Systems and methods for driver coaching

• US 10,109,218 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2015
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2015
• 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: Payne, Joshua D., Cauthen, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Saint-Vil, Eddy
• Application Number:
  US14/835,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20170061825A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 434 66, 434 65, 701123
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip

Abstract

Systems and methods for driver coaching are described. One embodiment of a method includes determining first vehicle efficiency data from a first vehicle as the first vehicle is traversing a route, where the vehicle efficiency data relates to a driving efficiency of a driver of the first vehicle. The method may also be configured for determining second vehicle efficiency data associated with a second vehicle that previously traversed the route and determining a driver score from the first vehicle efficiency data. Some embodiments may also be configured for comparing the driver score with the second vehicle efficiency data to determine whether the driver can improve the driving efficiency and in response to determining that the driver can improve, providing instructions for traversing a remaining portion of the route, based on actions taken by the third party in traversing that portion of the route.

Claims

1. A method for driver coaching comprising:

receiving, from a vehicle sensor by a vehicle computing device, vehicle data, wherein the vehicle sensor includes at least one of the following;

a fuel consumption sensor, a tire wear sensor, a brake wear sensor, or a weight sensor;

determining, by the vehicle computing device, first vehicle efficiency data of a first vehicle, wherein the first vehicle efficiency data is determined from sensor data received from the vehicle sensor, wherein the vehicle efficiency data is determined as the first vehicle is traversing a route, and wherein the first vehicle efficiency data relates to a driving efficiency of a driver of the first vehicle;

receiving from a second by the vehicle computing device;

second vehicle efficiency data associated with a third party in the second vehicle that previously traversed the route;

determining, by the vehicle computing device, a driver score from the first vehicle efficiency data;

comparing, by the vehicle computing device, the driver score with the second vehicle efficiency data to determine whether the driver can improve the driving efficiency;

in response to determining that the driver can improve, providing, by the vehicle computing device, driving instructions that include at least one driving command for traversing a remaining portion of the route, based on actions taken by the third party in traversing that portion of the route; and

ranking the driver against the third party who drives the second vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an active control for the first vehicle, based on at least one of the following:

a driver selection and the driver score.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising providing a user option to determine an objective for determining the vehicle efficiency data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the objective includes at least one of the following:

improving fuel efficiency, improving braking efficiency, improving tire efficiency, improving travel time, and improving distance traveled.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing driver statistics regarding the vehicle efficiency data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the instructions include at least one of the following:

an indication of when to begin coasting, an indication of when to accelerate, an indication of a cruising speed, an indication related to operation mode, and an indication related to heating venting air conditioning (HVAC) settings.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the route, wherein determining the route comprises at least one of the following:

receiving user input regarding a destination and past driving actions.

8. A system for driver coaching, comprising:

a vehicle sensor for detecting first driving data for a first vehicle, wherein the vehicle sensor includes at least one of the following;

a fuel consumption sensor, a tire wear sensor, a brake wear sensor, or a weight sensor;

a vehicle computing device that comprises a memory component and a processor, wherein the memory component stores logic that, when executed by the processor causes the system to perform at least the following;

determine the first driving data from the vehicle sensor for the first vehicle that traversed a route, wherein the first driving data relates to a driving efficiency of a driver;

determine a driver score for the driver based on the first driving data;

receive from a second vehicle, second driving data associated with a third party in the second vehicle that traversed the route;

determine a driving efficiency of the third party;

compare the driver score with the second vehicle efficiency data to determine a manner in which the driver can improve the driving efficiency;

provide to the driver, instructions for traversing a remaining portion of the route, wherein the instructions include at least one driving command to improve the driving efficiency over the remaining portion of the route; and

rank the driving efficiency of the driver against the driving efficiency of the third party in the second vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the logic further causes the system to provide an active control for the first vehicle, based on at least one of the following:

a driver selection and the driver score.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the logic further causes the system to provide a user option to determine an objective for determining the vehicle efficiency data.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the objective includes at least one of the following:

improving fuel efficiency, improving braking efficiency, improving tire efficiency, improving travel time, and improving distance traveled.

12. The system of claim 8, further comprising a remote computing device for communicating the second driving data to the vehicle computing device.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the logic further causes the system to provide driver statistics regarding the vehicle efficiency data.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions include at least one of the following:

an indication of when to begin coasting and an indication of when to accelerate.

15. A vehicle computing device for driver coaching comprising:

a processor; and

a memory component that stores logic that, when executed by the processor, causes the vehicle computing device to perform at least the following;

determine first driving data from a vehicle sensor of a first vehicle that traversed route, wherein the vehicle sensor includes at least one of the following;

a fuel consumption sensor, a tire wear sensor, a brake wear sensor, or a weight sensor and wherein the first driving data relates to a driving efficiency of the driver;

receive from a second vehicle;

second driving data associated with a third party in the second vehicle that traversed the route;

compare the first driving data with the second driving data to determine a manner in which the driver can improve the driving efficiency;

provide the to the driver instructions for traversing a remaining portion of the route;

where the instructions include at least one driving command to improve the driving efficiency over the remaining portion of the route; and

rank the driving efficiency of the driver against a driving efficiency of the third party in the second vehicle.

16. The vehicle computing device of claim 15, wherein the vehicle computing device receives the second driving data from a remote computing device.

17. The vehicle computing device of claim 16, wherein the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to provide an active control for the first vehicle, based on a driver selection.

18. The vehicle computing device of claim 15, wherein the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to provide a user option to determine an objective for determining the vehicle efficiency data.

19. The vehicle computing device of claim 15, wherein the logic further causes the vehicle computing device to provide driver statistics regarding the vehicle efficiency data.

20. The vehicle computing device of claim 15, wherein the instructions include at least one of the following:

an indication of when to begin coasting and an indication of when to accelerate.