Comparing vehicle performance

• US 9,818,240 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XL Hybrids, Inc. (The Shyft Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: XL Hybrids
• Inventors: Brenner, Neal Ennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Ingram, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US14/019,908
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0232 for measuring vehicle parameters and indicating critical, abnormal or dangerous conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0236 for economical driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3469 Fuel consumption; Energy use; Emission aspects
• 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: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

A computing device-implemented method includes receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for a vehicle that includes a first propulsion system, and, receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for a vehicle that includes a second propulsion system. The distribution ranges for the vehicle that includes the first propulsion system are equivalent to the distribution ranges for the vehicle that includes the second propulsion system. The method also includes receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for a collection of vehicles. The distribution ranges for the collection of vehicles are equivalent to the distribution ranges for the vehicle that includes the second propulsion system.

Claims

1. A computing device-implemented method comprising:

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for an operable vehicle that includes a first propulsion system;

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for an operable vehicle that includes a second propulsion system, wherein the distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system are equivalent to the distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system;

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for a collection of operable vehicles, wherein the distribution ranges for the collection of operable vehicles are equivalent to the distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system;

determining a first performance metric from normalized travel parameter data that uses distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system and the collection of operable vehicles, and a second performance metric from the distribution for the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system and the distribution for the collection of operable vehicles;

determining a comparison metric of the operable vehicle including the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle including the second propulsion system from the first performance metric and the second performance metric;

displaying the comparison metric of the operable vehicle including the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle including the second propulsion system;

generating a control strategy for controlling one or more systems of at least one of the operable vehicles based on the comparison metric; and

transmitting the control strategy for controlling the one or more systems to at least one of the operable vehicles to control the one or more systems.

2. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the first propulsion system includes a combustion engine.

3. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the second propulsion system includes an alternative fuel system.

4. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the ranges of the distribution of the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system represent speeds.

5. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the ranges of the distribution of the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system represent accelerations.

6. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the travel parameters of the distribution of the collection of operable vehicles represents distance traveled for each range.

7. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the comparison metric represents fuel savings between the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system and the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system.

8. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system also includes the first propulsion system.

9. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the collection of operable vehicles includes vehicles of equivalent type.

10. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the comparison metric is executed external to the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system.

11. The computing device-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining a first performance metric includes aggregating normalized travel parameter data that uses distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system.

12. A system comprising:

a computing device comprising;

a memory configured to store instructions; and

a processor to execute the instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for an operable vehicle that includes a first propulsion system;

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for an operable vehicle that includes a second propulsion system, wherein the distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system are equivalent to the distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system;

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for a collection of operable vehicles, wherein the distribution ranges for the collection of operable vehicles are equivalent to the distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system;

determining a first performance metric from normalized travel parameter data that uses distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system and the collection of operable vehicles, and a second performance metric from the distribution for the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system and the distribution for the collection of operable vehicles;

determining a comparison metric of the operable vehicle including the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle including the second propulsion system from the first performance metric and the second performance metric;

displaying the comparison metric of the operable vehicle including the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle including the second propulsion system;

generating a control strategy for controlling one or more systems of at least one of the operable vehicles based on the comparison metric; and

transmitting the control strategy for controlling the one or more systems to at least one of the operable vehicles to control the one or more systems.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first propulsion system includes a combustion engine.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the second propulsion system includes an alternative fuel system.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the ranges of the distribution of the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system represent speeds.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the ranges of the distribution of the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system represent accelerations.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the travel parameters of the distribution of the collection of operable vehicles represents distance traveled for each range.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the comparison metric represents fuel savings between the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system and the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system also includes the first propulsion system.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the collection of operable vehicles includes vehicles of equivalent type.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein determining the comparison metric is executed external to the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system.

22. One or more computer readable media storing instructions that are executable by a processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for an operable vehicle that includes a first propulsion system;

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for an operable vehicle that includes a second propulsion system, wherein the distribution ranges of the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system are equivalent to the distribution ranges of the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system;

receiving data representative of one or more travel parameters for distribution ranges for a collection of operable vehicles, wherein the distribution ranges of the collection of operable vehicles are equivalent to the distribution ranges of the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system;

determining a first performance metric from normalized travel parameter data that uses distribution ranges for the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system and the collection of operable vehicles, and a second performance metric from the distribution for the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system and the distribution for the collection of operable vehicles;

determining a comparison metric of the operable vehicle including the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle including the second propulsion system from the first performance metric and the second performance metric;

displaying the comparison metric of the operable vehicle including the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle including the second propulsion system;

generating a control strategy for controlling one or more systems of at least one of the operable vehicles based on the comparison metric; and

transmitting the control strategy for controlling the one or more systems to at least one of the operable vehicles to control the one or more systems.

23. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein the first propulsion system includes a combustion engine.

24. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein the second propulsion system includes an alternative fuel system.

25. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein the ranges of the distribution of the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system represent speeds.

26. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein the ranges of the distribution of the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system represent accelerations.

27. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein at least one of the travel parameters of the distribution of the collection of operable vehicles represents distance traveled for each range.

28. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein the comparison metric represents fuel savings between the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system and the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system.

29. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system also includes the first propulsion system.

30. The computer readable media of claim 29, wherein the collection of operable vehicles includes vehicles of equivalent type.

31. The computer readable media of claim 22, wherein determining the comparison metric is executed external to the operable vehicle that includes the first propulsion system and the operable vehicle that includes the second propulsion system.