Autonomous vehicle refueling locator

• US 9,400,500 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Delp, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US14/542,444
• Publication Number:
  US 20160139600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 701/26, 701/123, 701/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/04 Hook or hook-and-hasp couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/166 Navigation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/169 Remaining operating distance or charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/00 Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 9/001 with electric, electro-mechanic or electronic means G01F9/008 and G01F9/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

An automated driving system can determine, based on input from one or more sensors disposed on an autonomous vehicle, a required fuel level to complete a planned vehicle path and a current fuel level for the autonomous vehicle. If the current fuel level is below the required fuel level, the automated driving system can identify one or more refueling stations and send an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle requesting selection of one of the identified refueling stations. If a refueling station selection is received, the automated driving system can update the planned vehicle path to include a stop at the selected refueling station. If a refueling station selection is not received, the automated driving system can determine a critical fuel level. If the current fuel level falls below the critical fuel level, the automated driving system can drive the autonomous vehicle to a proximate refueling station.

Claims

1. An automated driving system, comprising:

one or more sensors disposed on an autonomous vehicle; and

a computing device in communication with the one or more sensors, comprising;

one or more processors for controlling operations of the computing device; and

a memory for storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

determine a required fuel level to complete a planned vehicle path;

determine, based on input from the one or more sensors, a current fuel level for the autonomous vehicle;

if the current fuel level is below the required fuel level, identify one or more refueling stations and send an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle requesting selection of one of the identified refueling stations;

if a refueling station selection is not received from the driver, determine a critical fuel level; and

if the current fuel level is below the critical fuel level, send a command to one or more vehicles systems to drive the autonomous vehicle to a proximate refueling station.

2. The automated driving system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

calculate the planned vehicle path based on at least one driver input.

3. The automated driving system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if the current fuel level is not below the required fuel level, continue along the planned vehicle path.

4. The automated driving system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if a refueling station selection is received from the driver, update the planned vehicle path to include a stop at the selected refueling station.

5. The automated driving system of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more refueling stations is based on at least one of the current fuel level, the planned vehicle path, and driver preferences.

6. The automated driving system of claim 5, wherein the driver preferences include at least one of a brand preference, a proximity preference, and a price preference.

7. The automated driving system of claim 1, wherein determining the critical fuel level is based on the current fuel level, the planned vehicle path, and a location of one or more refueling stations proximate to the planned vehicle path.

8. The automated driving system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if the current fuel level is not below the critical fuel level, continue along the planned vehicle path.

9. A computer-implemented method of automated driving, comprising:

determining a required fuel level to complete a planned vehicle path;

determining, based on input from one or more sensors disposed on an autonomous vehicle, a current fuel level for the autonomous vehicle;

if the current fuel level is below the required fuel level, identifying one or more refueling stations and sending an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle requesting selection of one of the identified refueling stations;

if a refueling station selection is not received from the driver, determining a critical fuel level; and

if the current fuel level falls below the critical fuel level, sending a command to one or more vehicles systems to drive the autonomous vehicle to a proximate refueling station.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if the current fuel level is not below the required fuel level, continuing along the planned vehicle path.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

if a refueling station selection is received from the driver, updating the planned vehicle path to include a stop at the selected refueling station.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein identifying the one or more refueling stations is based on at least one of the current fuel level, the planned vehicle path, and driver preferences.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the driver preferences include at least one of a brand preference, a proximity preference, and a price preference.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein determining the critical fuel level is based on the current fuel level, the planned vehicle path, and a location of one or more refueling stations proximate to the planned vehicle path.

15. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors for controlling operations of the computing device; and

a memory for storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

determine a required fuel level to complete a planned vehicle path;

determine, based on input from one or more sensors disposed on an autonomous vehicle, a current fuel level for the autonomous vehicle;

if the current fuel level is below the required fuel level, identify one or more refueling stations and send an indication to a driver of the autonomous vehicle requesting selection of one of the identified refueling stations;

if a refueling station selection is received from the driver, update the planned vehicle path to include a stop at the selected refueling station;

if a refueling station selection is not received from the driver, determine a critical fuel level; and

if the current fuel level falls below the critical fuel level, send a command to one or more vehicles systems to drive the autonomous vehicle to a proximate refueling station.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:

if the current fuel level is not below the required fuel level, continue along the planned vehicle path.

17. The computing device of claim 15, wherein identifying the one or more refueling stations is based on at least one of the current fuel level, the planned vehicle path, and driver preferences.

18. The computing device of claim 17, wherein the driver preferences include at least one of a brand preference, a proximity preference, and a price preference.

19. The computing device of claim 15, wherein determining the critical fuel level is based on the current fuel level, the planned vehicle path, and a location of one or more refueling stations proximate to the planned vehicle path.