The proposed invention relates to methods for controlling energy consumption by a motor vehicle, and can be used in transportation industry.
There is a known method for evaluating the fuel efficiency of a motor vehicle disclosed in patent KR101526431B1, published on 6 May 2015 on 12 sheets (D1). The method of D1 is implemented by a device for evaluating the fuel efficiency of a motor vehicle, the device comprising: a data collection unit that collects data on driving, as well status and identification data of a plurality of motor vehicles, including the first motor vehicle; a driving index calculator that calculates driving indexes of each motor vehicle based on their driving data; a means for extracting an analogous group that extracts a group of motor vehicles, which are similar to the first motor vehicle, from a plurality of motor vehicles, based on their driving indexes and status data; a means for fuel efficiency evaluation that evaluates the fuel efficiency of the first motor vehicle based on its driving data and identification data in the analogous group; and a means for controlling a motor vehicle that controls the method of steering the motor vehicle or the method for improving the driving of the first motor vehicle, based on the fuel efficiency evaluation. According to the invention, the fuel efficiency of a motor vehicle can be evaluated with precision taking into account driver's habits and the current condition of the vehicle. In addition, the method of steering the motor vehicle and the driving mode based on the assessment of the vehicle's fuel are provided to the driver, so that he/she can improve his/her driving efficiency and the efficiency of steering the motor vehicle, as well as reduce the cost of vehicle maintenance.
The method disclosed in D1 does not use the information on the specific portion of the route that was covered by the first motor vehicle, which reduces the accuracy of fuel consumption estimation. In addition, the method disclosed in D1 uses the information obtained from motor vehicles with similar specifications and similar driving mode only, which prevents the method from being used in a global fuel consumption control system comprising multiple motor vehicles with different specifications. In addition, the method disclosed in D1 is used to identify operational problems of motor vehicles that affect the fuel consumption levels and require certain vehicle parts to be repaired or replaced, and so this method cannot be used to change the motor vehicle driving mode in order to reduce the energy consumption on a given portion of the route. In addition, the solution disclosed in D1 does not propose any specific or special means or methods to generate an energy-efficient track for a portion of the route containing a mandatory stop point, such as, but not limited to, a mandatory stop point at a service station or a mandatory stop point for the driver's rest. The method disclosed in D1 can be considered the closest prior art to the claimed invention.
The technical problem to be solved by the claimed invention is to provide a method, a device, a system, a motor vehicle, and a computer-readable medium that do not possess the drawbacks of the prior art and thus make it possible to generate an accurate energy-efficient track for a motor vehicle that allows to reduce energy consumption by the motor vehicle moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, at which the motor vehicle has to stay motionless for a given period of time.
The objective of the claimed invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and thus to reduce energy consumption by the motor vehicle moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, at which the motor vehicle has to stay motionless for a given period of time.
The objective of the present invention is achieved by a method for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, that is performed by the CPU of the computer device, the method comprising at least the following steps: collecting primary data, which involves obtaining data associated with the first motor vehicle; data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, and data associated with the second motor vehicle, wherein the second motor vehicle is also the vehicle in operation and passes the portion of the route after the first motor vehicle, wherein the data associated with the portion of the route include at least data associated with a mandatory stop point; wherein the data associated with the first motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the first motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the first motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the first motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; and wherein the data associated with the second motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the second motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the second motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the second motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; collecting secondary data, which involves generating a track for the first motor vehicle, wherein said track is generated based on how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route, and wherein the first motor vehicle stops for a given period of time while moving along a portion of the route and passing the mandatory stop point; generating an estimated track for the second motor vehicle, wherein said estimated track is generated based on the track generated for the first motor vehicle; wherein the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following steps: generating a speed profile of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, and evaluating energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, wherein energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route is evaluated on the basis of the first motor vehicle stopping at said mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail below with references made to the attached drawings, included herein by reference:
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, that is performed by the CPU of the computer device, the method comprising at least the following steps: collecting primary data, which involves obtaining data associated with the first motor vehicle; data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, and data associated with the second motor vehicle, wherein the second motor vehicle is also the vehicle in operation and passes the portion of the route after the first motor vehicle, wherein the data associated with the portion of the route include at least data associated with a mandatory stop point; wherein the data associated with the first motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the first motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the first motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the first motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; and wherein the data associated with the second motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the second motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the second motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the second motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; collecting secondary data, which involves generating a track for the first motor vehicle, wherein said track is generated based on how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route, and wherein the first motor vehicle stops for a given period of time while moving along a portion of the route and passing the mandatory stop point; generating an estimated track for the second motor vehicle, wherein said estimated track is generated based on the track generated for the first motor vehicle; wherein the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following steps: generating a speed profile of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, and evaluating energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, wherein energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route is evaluated on the basis of the first motor vehicle stopping at said mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method characterized in that the data associated with the first and/or second motor vehicle include at least one of the following: the type and model of the first motor vehicle, its mass, its aerodynamic characteristics, its wheel formula, its estimated and/or actual energy consumption and data from its acceleration sensors and/or speed sensors, data from its positioning sensors, weight sensors, and wheel speed sensors, or a combination thereof; wherein the data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle further include at least one of the following data obtained from external sources: the geometry of the portion of the route, the road grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of road surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method, characterized in that the step of collecting primary data further involves collecting data associated with the portion of the route, along which the second motor vehicle is moving, wherein the data include at least one of the following: the geometry of the portion of the route, the route grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of route surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, or its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method characterized in that the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following additional steps: refining the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle based on how it passed the portion of the route; refining the primary data associated with the portion of the route based on how it was passed by the first motor vehicle; wherein the refining of the primary data associated with the portion of the route is also based on the data obtained from the environmental sensors of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method, characterized in that the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle and the primary data associated with the portion of the route form an estimated track for the first motor vehicle, wherein such estimated track further contains an estimated speed profile of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method, characterized in that the step of generating a track for the first motor vehicle further comprises a step of obtaining actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle based on how it passed a given portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method characterized in that the step of evaluating the energy efficiency of how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route involves comparing the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method characterized in that the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route are compared with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route taking into account the speed profile generated for the first motor vehicle as well as the stop made by the first motor vehicle in the mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the method, characterized in that when the first motor vehicle is passing through the portion of the route, its actual speed profile is determined in at least one moment in time, and in case the actual speed profile of the first motor vehicle deviates from its estimated speed profile, an energy consumption control signal is generated for the first motor vehicle, wherein the energy consumption control signal for the first motor vehicle is a signal for the motion control system of the first motor vehicle and/or the on-board information system of the first motor vehicle which is a signal to decrease or to increase the wheel speed of at least one wheel of the first motor vehicle.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium that stores the program code that, when implemented by the CPU of the computer device, induces the CPU to perform the steps according to any method for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a system for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, the system comprising at least a server comprising at least a CPU and a memory that stores the program code that, when implemented, induces the server's CPU to perform the steps according to the method for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, the method comprising at least the following steps: collecting primary data, which involves obtaining data associated with the first motor vehicle; data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, and data associated with the second motor vehicle, wherein the second motor vehicle is also the vehicle in operation and passes the portion of the route after the first motor vehicle, wherein the data associated with the portion of the route include at least data associated with a mandatory stop point; wherein the data associated with the first motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the first motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the first motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the first motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; and wherein the data associated with the second motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the second motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the second motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the second motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; collecting secondary data, which involves generating a track for the first motor vehicle, wherein said track is generated based on how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route, and wherein the first motor vehicle stops for a given period of time while moving along a portion of the route and passing the mandatory stop point; generating an estimated track for the second motor vehicle, wherein said estimated track is generated based on the track generated for the first motor vehicle; wherein the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following steps: generating a speed profile of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, and evaluating energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, wherein energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route is evaluated on the basis of the first motor vehicle stopping at said mandatory stop point for a given period of time; and the system further comprising at least a vehicle in operation comprising at least a driving device and an engine that is connected to and actuates the driving device, and a motion control system of the vehicle in operation that is adapted to control the engine of the vehicle in operation, wherein the motion control system of the vehicle in operation is connected to the server and comprises at least a transceiver adapted at least to receive the estimated track for the second motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system characterized in that the data associated with the first and/or second motor vehicle include at least one of the following: the type and model of the first motor vehicle, its mass, its aerodynamic characteristics, its wheel formula, its estimated and/or actual energy consumption and data from its acceleration sensors and/or speed sensors, data from its positioning sensors, weight sensors, and wheel speed sensors, or a combination thereof; wherein the data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle further include at least one of the following data obtained from external sources: the geometry of the portion of the route, the road grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of road surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system, characterized in that the step of collecting primary data further involves collecting data associated with the portion of the route, along which the second motor