vehicle, comprising:

transmitting, for planning of the travel route, a destination sequence and user-specifiable time of arrival at at least one destination of the destination sequence, to an arithmetic logic unit coupled to a data memory in which data concerning a road network for the vehicle is stored,

calculating, by the arithmetic logic unit, at least in part as a function of the user-specifiable time of arrival, a route sequence which connects destinations in the destination sequence,

calculating a projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit for traveling the route sequence,

ascertaining, at least for a geographical position of the vehicle at one destination of the destinations in the destination sequence, based on the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, the stored road network and a projected energy consumption in traveling the road network, points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy at the one destination, and

generating, for at least the one destination in the destination sequence, a graphic map depiction in which the geographical position of the one destination and the points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy of the vehicle at the one destination are visually represented.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein data concerning geographical positions of energy-supply stations for the vehicle is stored in the data memory, and the geographical positions of energy-supply stations which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy of the vehicle are visually represented in the graphic map depiction.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the route sequence includes a geographical position of an energy-supply station as an intermediate destination, and further comprising:

generating a graphic map depiction for the intermediate destination, in which the geographical position of the intermediate destination and points in the road network which are still reachable prior to replenishing the energy storage unit at the energy-supply station are visually represented, and further, points in the road network which are reachable after the energy storage unit has been replenished at the energy-supply station are visually represented.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a reference position, and

when calculating the route sequence, ensuring that the reference position lies within a remaining traveling range of the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the reference position also lies within the remaining traveling range of the vehicle if, in order to reach the reference position, the vehicle must stop at an energy-supply station for the vehicle as an intermediate destination.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

while traveling the calculated route sequence, sensing an amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, and

at least upon reaching a destination in the destination sequence, generating an adjusted graphic map depiction in which the geographical position of the destination and points in the road network which are still reachable from the destination with the sensed amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle are visually represented.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

while traveling the calculated route sequence, sensing an amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, and comparing the sensed amount of energy remaining to the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle for a corresponding route position, and

if a deviation of the sensed amount of energy remaining from the projected remaining amount of energy exceeds a limiting value, recalculating the route sequence based on the sensed amount of energy remaining.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a preference with respect to at least one destination of the destination sequence, the preference including a tolerance for deviation from the user-specifiable time of arrival.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the destination sequence and the time of arrival are transmitted from an electronic calendar.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising transmitting a departure time from the at least one destination.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the destination sequence based on appointment data, the appointment data including a beginning time and an end time of at least one appointment.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a velocity of the vehicle for the travel route based on at least one of:

road characteristics and driver behavior.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculation of the projected remaining amount of energy is based at least in part on a gradient of a road.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating of the projected remaining amount of energy is based at least in part on characteristics of the vehicle when encountering a curve in the road.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating a projected remaining amount of energy is performed iteratively such that the projection is based at least in part on a charge state of the energy storage unit.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the calculating a projected remaining amount of energy is based at least in part on expected behavior of a vehicle occupant.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a parking facility for the at least one destination of the destination sequence based on at least one of:

whether the parking facility includes an energy-supply station, a distance of the parking facility to the at least one destination, and a user walking speed.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising determining a parking facility based on a likelihood of reaching the at least one destination at the time of arrival, the likelihood being determined based on a user walking speed.

19. A device for planning a travel route for a vehicle including an energy storage unit for storing energy to power the vehicle, comprising:

an arithmetic logic unit,

a data memory, coupled to the arithmetic logic unit, in which data concerning a road network for the vehicle is stored,

an interface coupled to the arithmetic logic unit and adapted to transmit, for planning of the travel route, a destination sequence and user-specifiable time of arrival to the arithmetic logic unit, and

an output unit coupled to the arithmetic logic unit, wherein the arithmetic logic unit is adapted to;

calculate a projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit for traveling the route sequence,

ascertain, at least for a geographical position of the vehicle at one destination of destinations in the destination sequence, based on the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, the stored road network and a projected energy consumption in traveling the road network, points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy at the one destination, and

generate and output, by the output unit, for at least the one destination in the destination sequence, a graphic map depiction, in which the geographical position of the one destination and the points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy of the vehicle at the one destination are visually represented.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein:

the device includes a vehicle-external module and a vehicle-internal module, the vehicle-external module including the arithmetic logic unit,

the vehicle-external module and the vehicle-internal module are coupled to each other at least intermittently for data communication via an interface adapted to transmit at least the route sequence from the vehicle-external module to the vehicle-internal module,

the vehicle-internal module includes a further arithmetic logic unit, a further output unit, a memory for storing the route sequence transmitted by the vehicle-external module, and a sensor for sensing an amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle,

while traveling the calculated route sequence, the further arithmetic logic unit being adapted to compare the sensed amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle to the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle for a corresponding route position of the route sequence stored in the memory, and if a deviation of the sensed amount of energy remaining from the projected remaining amount of energy exceeds a limiting value, the further arithmetic logic unit being adapted to generate an adjusted graphic map depiction, in which the geographical position of the one destination and the points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the sensed amount of energy remaining in the energy storage unit of the vehicle are visually represented.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

transmitting, for planning of the travel route, a destination sequence and user-specifiable time of arrival at at least one of the destination sequence, to an arithmetic logic unit coupled to a data memory in which data concerning a road network for the vehicle is stored,

calculating, by the arithmetic logic unit, at least in part as a function of the user-specifiable time of arrival, a route sequence which connects destinations in the destination sequence,

calculating a projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit for traveling the route sequence,

ascertaining, at least for a geographical position of the vehicle at one destination of the destinations in the destination sequence, based on the projected remaining amount of energy in the energy storage unit of the vehicle, the stored road network and a projected energy consumption in traveling the road network, points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy at the one destination, and

generating, for at least the one destination in the destination sequence, a graphic map depiction in which the geographical position of the one destination and the points in the road network which are still reachable from the one destination with the projected remaining amount of energy of the vehicle at the one destination are visually represented.