Predictive cruise control system with advanced operator control and feedback

• US 9,988,049 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 06/05/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Slaton, Zachary, van der Meijs, Floris, Jahns, Steven Karl, Doll, John William Arthur, Lotz, Josef, Harbach, Andrew Paul, Mays, Wesley M., Droogendijk, Cas
• Primary Examiner(s): Lang, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US15/206,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20170008520A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0062 Adapting control system settings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/20 Road profile, i.e. the change in elevation or curvature of a plurality of continuous road segments
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/00 Input parameters relating to data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/12 Lateral speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2900/00 Indexing codes relating to the purpose of, or problem solved of road vehicle drive control systems not otherwise provided for in groups B60W30/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/146 Speed limiting
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/085 Changing the parameters of the control units, e.g. changing limit values, working points by control input
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

An on-board vehicle computer system for a vehicle includes at least one processing unit and a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the on-board vehicle computer system to implement various aspects of a predictive cruise control (PCC) system. In one aspect, the computer system provides a plurality of available speed control bands in a PCC system, and the available speed control bands are selectable by an operator of the vehicle. In another aspect, the computer system provides an upper speed margin and a lower speed margin for a PCC system, and the upper and lower speed margins are adjustable by an operator of the vehicle. Related notifications may be presented via an operator interface (e.g., a touchscreen display provided in a vehicle dashboard or other easily accessible area).

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

by an on-board vehicle computing system of a vehicle, determining a new predictive cruise control set speed for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system;

by the on-board vehicle computing system, detecting that the predictive cruise control system is disabled; and

presenting a predictive cruise control activation reminder notification via an operator interface of the vehicle based at least in part on a count of missed speed change events that occur while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the predictive cruise control system is disabled by an operator of the vehicle.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein presenting the predictive cruise control activation reminder notification is further based on a reminder setting.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3, wherein the reminder setting is adjustable by the operator of the vehicle.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the count of missed speed change events is incremented if the new predictive cruise control set speed is calculated while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

7. A computer-implemented method comprising:

by an on-board vehicle computing system of a vehicle, determining a speed control band for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system, wherein the speed control band comprises an upper speed margin and a lower speed margin;

comparing the upper speed margin with a driver rewards offset value; and

based on the comparing, updating the upper speed margin for the speed control band.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the driver rewards offset value is less than the upper speed margin, and wherein the updated upper speed margin is equal to the driver rewards offset value.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a current driver reward speed offset.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a maximum vehicle speed bonus.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a fuel economy setting.

12. In an on-board vehicle computing system for a vehicle comprising a predictive cruise control system, a method comprising:

by the predictive cruise control system, analyzing roadway slope information;

by the predictive cruise control system, calculating a predictive cruise control set speed based at least in part on the roadway slope information and a currently active speed control band, wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from a plurality of available speed control bands; and

presenting an operator notification indicating an upcoming change in vehicle speed based on the calculated predictive cruise control set speed.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from the plurality of available speed control bands by an operator of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising presenting an operator notification indicating an upcoming change in roadway slope based on the roadway slope information.

15. A computer system for a vehicle, the computer system comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the computer system to, during operation of the vehicle;

determine a new predictive cruise control set speed for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system;

detect that the predictive cruise control system is disabled; and

cause a predictive cruise control activation reminder notification to be presented via an operator interface of the vehicle based at least in part on a count of missed speed change events that occur while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the predictive cruise control system is disabled by an operator of the vehicle.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein presenting the predictive cruise control activation reminder notification is further based on a reminder setting.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the reminder setting is adjustable by the operator of the vehicle.

19. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the operator interface comprises a touchscreen display.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the count of missed speed change events is incremented if the new predictive cruise control set speed is calculated while the predictive cruise control system is disabled.

21. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the computer system comprises an on-board vehicle computer system.

22. A computer system for a vehicle, the computer system comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the computer system to, during operation of the vehicle;

determine a speed control band for the vehicle in a predictive cruise control system, wherein the speed control band comprises an upper speed margin and a lower speed margin;

perform a comparison the upper speed margin with a driver rewards offset value; and

based on the comparison, update the upper speed margin for the speed control band.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the driver rewards offset value is less than the upper speed margin, and wherein the updated upper speed margin is equal to the driver rewards offset value.

24. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a current driver reward speed offset.

25. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a maximum vehicle speed bonus.

26. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the driver rewards offset value is based at least in part on a fuel economy setting.

27. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the computer system comprises an on-board vehicle computer system.

28. A computer system for a vehicle, the computer system comprising:

at least one processing unit; and

a memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions configured to cause the computer system to, during operation of the vehicle;

analyze roadway slope information;

calculate a predictive cruise control set speed based at least in part on the roadway slope information and a currently active speed control band, wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from a plurality of available speed control bands; and

present an operator notification indicating an upcoming change in vehicle speed based on the calculated predictive cruise control set speed.

29. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the currently active speed control band is selected from the plurality of available speed control bands by an operator of the vehicle.

30. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the computer-executable instructions are further configured to cause the computer system to present an operator notification indicating an upcoming change in roadway slope based on the roadway slope information.

31. The computer system of claim 28, wherein the computer system comprises an on-board vehicle computer system.