vehicle is moving, wherein the data include at least one of the following: the geometry of the portion of the route, the route grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of route surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, or its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system characterized in that the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following additional steps: refining the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle based on how it passed the portion of the route; refining the primary data associated with the portion of the route based on how it was passed by the first motor vehicle; wherein the refining of the primary data associated with the portion of the route is also based on the data obtained from the environmental sensors of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system, characterized in that the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle and the primary data associated with the portion of the route form an estimated track for the first motor vehicle, wherein such estimated track further contains an estimated speed profile of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system, characterized in that the step of generating a track for the first motor vehicle further comprises a step of obtaining actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle based on how it passed a given portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system characterized in that the step of evaluating the energy efficiency of how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route involves comparing the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system characterized in that the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route are compared with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route taking into account the speed profile generated for the first motor vehicle as well as the stop made by the first motor vehicle in the mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the system, characterized in that when the first motor vehicle is passing through the portion of the route, its actual speed profile is determined in at least one moment in time, and in case the actual speed profile of the first motor vehicle deviates from its estimated speed profile, an energy consumption control signal is generated for the first motor vehicle, wherein the energy consumption control signal for the first motor vehicle is a signal for the motion control system of the first motor vehicle and/or the on-board information system of the first motor vehicle which is a signal to decrease or to increase the wheel speed of at least one wheel of the first motor vehicle.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a computer device for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, the device comprising at least a CPU and a memory that stores the program code that, when implemented, induces the CPU to perform the steps according to the method for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, the method comprising at least the following steps: collecting primary data, which involves obtaining data associated with the first motor vehicle; data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, and data associated with the second motor vehicle, wherein the second motor vehicle is also the vehicle in operation and passes the portion of the route after the first motor vehicle, wherein the data associated with the portion of the route include at least data associated with a mandatory stop point; wherein the data associated with the first motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the first motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the first motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the first motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; and wherein the data associated with the second motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the second motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the second motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the second motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; collecting secondary data, which involves generating a track for the first motor vehicle, wherein said track is generated based on how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route, and wherein the first motor vehicle stops for a given period of time while moving along a portion of the route and passing the mandatory stop point; generating an estimated track for the second motor vehicle, wherein said estimated track is generated based on the track generated for the first motor vehicle; wherein the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following steps: generating a speed profile of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, and evaluating energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, wherein energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route is evaluated on the basis of the first motor vehicle stopping at said mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the device characterized in that the data associated with the first and/or second motor vehicle include at least one of the following: the type and model of the first motor vehicle, its mass, its aerodynamic characteristics, its wheel formula, its estimated and/or actual energy consumption and data from its acceleration sensors and/or speed sensors, data from its positioning sensors, weight sensors, and wheel speed sensors, or a combination thereof; wherein the data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle further include at least one of the following data obtained from external sources: the geometry of the portion of the route, the road grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of road surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment, there is provided the device, characterized in that the step of collecting primary data further involves collecting data associated with the portion of the route, along which the second motor vehicle is moving, wherein the data include at least one of the following: the geometry of the portion of the route, the route grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of route surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, or its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the device characterized in that the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following additional steps: refining the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle based on how it passed the portion of the route; refining the primary data associated with the portion of the route based on how it was passed by the first motor vehicle; wherein the refining of the primary data associated with the portion of the route is also based on the data obtained from the environmental sensors of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the device characterized in that the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle and the primary data associated with the portion of the route form an estimated track for the first motor vehicle, wherein such estimated track further contains an estimated speed profile of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the device, characterized in that the step of generating a track for the first motor vehicle further comprises a step of obtaining actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle based on how it passed a given portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the device characterized in that the step of evaluating the energy efficiency of how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route involves comparing the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the device characterized in that the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route are compared with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route taking into account the speed profile generated for the first motor vehicle as well as the stop made by the first motor vehicle in the mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
