Trip optimization system and method for a vehicle

• US 7,974,774 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2007
• Issued: 07/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Global Sourcing LLC (Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair
• Primary Examiner(s): Hellner; Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAWARI, REDHWAN K
• Application Number:
  US11/671,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20070233364A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,610 Days
• Field of Search: 701/200, 701/123, 701/19, 123/525
• US Class Current: 701/123
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0058 On-board optimisation of vehicle or vehicle train operation
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/0072 On-board train data handling
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 15/009 On-board display devices
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 2205/04 Satellite based navigation systems, e.g. global positioning system [GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/021 Measuring and recording of train speed
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 25/025 Absolute localisation, e.g. providing geodetic coordinates

Abstract

A system for operating a vehicle including an engine operating on at least one type of fuel is provided. The system includes a locator element to determine a location of the vehicle, a characterization element to provide information about a terrain of the vehicle, a database to store characteristic information for each type of fuel, and a processor operable to receive information from the locator element, the characterization element, and the database. An algorithm is embodied within the processor with access to the information for creating a trip plan that optimizes performance of the vehicle in accordance with one or more operational criteria for the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for operating at least one vehicle, each vehicle including an engine operating on a plurality of fuel types, the method comprising:

a) determining the location of the vehicle;

b) providing information about a terrain of said at least one vehicle;

c) storing characteristic information for each of said plurality of fuel types;

d) creating a trip plan including minimizing the total fuel consumed of said plurality of fuel types of said at least one vehicle, based upon said information about the terrain and said characteristic information for each of said plurality of fuel types that optimizes performance of the at least one vehicle in accordance with one or more operational criteria for said at least one vehicle;

wherein said minimizing the total fuel consumed of said plurality of fuel types is performed by a processor, said minimizing the total fuel, comprises minimizing a weighted sum, said weighted sum being a sum of respective terms for each fuel type of said plurality of fuel types, said respective term being a product of a respective weighted coefficient and a respective fuel efficiency of each respective fuel consumed of said plurality of fuel types.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said vehicle comprises one of a train having one or more locomotive consists, an off-highway vehicle (OHV) or a marine vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said characteristic information for each of said plurality of fuel types for each vehicle comprises at least one of fuel efficiency, emission efficiency, respective tank volume, cost availability, and location availability.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining said respective weighted coefficient for said trip plan that minimizes the total fuel consumed of each of said plurality of fuel types of said at least one vehicle.