System and method for vehicle routing using stochastic optimization

• US 9,587,954 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2013
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Gusikhin, Oleg Yurievitch, Klampfl, Erica, McGee, Ryan Abraham, Reich, Daniel, MacNeille, Perry Robinson
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOLDMAN, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US13/938,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20150019132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.12, 701/123, 701/400, 701/408, 701/409, 701/410, 701/414, 701/423, 701/424, 701/532, 701/533
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group

Abstract

A vehicle system enabling a processor to calculate the most efficient route to a destination based on estimated energy usage, vehicle data, and other inputs until the final destination is reached. The vehicle system may receive location related data that may include the current vehicle location and one or more destination points. The vehicle system may receive one or more energy usage affecting parameters from a vehicle related system. The system may calculate a most efficient route based on the location related data and the one or more energy usage affecting parameters and present the most efficient route to a device. The vehicle system may repeat the steps of receiving, calculating, presenting until a destination is reached.

Claims

1. A vehicle system comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive location-related data;

receive energy usage affecting parameters, including previously recorded energy usage amount along potential route segments, from a vehicle-related system;

calculate a most energy efficient route, including projected energy usage along possible routes based on the location-related data and the usage affecting parameters;

present the most efficient route on a device; and

repeat the steps of receiving, calculating, and presenting until the destination is reached.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the device includes a liquid crystal display screen.

3. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the device includes a mobile phone.

4. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the location-related data includes current vehicle location and one or more destinations.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-related system includes vehicle sensors.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle-related system includes a controller area network bus.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the energy usage affecting parameters include traffic data.

8. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving location-related data;

receiving energy usage affecting parameters, including previously recorded energy usage amount along potential route segments, from a vehicle-related system;

calculating a most energy efficient route, including projecting energy usage along possible routes based on the location-related data and the energy usage affecting parameters;

presenting the most efficient route on a device; and

repeating the steps of receiving, calculating, and presenting until the destination is reached.

9. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the location-related data includes current vehicle location and one or more destinations.

10. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the vehicle-related system includes vehicle sensors.

11. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the energy usage affecting parameters include traffic data.

12. A method comprising:

receiving location-related data;

receiving energy usage affecting parameters, including previously recorded energy usage amount along potential route segments, from a vehicle-related system;

calculating a most energy efficient route, including projecting energy usage along possible routes based on the location-related data and the energy usage affecting parameters;

presenting the most efficient route on a device; and

repeating the steps of receiving, calculating, and presenting until the destination is reached.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein location-related data is an origin and one or more destinations.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises establishing communication with one or more vehicle computing systems using wireless technology.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the energy usage affecting parameters include traffic control, traffic speed, and/or aerodynamic variables.