In an alternative embodiment, there is provided the device, characterized in that when the first motor vehicle is passing through the portion of the route, its actual speed profile is determined in at least one moment in time, and in case the actual speed profile of the first motor vehicle deviates from its estimated speed profile, an energy consumption control signal is generated for the first motor vehicle, wherein the energy consumption control signal for the first motor vehicle is a signal for the motion control system of the first motor vehicle and/or the on-board information system of the first motor vehicle which is a signal to decrease or to increase the wheel speed of at least one wheel of the first motor vehicle.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a motor vehicle comprising at least a driving device and an engine that is connected to and actuates the driving device, and a motion control system of the vehicle in operation that is adapted to control the engine of the vehicle in operation, the system comprising at least a computer device for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, the device comprising at least: a CPU and a memory that stores the program code that, when implemented, induces the CPU to perform the steps according to the method for generating an energy-efficient track for the vehicle in operation moving along a portion of the route that contains a mandatory stop point, the method comprising at least the following steps: collecting primary data, which involves obtaining data associated with the first motor vehicle; data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, and data associated with the second motor vehicle, wherein the second motor vehicle is also the vehicle in operation and passes the portion of the route after the first motor vehicle, wherein the data associated with the portion of the route include at least data associated with a mandatory stop point; wherein the data associated with the first motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the first motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the first motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the first motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; and wherein the data associated with the second motor vehicle include at least data associated with the movement time of the second motor vehicle that include data associated with the actual movement time of the second motor vehicle and data associated with the maximum movement time of the second motor vehicle before a mandatory stop; collecting secondary data, which involves generating a track for the first motor vehicle, wherein said track is generated based on how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route, and wherein the first motor vehicle stops for a given period of time while moving along a portion of the route and passing the mandatory stop point; generating an estimated track for the second motor vehicle, wherein said estimated track is generated based on the track generated for the first motor vehicle; wherein the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following steps: generating a speed profile of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, and evaluating energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route, wherein energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route is evaluated on the basis of the first motor vehicle stopping at said mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle characterized in that the data associated with the first and/or second motor vehicle include at least one of the following: the type and model of the first motor vehicle, its mass, its aerodynamic characteristics, its wheel formula, its estimated and/or actual energy consumption and data from its acceleration sensors and/or speed sensors, data from its positioning sensors, weight sensors, and wheel speed sensors, or a combination thereof; wherein the data associated with the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle further include at least one of the following data obtained from external sources: the geometry of the portion of the route, the road grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of road surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment, there is provided the vehicle, characterized in that the step of collecting primary data further involves collecting data associated with the portion of the route, along which the second motor vehicle is moving, wherein the data include at least one of the following: the geometry of the portion of the route, the route grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of route surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route, or its infrastructure, and/or a combination thereof.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle characterized in that the track for the first motor vehicle is generated by performing the following additional steps: refining the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle based on how it passed the portion of the route; refining the primary data associated with the portion of the route based on how it was passed by the first motor vehicle; wherein the refining of the primary data associated with the portion of the route is also based on the data obtained from the environmental sensors of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle characterized in that the primary data associated with the first motor vehicle and the primary data associated with the portion of the route form an estimated track for the first motor vehicle, wherein such estimated track further contains an estimated speed profile of the first motor vehicle.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle, characterized in that the step of generating a track for the first motor vehicle further comprises a step of obtaining actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle based on how it passed a given portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle characterized in that the step of evaluating the energy efficiency of how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route involves comparing the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, there is provided the vehicle characterized in that the estimated data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route are compared with the actual data on energy consumption by the first motor vehicle on the portion of the route taking into account the speed profile generated for the first motor vehicle as well as the stop made by the first motor vehicle in the mandatory stop point for a given period of time.
In an alternative embodiment, there is provided the vehicle, characterized in that when the first motor vehicle is passing through the portion of the route, its actual speed profile is determined in at least one moment in time, and in case the actual speed profile of the first motor vehicle deviates from its estimated speed profile, an energy consumption control signal is generated for the first motor vehicle, wherein the energy consumption control signal for the first motor vehicle is a signal for the motion control system of the first motor vehicle and/or the on-board information system of the first motor vehicle which is a signal to decrease or to increase the wheel speed of at least one wheel of the first motor vehicle.
Additional alternative embodiments of the present invention are provided below. This disclosure is in no way limiting to the scope of protection granted by the present patent. Rather, it should be noted that the claimed invention can be implemented in different ways, so as to include different components and conditions, or combinations thereof, which are similar to the components and conditions disclosed herein, in combination with other existing and future technologies.
