Determination of deviation of vehicle range or fuel economy

• US 9,707,909 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2015
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Weinberg, Richard B., White, Rachel A., Lindemann, Todd P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US14/856,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20170072879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 701123
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/174 Economic driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• 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: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

Methods and systems for determining deviations is expected range, expected fuel economy, or both, for a vehicle. In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes a sensor unit and a processor. The sensor unit is configured to at least facilitate obtaining inputs for one or more factors having an effect on energy performance and/or fuel efficiency for a vehicle. The processor is coupled to the sensor unit, and is configured to at least facilitate determining a change in expected range for the vehicle from the one or more factors based on the inputs.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining inputs, via one or more sensors, for one or more factors having an effect on energy performance for a vehicle; and

determining, via a processor, a change in expected range for the vehicle, a change in expected fuel economy for the vehicle, or both, from the one or more factors based on the inputs;

wherein the step of determining the change in expected range, the change in expected fuel economy, or both, comprises determining a difference between an actual distance travelled by the vehicle and an expected distance for the vehicle to travel, the difference based on the one or more factors, using the inputs;

wherein the difference is determined at least in part by;

determining a ratio of energy usage to total available energy;

calculating a product of the ratio and the expected distance; and

subtracting the product from the actual distance travelled.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected range comprises an estimation of the range for the vehicle as provided by a governmental agency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the change in expected range further comprises determining a difference between an actual fuel efficiency for the vehicle and an expected fuel efficiency for the vehicle to travel, the difference based on the one or more factors, using the inputs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the step of obtaining inputs comprises obtaining inputs for a plurality of different factors having an effect on energy performance for a vehicle; and

the step of determining the change in expected range comprises determining a respective change in expected range for the vehicle from each of the different factors based on the inputs.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the step of obtaining inputs comprises obtaining an efficiency score for each of the plurality of different factors; and

the step of determining the respective changes in expected range comprises;

determining a total difference between an actual distance travelled by the vehicle and an expected distance for the vehicle to travel due to a combination of the plurality of factors; and

determining, for each of the factors, a respective ratio of the efficiency score for the factor compared with an aggregate efficiency score for the combination of the plurality of factors in totality; and

for each of the factors, multiplying the respective ratio for the factor by the total difference.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying, for a driver of the vehicle, the respective change in expected range for each of the plurality of factors.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the plurality of factors comprises a technique factor, a terrain factor, a climate setting factor, and an outside temperature factor.

8. A system comprising:

a sensor unit configured to at least facilitate obtaining inputs for one or more factors having an effect on energy performance for a vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the sensor unit, the processor configured to at least facilitate determining a change in expected range, a change in expected fuel economy, or both, for the vehicle from the one or more factors based on the inputs, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate determining the change in expected range by determining a difference between an actual distance travelled by the vehicle and an expected distance for the vehicle to travel, the difference based on the one or more factors, using the inputs, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate determining the difference at least in part by;

determining a ratio of energy usage to total available energy;

calculating a product of the ratio and the expected distance; and

subtracting the product from the actual distance.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the expected range comprises an estimation of the range for the vehicle as provided by a governmental agency.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate determining the change in expected range by determining a difference between an actual fuel efficiency for the vehicle and an expected fuel efficiency for the vehicle to travel, the difference based on the one or more factors, using the inputs.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the sensor unit is configured to at least facilitate obtaining inputs for a plurality of different factors having an effect on energy performance for a vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate determining a respective change in expected range for the vehicle from each of the different factors based on the inputs.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the sensor unit is configured to at least facilitate obtaining an efficiency score for each of the plurality of different factors; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate determining the respective changes in expected range by;

determining a total difference between an actual distance travelled by the vehicle and an expected distance for the vehicle to travel due to a combination of the plurality of factors; and

determining, for each of the factors, a respective ratio of the efficiency score for the factor compared with an aggregate efficiency score for the combination of the plurality of factors in totality; and

for each of the factors, multiplying the respective ratio for the factor by the total difference.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a display coupled to the processor, the display configured to at least facilitate displaying, for a driver of the vehicle based on instructions provided by the processor, the respective change in expected range for each of the plurality of factors.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of factors comprises a technique factor, a terrain factor, a climate setting factor, and an outside temperature factor.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a body;

a sensor unit disposed at least partially within the body and configured to at least facilitate obtaining inputs for a plurality of different factors having an effect on energy performance for a vehicle; and

a processor disposed at least partially within the body, the processor coupled to the sensor unit, the processor configured to at least facilitate determining a respective change in expected range, a respective change in expected fuel economy, or both, for the vehicle from each of the different factors based on the inputs, by;

determining a total difference between an actual distance travelled by the vehicle and an expected distance for the vehicle to travel due to a combination of the plurality of factors;

determining, for each of the factors, a respective ratio of the efficiency score for the factor compared with an aggregate efficiency score for the combination of the plurality of factors in totality; and

for each of the factors, multiplying the respective ratio for the factor by the total difference.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising:

a display coupled to the processor;

wherein;

the sensor unit is configured to at least facilitate obtaining inputs for a plurality of different factors having an effect on energy performance for a vehicle; and

the processor is configured to at least facilitate determining a respective change in expected range, fuel economy, or both for the vehicle from each of the different factors based on the inputs; and

the display is configured to at least facilitate displaying, for a driver of the vehicle based on instructions provided by the processor, the respective change in expected range for each of the plurality of factors.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to at least facilitate determining the respective change in expected range for the vehicle from each of the different factors based on the inputs, by:

determining the total difference between an actual distance travelled by the vehicle and the expected distance for the vehicle to travel due to the combination of the plurality of factors;

determining, for each of the factors, the respective ratio of the efficiency score for the factor compared with the aggregate efficiency score for the combination of the plurality of factors in totality; and

for each of the factors, multiplying the respective ratio for the factor by the total difference.