METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE

• US 20110166740A1
• Filed: 01/07/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Desborough, Lane David
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,105 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/33
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• 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 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/40 Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data

Abstract

Operating a vehicle includes receiving, by a central controller, positional data related to the vehicle and environmental data related to a current route of the vehicle. The central controller calculates a desired energy allocation based on the positional data and the environmental data, and transmits the desired energy allocation to the vehicle for use in controlling engine function.

Claims

1. A method for operating a vehicle, said method comprising:

receiving, by a central controller, positional data related to the vehicle;

receiving, by the central controller, environmental data related to a current route of the vehicle;

using the central controller to calculate a desired energy allocation based on the positional data and the environmental data; and

transmitting the desired energy allocation to the vehicle for use in controlling engine function.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein receiving location coordinates and an altitude comprises receiving position coordinates and the altitude from the vehicle.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein receiving environmental data comprises receiving at least one of weather data, traffic data, and terrain data.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the central controller, the current route of the vehicle based on input by an operator of the vehicle.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the central controller, at least one previous route from the vehicle; and

determining the current route of the vehicle based on the positional data and a comparison to the at least one previous route, wherein said using the central controller to calculate a desired energy allocation comprises calculating the desired energy allocation based on the current route and the environmental data.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving, by the central controller, energy usage data from the vehicle, wherein to calculate a desired energy allocation, the central controller calculates the desired energy allocation based on the current route, the environmental data, and the energy usage data.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

using the central controller to determine a new route based on the current route and the environmental data; and

using the central controller to calculate a new desired energy allocation based on the new route and the environmental data.

8. A system for use in operating a vehicle, said system comprising:

a transponder configured to be coupled to an engine control system within the vehicle, said transponder further configured to determine coordinates of the vehicle; and

a central controller configured to communicate with said transponder, said central controller is further configured to;

receive position messages from said transponder, wherein the position messages include the coordinates of the vehicle as determined by said transponder;

determine a current route of travel of the vehicle;

receive terrain data related to the current route;

calculate a desired energy allocation for use by the engine control system; and

transmit the desired energy allocation to said transponder, such that the engine control system controls engine function based on the desired energy allocation.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said central controller is configured to calculate the desired energy allocation based on the current route and the terrain data.

10. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the position messages include an altitude of the vehicle as determined by said transponder, said central controller is further configured to calculate the desired energy allocation based on the current route, the terrain data, and the altitude.

11. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said central controller comprises a memory configured to store at least one previous route of travel of the vehicle, said central controller is further configured to determine the current route of travel based on a comparison between coordinates included in the position messages and a comparison to coordinates included in the at least one previous route.

12. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said central controller is further configured to:

receive at least one of weather data and traffic data related to the current route; and

calculate the desired energy allocation based on the current route, the terrain data, and at least one of the weather data and the traffic data.

13. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said central controller is further configured to:

receive energy usage data from the vehicle; and

calculate the desired energy allocation based on the current route, the terrain data, and the energy usage data.

14. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein said central controller is further configured to calculate a desired energy allocation according to a desired allocation of energy used for propulsion by the vehicle and energy generated for storage by the vehicle.

15. A controller for use in determining a desired energy allocation by a vehicle, said controller comprising:

a memory configured to store at least one previous route of travel by the vehicle; and

a processor coupled to said memory, said processor configured to;

receive location data from the vehicle;

determine a current route based on the location data and the at least one previous route;

receive environmental data;

calculate the desired energy allocation based on the current route and the environmental data; and

transmit the desired energy allocation to the vehicle for use in controlling engine function.

16. A controller in accordance with claim 15, wherein location data includes position coordinates and an altitude.

17. A controller in accordance with claim 15, wherein environmental data includes at least one of wind data, temperature data, precipitation data, terrain data, and traffic data.

18. A controller in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to:

calculate a new route for the vehicle based on the current route and the environmental data; and

transmit the new route to the vehicle.

19. A controller in accordance with claim 18, wherein said processor is further configured to:

calculate a new desired energy allocation based on the new route and the environmental data; and

transmit the new desired energy allocation to the vehicle.

20. A controller in accordance with claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to:

receive energy usage data from the vehicle; and

calculate the desired energy allocation based on the current route, the environmental data, and the energy usage data.