Preferably, but not limited to, the portion of the route is a portion of the route with special properties. A route is, but not limited to, a strip of land adapted to be passable by motor vehicles, wherein the route may comprise, but not limited to, a road, a junction, an intersection, etc. A road may be, but not limited to, a paved road or a dirt road. Preferably, but not limited to, the special properties of the portion of the route may comprise at least one of the following: the geometry of the portion of the route, the road grade of the portion of the route, the allowed speed on the portion of the route, the quality of road surface of the portion of the route, speed limits on the portion of the route, turns on the portion of the route, weather conditions on the portion of the route at the moment it is passed by a motor vehicle, the infrastructure of the portion of the road, or a combination thereof. For example, but not limited to, the special properties of the portion of the route may be described through acceleration points and/or deceleration points, including estimated acceleration points and/or estimated deceleration points. In addition, but not limited to, as will be shown below, estimated tracks for motor vehicles may contain data associated with estimated acceleration points and/or estimated deceleration points, and also, but not limited to, as will be shown below, generated tracks for motor vehicles may contain data associated with actual acceleration points and/or actual deceleration points, wherein, but not limited to, such data may be analyzed and processed in order to find deviations between estimated and actual data, if any, to determine how they impact energy efficiency of a motor vehicle's movement. In addition, but not limited to, a deceleration point may be a point on the portion of the route, in which the momentum of the motor vehicle is sufficient to cover the distance to an acceleration point on the portion of the route. In addition, but not limited to, a deceleration point may be a point on the portion of the route, in which the motor vehicle has to be given negative or zero acceleration in order to smoothly reach the acceleration point, wherein the negative acceleration may be such that the motor vehicle has zero momentum at the acceleration point. In addition, but not limited to, an acceleration point may be a point on the portion of the route, in which the motor vehicle continues to move with negative acceleration. In addition, but not limited to, an acceleration point may be a point on the portion of the route, in which the motor vehicle has zero momentum. For example, but not limited to, a portion of the route may comprise a road with a slope and an upslope that follows it, wherein the beginning of the slope may be marked by a deceleration point, and an acceleration point may be placed within the upslope.
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As will be demonstrated below, the steps of generating estimated and/or energy-efficient tracks for the second motor vehicle, as well as for any of the following motor vehicles to pass the portion of the route after the first motor vehicle, are essentially the same and may be interchangeable. For example, without limitation, generation of estimated and/or energy-efficient tracks for the vehicle in operation (second motor vehicle) will be demonstrated, however, as was mentioned above, it should be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the aforementioned methods can be used to generate corresponding tracks for any motor vehicle that is to pass the given portion of the route after the first motor vehicle. As shown in
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The optional step 107 of generating a track database involves, for example, but not limited to, collecting a plurality of tracks of motor vehicles generated based on how these motor vehicles, i.e. at least the first motor vehicle and the vehicle in operation (second motor vehicle), passed the portion of the route. For example, but not limited to, in step 107, the plurality of tracks of motor vehicles that have passed the portion of the route are collected. In addition, for example, but not limited to, in step 107, the collected tracks are systematized, so that these data can be used to generate a plurality of estimated tracks for the following motor vehicles. In addition, but not limited to, the plurality of such tracks can be used as an input for analysis, including by machine learning tools, in order to generate the most energy-efficient (model) track that would be suitable for any motor vehicle. Such model track can be unique for each motor vehicle and can subsequently be used as the estimated track for the first motor vehicle, whereupon the steps according to the method for generating an energy-efficient track will be performed again in order to generate a different model track for the same motor vehicle. In addition, but not limited to, such data can be used to change the properties of the portion of the route so as to ensure the generation of the most energy-efficient model track. However, it should be obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art that although the forming of the track database enhances the accuracy of the subsequent generation of the energy-efficient tracks for the following motor vehicles thus allowing to reduce energy consumption by these motor vehicles on a specific portion of the route, said evaluation is optional, since the aforementioned estimated track for the vehicle in operation, or even the aforementioned estimated track for the vehicle in operation (second motor vehicle), may be sufficient for subsequent generation of model energy-efficient tracks for the following motor vehicles.
