Virtual trainer for in vehicle driver coaching and to collect metrics to improve driver performance

• US 10,417,929 B2
• Filed: 08/22/2016
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Zonar Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: McQuade, Charles Michael, King, Michael Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Trivedi, Atul
• Application Number:
  US15/242,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20160358496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,121 Days
• Field of Search: 701 339
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06398 Performance of employee with respect to a job function
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/22 in combination with an identity check of the pass holder
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/29 the pass containing active electronic elements, e.g. smartcards
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/14 Traffic procedures, e.g. traffic regulations
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/125 the stations being mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/052 characterised by provision for recording or measuring trainee's performance devices for psychotechnics, e.g. for vehicle drivers A61B5/16, A61B5/18

Abstract

A method of providing visual feedback to a driver based on data collected during vehicle operation. A processor at the vehicle analyzes vehicle data, and determines when predetermined threshold values have been reached for particular parameters. Whenever such a threshold is reached, an audible indication is provided to the driver, indicating that the baseline has been exceeded. Certain parameters have at least two threshold values. When a first threshold value is reached, an alert is presented to the driver, but no data is recorded or reported. When a second threshold value is reached, another alert is presented to the driver, and data is recorded for reporting to a driver manager or supervisor. This approach provides a driver warning, that if they correct the triggering behavior, their supervisor is never notified of that behavior. However, if the behavior escalates, and the second threshold is breached, the behavior is recorded.

Claims

1. A method of producing a performance metric indicative of a performance of a driver based on at least one metric corresponding to the driver'"'"'s operation of the vehicle, and sharing that metric with the driver during driving, comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate the driver'"'"'s performance while the driver is operating the vehicle;

(b) using a computing device to automatically analyze the vehicle data and determine if a driver has exceeded a first baseline for a specific metric;

(c) after the first baseline is exceeded, automatically providing an audible indication to the driver indicating the first baseline has been exceeded;

(d) using the computing device to automatically analyze the vehicle data and determine if a driver has exceeded a second baseline for the specific metric;

(e) after the second baseline is exceeded, automatically reporting that the second baseline has been exceeded.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein after the first baseline is exceeded a visual indication is also provided to the driver, indicating that the first baseline has been exceeded.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the method includes the display of an icon and the visual indication includes a change in the appearance of the icon being displayed.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the steps (b), (d) and (e) of claim 1 are implemented using a first computing device, and the step of also providing a visual reminder is implemented using an accessory display logically coupled to the first computing device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the accessory display includes an RFID reader that the driver can use to identify himself with before driving.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the visual indication is implemented using a mobile computing device including a screen and a navigation application that automatically employs a first portion of the screen to present a map to the driver, and automatically employs a second portion of the screen to present the information indicating the first baseline has been exceeded.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically reporting that the second baseline for that specific metric was exceeded by the driver comprises the step of automatically using a wireless data link to report to a remote computing device that the second baseline for that specific metric was exceeded by the driver.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of automatically prompting the driver to log in at vehicle start up.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of enabling a driver to log in using an RFID card.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of automatically determining if the driver identified during log in has any custom settings including baseline definitions, and if so utilizing those custom settings in place of default settings in steps (b), (c) and (d) of claim 1.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of enabling a remote user to selectively redefine at least one of the baselines for specific metrics.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically determining if the driver has any metrics for which the baseline was exceeded in a prior driving session; and

if so;

(b) automatically notifying the driver of at least one such metric whose baseline was exceeded in the prior driving session.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of automatically notifying the driver of at least one such metric whose at least one of the baselines was exceeded in the prior driving comprises the step of notifying the driver of the metric whose baselines were exceeded most often during the prior driving session.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein after the driver exceeds the second baseline, further comprising the steps of:

(a) automatically determining if the driver has been allocated a predefined number of events that are to be ignored for a given day; and

if so; and

(b) automatically not reporting any events associated with exceeding the second baseline until the allocated number of events has been reached.

15. A non-transitory memory medium having machine instructions stored thereon for carrying out the steps of claim 1.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the reporting is a reporting to a remote station, and wherein no reporting to the remote station occurs in response to the first baseline being exceeded.

17. A system for providing driver feedback to a driver during operation of a vehicle;

the system comprising;

(a) at least one vehicle data generating component, the at least one vehicle data generating component is configured to generate time indexed vehicle data that can be used to evaluate driver performance;

(b) a speaker for providing audible feedback to the driver during vehicle operation; and

(c) at least one processor logically coupled to the speaker, the at least one processor implementing the functions of

(i) automatically analyzing the vehicle data to determine if any of the vehicle data exceeds a predefined threshold, and if so automatically providing an audible indication to the driver indicating the predefined threshold has been exceeded; and

(ii) automatically analyzing the vehicle data to determine if after a predefined time period has elapsed the predefined threshold is still being exceeded, and if so automatically reporting that the driver exceeded the predefined threshold for longer than the predefined time period; and

(d) whereby the driver is given a warning that the threshold has been exceeded and provided an opportunity to change his behavior before the predefined time period has expired and the exceeded threshold is further reported.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein after the first baseline is exceeded a visual indication is also provided to the driver, indicating that the first baseline has been exceeded.

19. The system of claim 18, the method includes the display of an icon and wherein the change in the visual indication includes a change in the appearance of the icon being displayed.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one processor is part of a first computing device, and the display is part of a second computing device including a screen and a navigation application that automatically employs a first portion of the screen to present a map to the driver, and automatically employs a second portion of the screen to present the information indicating the predefined threshold has been exceeded.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a wireless data link logically coupled to the at least one processor, and wherein the at least one processor further implements the function of using the wireless data link to automatically report to a remote computing device that the driver exceeded the predefined threshold for longer than the predefined time period.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one processor is part of a first computing device, and the speaker is part of a set of accessories to the first computing device that includes an RFID card reader enabling drivers to uniquely identify themselves.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the processor, prior to implementing the functions of (i) and (ii), implements the function of determining if the driver identified has any custom settings including threshold definitions and time periods, and if so utilizing those custom settings in place of the predefined threshold and predefined time period.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein a remote user can selectively redefine the predefined threshold and predefined time period for specific metrics.