Systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a vehicle

• US 9,026,343 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2010
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Mays, Wesley
• Primary Examiner(s): TISSOT, ADAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/981,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20120173075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 701/110, 701/31.4, 701/32.1, 701/33.7, 701/34.3, 701/32.8, 701/414, 701/51, 701/65, 701/534
• US Class Current: 701/110
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/15 Road slope, i.e. the inclination of a road segment in the longitudinal direction
• 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 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3453 Special cost functions, i.e. other than distance or default speed limit of road segments
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/84 Data processing systems or methods, management, administration

Abstract

Operational efficiency and/or control systems and methods for vehicles are provided in order to improve fuel efficiency when traveling in a fuel powered vehicle from point A to point B. The systems and methods can determine the “best” or most efficient route to take based on one or more priorities, make driving recommendations to the operator, and/or automatically control one or more systems (e.g., engine, brakes, transmission, etc.) of the vehicle. The systems and methods can calculate the “best” route based on predefined trip requirements, including cost, schedule, route preferences, and/or risk of potential delays, etc.

Claims

1. In a vehicle computing system, a method, comprising:

obtaining an optimized vehicle route based on a vehicle starting location, a vehicle ending location and data from one or more sources, the one or more sources of data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes and one or more GPS data types including route length or one or more route characteristics;

generating a vehicle operational profile representing one or more vehicle operating parameters as a function of time or distance, wherein the operational profile is based in part on the one or more route characteristics of the optimized route and includes vehicle operating parameter values of one or more of acceleration, speed, and gear selection along the optimized vehicle route or segments thereof that will meet or exceed a preselected fuel efficiency goal;

and during vehicle travel,

monitoring data including vehicle operating parameter data including at least one selected from a group consisting of acceleration, speed, and gear selection;

comparing the monitored data with the vehicle operational profile; and

notifying the vehicle operator via a human-machine interface if the monitored data deviates from the operational profile in a manner that will adversely affect fuel efficiency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more vehicle operating parameters are selected from a group consisting of engine speed, engine acceleration, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, transmission gear, and vehicle load.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

controlling one or more subsystems of the vehicle in a manner that matches or exceeds the preselected efficiency goal.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more subsystems are selected from the group consisting of an engine, a transmission, and brakes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting the vehicle operator via a human-machine interface includes one of

audibly outputting the recommendation;

and

displaying on the display a recommendation to change a vehicle parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the optimized route being optimized based on a list of preselected priorities that includes two or more of fuel efficiency, delivery time, and delivery risk.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more route characteristics are selected from a group consisting of speed limits, road signs, traffic signals, and road grades.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sources of data further comprises one of traffic data and weather data.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle attributes include one or more of current fuel level data, vehicle weight data, tire pressure data, wind speed data, ambient external temperature data, vehicle type data, engine type data, transmission type data, vehicle drag data, and Brake Mean Effective Pressure (BMEP) data.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said notifying the vehicle operator includes prompting the vehicle operator to operate the vehicle in a more efficient manner.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said prompting the vehicle operator includes instructing the vehicle operator to change driver behavior including one of reducing speed, changing gears, reducing braking, and limiting acceleration.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle operating profile includes one or more profile segments.

9. In a vehicle having an engine, a transmission, and one or more computing devices configured to control one or more of the engine and transmission, the one or more computing devices configured to carry out a method for improving the efficiency of the vehicle, the method comprising:

calculating an optimized vehicle route based on a vehicle starting location and a vehicle ending location using data from one or more sources, the one or more sources of data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes and one or more GPS data types including route length or one or more route characteristics, wherein the vehicle route is optimized based on a list of preselected priorities;

generating an operational profile for the calculated route that represents at least one of engine operating parameters and transmission operating parameters as a function of time or distance, wherein the operational profile includes engine operating parameter values and transmission operating parameter values along the optimized vehicle route or segments thereof that will meet or exceed a preselected fuel efficiency goal; and

during vehicle travel;

monitoring one or more of the GPS data types and vehicle parameter data including at least one selected from a group consisting of acceleration, speed, and gear selection; and

controlling the engine and transmission to operate the vehicle in a manner that matches or improves the operating parameters of the operational profile.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the engine operating parameters or transmission operating parameters are selected from a group consisting of engine speed, engine acceleration, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, and transmission gear.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the optimized route being optimized for two or more of fuel efficiency, delivery time, and delivery risk.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more route characteristics are selected from a group consisting of speed limits, road signs, traffic signals, and road grades.

13. A system for a vehicle, comprising:

one or more sensors for generating data indicative of vehicle attributes;

one or more sensors for generating data indicative of vehicle operating parameters;

a data acquisition unit that receives location data; and

one or more controlling components configured to;

obtain data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes;

obtain an optimized vehicle route based on a vehicle starting location, a vehicle ending location, and data from one more sources, the one or more sources of data indicative of one or more vehicle attributes and one or more GPS data types including route length and one or more route characteristics;

generate an operational profile that represents one or more vehicle operating parameters relating to one or more of engine speed, engine acceleration, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, transmission gear, and braking as a function of time or distance, wherein the operational profile includes vehicle operating parameter values of one or more of engine speed, engine acceleration, vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, transmission gear, and braking over the optimized vehicle route or segments thereof that will meet or exceed a preselected fuel efficiency goal;

monitor one or more of the GPS data types and vehicle operating parameter data including at least one selected from a group consisting of acceleration, speed, gear selection, and braking;

prompt the vehicle operator for one or more vehicle parameter modifications based on the monitored GPS data types and vehicle operating parameter data.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more controlling components are further configured to control one or more subsystems of the vehicle in a manner that matches the vehicle operational profile.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more subsystems are selected from the group consisting of an engine, a transmission, and brakes.

16. The system of claim 13;

wherein the one or more route characteristics are selected from a group consisting of speed limits, road signs, traffic signals, and road grades; and

wherein the vehicle attributes are selected from a group consisting of current fuel level, vehicle weight, tire pressure, wind speed, ambient external temperature, vehicle type, engine type, transmission type data, and vehicle drag.