In addition, but not limited to, the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle may contain data associated with a mandatory stop point for the first motor vehicle. For example, but not limited to, the mandatory stop point for the first motor vehicle may be placed on the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, in case the first motor vehicle needs maintenance. For example, but not limited to, the mandatory stop point for the first motor vehicle may be placed on the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, in case the first motor vehicle has been moving for a period of time that exceeds the maximum movement time for the first motor vehicle, or the first motor vehicle has been moving for a period of time that is close to the maximum movement time for the first motor vehicle, or the portion of the route, which follows the aforementioned portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, contains a remote possible stop point that is located so that in case the first motor vehicle is moving along the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle without stopping at the mandatory stop point, its movement time will significantly exceed the maximum movement time for the first motor vehicle. In addition, but not limited to, usually, a maximum movement time can be determined for both the first motor vehicle and the second motor vehicle, so that the driver can rest, and/or the first motor vehicle or the second motor vehicle needs maintenance. In addition, but not limited to, after the maximum movement time for the first motor vehicle and/or the maximum movement time for the second motor vehicle have been determined, it is possible to position mandatory stop points on each portion of the route to be passed by either motor vehicle, each such point being a final point of the portion of the route or, but not limited to, an intermediate point of portion of the route. For example, but not limited to, such mandatory stop point for the first motor vehicle can be placed on the portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, in case the first motor vehicle needs to replenish energy that is spent on its movement, or in case the subsequent mandatory stop point, which can be used by the first motor vehicle to replenish its energy, is located so far from the mandatory stop point located on said portion of the route, that the current energy of the first motor vehicle is not enough to reach it, or, based on the current energy of the first motor vehicle, it will require unacceptable operation of the first motor vehicle to reach a remote mandatory stop point that can be used by the first motor vehicle to replenish its energy. For example, but not limited to, such unacceptable operation for the first motor vehicle, in case it is equipped with an internal combustion engine or a hybrid engine, may include driving the first motor vehicle, when the fuel level is below a predetermined mark, i.e. when further operation of the vehicle may cause, e.g., but not limited to, fuel starvation of the fuel pump or airlock in the fuel system. For example, but not limited to, such unacceptable operation for the first motor vehicle, in case it is equipped with an electric motor, may include driving the first motor vehicle, when its speed has to be reduced to a level that is unacceptable for the given energy efficiency, but which is required to reach a remote mandatory stop point that can be used by the first motor vehicle to replenish its energy. In addition, but not limited to, the first motor vehicle will stay on any of the aforementioned mandatory stop points for a given period of time, e.g. a long one, which can be calculated and set for the first motor vehicle in advance. In addition, but not limited to, the situation on the portion of the route, including the situation on a generalized portion of the route, i.e. one that combines the plurality of aforementioned portions of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle, may change over the given period of time the vehicle does not move, which, accordingly, will require the track for the first motor vehicle to be generated again, as described above. In addition, but not limited to, the mandatory stop point can be determined and placed on a portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle taking into account the data associated with the actual movement time of the first motor vehicle, which form the basis for calculating the remaining permissible movement time for the motor vehicle from the maximum movement time for the first motor vehicle. In addition, but not limited to, the mandatory stop point can be determined and placed on a portion of the route to be passed by the first motor vehicle taking into account the aforementioned estimated and/or actual energy consumption data for the first motor vehicle. In addition, but not limited to, when the track for the first motor vehicle is generated, as described above, the estimation of energy efficiency of the first motor vehicle on the passed portion of the route takes into account any stop made by the first motor vehicle for a given period of time at any of the mandatory stop points. This is one method, but not limited to, of obtaining data associated with which mandatory stop point for the first motor vehicle is the optimum one. Accordingly, it will not be difficult to determine corresponding optimal mandatory stop points for the second motor vehicle (vehicle in operation) and any subsequent motor vehicle on the portion of the route passed by the first motor vehicle, or a different one, which allows to generate a more accurate energy-efficient track for the second motor vehicle (vehicle in operation).
In addition, but not limited to, the methods and means disclosed above may be used, particularly, to generate the most optimal estimated track for the first motor vehicle. In addition, but not limited to, energy efficiency of the actual track for the motor vehicle is analyzed using the method disclosed above, wherein, based on the results of the analysis, after the estimated track for the vehicle in operation (second motor vehicle) has been generated, the same additional data associated with the portion of the route may be used, which have already been used when generating the estimated track for the first motor vehicle, or, for example, but not limited to, some data may be omitted, because they were not corroborated by the actual results of how the first motor vehicle passed the portion of the route. Therefore, but not limited to, the vehicle in operation (second motor vehicle) may also act as the first motor vehicle for any following motor vehicle to be moving along the portion of the route, with which the additional data and mandatory deceleration points are associated. Therefore, safer and more energy efficient tracks may be continuously generated for the following motor vehicles, and the resulting data and estimated tracks can be stored in the database to be used subsequently, for example, but not limited to, to model and generate increasingly more optimized energy efficient and safe tracks.
The present disclosure of the claimed invention demonstrates only certain exemplary embodiments of the invention, which by no means limit the scope of the claimed invention, meaning that it may be embodied in alternative forms that do not go beyond the scope of the present disclosure and which may be obvious to persons having ordinary skill in the art.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2021135851 | Dec 2021 | RU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/RU2022/050360 | 11/15/2022 | WO |