System and Method for Vehicle Speed Monitoring Using Historical Speed Data

• US 20130274956A1
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pilutti, Thomas Edward, Rupp, Jeffrey Dan, Spero, Dorian Jack
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/052 with provision for determining speed or overspeed speed measuring in general G01P
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle

Abstract

A target (not-to-exceed) speed for a vehicle over a road segment ahead of the vehicle is established based on a desired relationship with a speed profile of the segment. The speed profile is generated by analyzing a statistical distribution of historical speed data over the segment collected by probe vehicles. A driver alert is activated if the vehicle is likely to exceed the target speed based on at least one measured vehicle dynamic property. The target speed may be established by identifying a baseline road segment over which the vehicle has previously travelled and which is similar to the approaching road segment, comparing a past speed of the vehicle over the baseline segment with a speed profile of the baseline segment to determine a speed differential, and applying the speed differential to the speed profile of the approaching segment.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring the speed of an automotive vehicle comprising:

determining a location of the vehicle relative to an approaching road segment lying ahead of the vehicle;

accessing a first speed profile of the approaching segment, the first speed profile generated by analyzing a statistical distribution of historical speed data collected from probe vehicles that have previously travelled over the approaching segment;

identifying a baseline road segment over which the vehicle has previously travelled;

accessing a second speed profile of the baseline segment, the second speed profile generated by analyzing a statistical distribution of historical speed data collected from probe vehicles that have previously travelled over the baseline segment;

comparing a past speed of the vehicle over the baseline segment with the second speed profile to determine a speed differential; and

applying the speed differential to the first speed profile to establish a target vehicle speed over the approaching segment;

assessing whether the vehicle is likely to exceed the desired speed over the approaching segment based, at least in part, on a current vehicle speed; and

notifying the vehicle driver of results of the assessment.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the baseline road segment is selected, at least in part, based upon similarity to the approaching road segment in at least one of a curvature, an incline, a bank angle, a camber, a surface quality, and a posted speed limit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the baseline segment is the same as the approaching segment.