ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHODOLOGY OF DYNAMICALLY CONFORMING A VEHICLE OPERATION

• US 20090069953A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: University of Alabama (University of Alabama System)
• Original Assignee: University of Alabama (University of Alabama System)
• Inventors: Gunnells, Ronald Kenyon, Sharpe, Robert Shane, Hale, David Peter
• Application Number:
  US12/206,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20090069953A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/1868 according to driving situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system

Abstract

An electronic control system for a vehicle and an associated method of dynamically conforming a vehicle operation recommendation to an environment external to a vehicle are provided. Input parameters relating to the environment external to the vehicle are received. The vehicle operation recommendation is then adjusted based on the input parameters of the environment. The vehicle operation recommendation is then delivered to an interface of the vehicle. The adjustment conforms the vehicle operation recommendation to the environment to alert an operator of the vehicle of environmental conditions. The adjusted vehicle operation recommendation identifies a suggested manner of operating a vehicle control to account for the environment.

Claims

1. A method of dynamically conforming a vehicle operation recommendation to an environment external to a vehicle, comprising:

receiving input parameters relating to the environment external to the vehicle;

adjusting the vehicle operation recommendation based on the input parameters of the environment; and

delivering the vehicle operation recommendation to an interface of the vehicle, the adjustment conforming the vehicle operation recommendation to the environment to alert an operator of the vehicle of environmental conditions, the adjusted vehicle operation recommendation identifying a suggested manner of operating a vehicle control to account for the environment.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input parameters are provided to the vehicle from a source external to the vehicle.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the source external to the vehicle is a wireless transmission.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input parameters are provided to the vehicle from a portable user device interior to the vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the portable user device interior to the vehicle is a terrestrial or satellite wireless signal enabled device.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input parameters include information of a roadway topography along the path of the vehicle.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the input parameters include information of weather conditions in the vicinity of the vehicle.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a driving speed.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a message delivered to the interface prompting an operator to confirm an anti-lock braking system (ABS) calibration.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a message delivered to the interface prompting an operator to confirm a steering sensitivity.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a message delivered to the interface prompting an operator to confirm an acceleration rate adjustment.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivering the vehicle operation recommendation includes at least one visual indication located on a speedometer of the interface of the vehicle.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the delivering the vehicle operation recommendation includes at least one audible indication.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the input parameters are provided from a plurality of sensors mounted on the vehicle.

15. A method of dynamically conforming a vehicle operation recommendation to an environment external to a vehicle and engine conditions of the vehicle, comprising:

receiving environmental input parameters relating to the environment external to the vehicle;

receiving engine input parameters relating to the engine conditions;

adjusting the vehicle operation recommendation based on the environmental input parameters and the engine input parameters; and

delivering the vehicle operation recommendation to an interface of the vehicle, the adjustment conforming the vehicle operation recommendation to the environment and the engine conditions to alert an operator of the vehicle of environmental conditions, the adjusted vehicle operation recommendation identifying a suggested manner of operating a vehicle control to account for the environment.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a driving speed.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the driving speed is based on a correlation between the driving speed and an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a message delivered to the interface that prompts an operator to confirm an acceleration rate adjustment.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the acceleration rate adjustment is based on a correlation between the driving speed and an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.

20. An electronic control system for a vehicle for dynamically conforming a vehicle operation recommendation to an environment external to the vehicle, comprising:

a data acquisition interface configured to receive input parameters relating to the environment external to the vehicle;

a data processor configured to adjust the vehicle operation recommendation based on the input parameters relating to the environment; and

an operator interface configured to report the vehicle operation recommendation to an operator of the vehicle, the adjustment conforming the vehicle operation recommendation to the environment to alert an operator of the vehicle of environmental conditions, the adjusted vehicle operation recommendation identifying a suggested manner of operating a vehicle control to account for the environment.

21. The electronic control system according to claim 20, wherein the input parameters are provided to the vehicle from a source external to the vehicle.

22. The electronic control system according to claim 20, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a driving speed.

23. An electronic control system for a vehicle for dynamically conforming a vehicle operation recommendation to an environment external to a vehicle and engine conditions of the vehicle, comprising:

a data acquisition interface configured to receive environmental input parameters relating to the environment external to the vehicle and engine input parameters relating to the engine conditions;

a data processor configured to adjust the vehicle operation recommendation based on the environmental input parameters and the engine input parameters; and

an operator interface configured to report the vehicle operation recommendation to an operator of the vehicle, the adjustment conforming the vehicle operation recommendation to the environment and the engine conditions to alert an operator of the vehicle of environmental conditions, the adjusted vehicle operation recommendation identifying a suggested manner of operating a vehicle control to account for the environment.

24. The electronic control system according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a driving speed.

25. The electronic control system according to claim 24, wherein the driving speed is based on a correlation between the driving speed and an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.

26. The electronic control system according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a message delivered to the interface that prompts an operator to confirm an acceleration rate adjustment.

27. The electronic control system according to claim 26, wherein the acceleration rate adjustment is based on a correlation between the driving speed and an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.

28. A vehicle configured to alert an operator to adapt operation of the vehicle in conformance with an external vehicle environment, comprising:

a data acquisition interface configured to receive input parameters relating to the environment external to the vehicle;

a data processor configured to adjust a vehicle operation recommendation based on the input parameters relating to the environment; and

an operator interface configured to report the vehicle operation recommendation to an operator of the vehicle, the adjustment conforming the vehicle operation recommendation to the environment to alert an operator of the vehicle of environmental conditions, the adjusted vehicle operation recommendation identifying a suggested manner of operating a vehicle control to account for the environment.

29. The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the input parameters are provided to the vehicle from a source external to the vehicle.

30. The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a driving speed.

31. A vehicle configured to alert an operator to adapt operation of the vehicle in conformance with an external vehicle environment and engine conditions of the vehicle, comprising:

a data acquisition interface configured to receive environmental input parameters relating to the environment external to the vehicle and engine input parameters relating to the engine conditions;

a data processor configured to report the vehicle operation recommendation based on the environmental input parameters and the engine input parameters; and

an operator interface configured to report the vehicle operation recommendation to an operator of the vehicle, the adjustment conforming the vehicle operation recommendation to the environment and the engine conditions to alert an operator of the vehicle of environmental conditions, the adjusted vehicle operation recommendation identifying a suggested manner of operating a vehicle control to account for the environment.

32. The vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a driving speed.

33. The vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the driving speed is based on a correlation between the driving speed and an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.

34. The vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the vehicle operation recommendation is a message delivered to the interface that prompts an operator to confirm an acceleration rate adjustment.

35. The vehicle according to claim 31, wherein the acceleration rate adjustment is based on a correlation between the driving speed and an amount of fuel consumed by the vehicle.