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Method and apparatus for prediction or estimation of fuel or energy consumption by a vehicle over a chosen trip route, where the route includes a plurality of road segments. Fuel consumption over each road segment is estimated, using information on one or more of the following variables: representat

Method and apparatus for prediction or estimation of fuel or energy consumption by a vehicle over a chosen trip route, where the route includes a plurality of road segments. Fuel consumption over each road segment is estimated, using information on one or more of the following variables: representative altitude of the road segment; representative slope of the road segment; estimated vehicle average speed along the road segment; length of the road segment; condition of the road segment; condition of the vehicle tires; expected vehicle traffic density along the road segment; applicable constraints on vehicle operation along the road segment; expected ambient weather conditions along the road segment; vehicle accessories that will be used; and vehicle driver profile information. Weather conditions enroute, such as local wind speed and direction, can be measured and used to enhance accuracy of predicted fuel consumption. Fuel consumption can be estimated initially, can be re-estimated enroute, using actual fuel consumption for the portion of the route already traveled, and can be estimated for a return trip along the same route. Fuel consumption can be estimated where the route is not initially specified. The fuel consumed may be electrical charge, gasoline, kerosene, natural gas, diesel fuel, or any similar fuel.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for estimation of fuel consumption by a vehicle in traveling from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps of:receiving information on a selected trip route to be traveled by a vehicle on a trip in moving from a first selected location to a sec

[ I claim:] [1.] A method for estimation of fuel consumption by a vehicle in traveling from a first location to a second location, the method comprising the steps of:receiving information on a selected trip route to be traveled by a vehicle on a trip in moving from a first selected location to a second selected location within a selected time interval, where the trip route comprises one or more selected road segments;receiving a reference fuel consumption value representing estimated fuel consumption for the trip route for a reference set of conditions for the trip;for at least one road segment on the trip route, receiving information on at least one of the following route information items concerning the trip route and selected time interval: (1') whether the road segment includes terrain with an upward slope having a slope magnitude that is greater than a selected slope threshold; (2') whether the fuel used by the vehicle will provide vehicle mileage that is substantially less than a reference fuel mileage; (3') whether the condition of tires used by the vehicle differ substantially from a condition of new vehicle tires; (4') whether the tire air pressure differs substantially from optimal air pressure; (5') whether the condition of the roadbed for the road segment is substantially less than normal quality; (6') whether an expected average vehicle velocity will lie outside a selected optimal vehicle velocity range; (7') whether vehicle traffic along the road segment will be substantially heavier than average vehicle traffic for that road segment; (8') whether any of a selected group of vehicle accessories will be activated while the vehicle is traveling on the road segment; (9') whether the vehicle is expected to encounter a strong head wind on the road segment; (10') whether the weather encountered on the road segment is expected to include non-normal weather conditions; and (11') whether the driver profile for the person who will operate the vehicle on the road segment differs substantially in a negative sense from a selected reference driver profile;when at least one of the questions (1'), (2'), (3'), (4'), (5'), (6'), (7'), (8'), (9'), (10') and (11') is answered affirmatively, selecting a positive fuel consumption increment corresponding to the question that is answered affirmatively;for the at least one road segment on the trip route, receiving information on at least one of the following route information items concerning the trip route and selected time interval: (1") whether the road segment includes terrain with a downward slope having a slope magnitude that is greater than a selected slope threshold; (2") whether the fuel used by the vehicle will provide vehicle mileage that is substantially greater than a reference fuel mileage; (9") whether the vehicle is expected to encounter a strong tail wind on the road segment; and (11") whether the driver profile for the person who will operate the vehicle on the road segment differs substantially in a positive sense from a selected reference driver profile;when at least one of the questions (1"), (2"), (9") and (11") is answered affirmatively, selecting a negative fuel consumption increment corresponding to the question that is answered affirmatively; andestimating fuel consumption for the trip as a sum of the reference fuel consumption value, plus each selected positive fuel consumption increment, minus each selected negative fuel consumption increment that represents an estimate of fuel consumption for the vehicle trip over the trip route.