Systems and methods for sharing driver coaching data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019164451-A1
Application number	US-201715824985-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 28, 2017
Priority date	Nov 28, 2017
Publication date	May 30, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods of sharing driver coaching data are provided. Driver coaching systems learn the characteristics of a deceleration event. With the goal of increasing recouped energy while operating a vehicle that can recapture energy in a battery, driver coaching systems predict when the vehicle can begin coasting at the start of the deceleration event. In this way, the amount of time during which regenerative braking can be applied may be increased. Coaching cues are provided to the driver so that the vehicle can be operated in a way that achieves the goal of increasing recouped energy. By sharing driver coaching data, the amount of learning time/resources spent by other vehicles can be reduced.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
obtaining driver coaching data associated with a driver navigating a road feature while operating a first vehicle; correlating the driver coaching data with a location of the road feature upon being approached or navigated by a second vehicle; and implementing a driver coaching function in the second vehicle using the driver coaching data associated with first driver upon the second vehicle approaching or navigating the road feature.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the driver coaching data comprises at least one of data characterizing the road feature, data identifying the location of the road feature, the driver's operation of the first vehicle at the location, and estimated operating efficiency associated with future implementation of the driver coaching function based on the driver coaching data.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the future implementation of the driver coaching function based on the driver coaching data comprises implementing a maximum possible amount of regenerative braking during a deceleration aspect of navigating the road feature.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the driver operating the first vehicle is the same as that operating the second vehicle.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the driver operating the first vehicle is different from a driver operating the second vehicle.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the correlating of the driver coaching data with the location comprises detecting the location of the second vehicle, and analyzing the driver coaching data for information identifying the location.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the implementation of the driver coaching function in the second vehicle comprises presenting one or more coaching cues to a driver operating the second vehicle suggesting release of the second vehicle's accelerator pedal to begin coasting.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the obtaining of the driver coaching data comprises downloading the driver coaching data from a cloud-based datastore, downloading the driver coaching data from a fleet datastore, the first and second vehicles belonging to the same fleet, and receiving the driver coaching data from a memory unit of the first vehicle, wherein the driver coaching data is directly received from the memory unit or received from an intermediate, roadside unit in communication with the first and second vehicles.

9 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
obtaining driver coaching data associated with a driver navigating a road feature while operating a first vehicle; correlating the driver coaching data with a location of the road feature upon being approached or navigated by a second vehicle; comparing estimated operating efficiency associated with predicted implementation of a driver coaching function in the first vehicle based on the driver coaching data to measured operating efficiency associated with previous operation of the second vehicle approaching or navigating the road feature; and implementing the driver coaching function in the second vehicle using the driver coaching data upon a future instance of the second vehicle approaching or navigating the road feature only if the estimated efficiency of the first vehicle is greater than the measured operating efficiency of the second vehicle.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the predicted implementation of the driver coaching function based on the driver coaching data includes predicted implementation of a maximum possible amount of regenerative braking during one or more portions of the road feature where deceleration is needed.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein the implementation of the driver coaching function in the second vehicle comprises presenting one or more coaching cues suggesting a release of the second vehicle's accelerator pedal to induce coasting at which time the regenerative braking is initiated.

12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the measured operating efficiency associated with the previous operation of the second vehicle is based on portions of the road feature during which deceleration and acceleration are needed.

13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein regenerative braking is not applied during the portions of deceleration.

14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising one of temporarily disabling the driver coaching function, and overriding the driver coaching function upon a determination that the measured operating efficiency of the second vehicle is greater that the estimated operating efficiency of the first vehicle.

15 . The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the temporary disabling of the driver coaching function comprises temporarily disabling at least one of information collection and derivation, the collected and derived information comprising the driver coaching data.

16 . The computer-implemented method of claim 14 , wherein the overriding of the driver coaching function comprises prohibiting presentation of coaching cues.

17 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the implementation of the driver coaching function in the second vehicle comprises normalizing the driver coaching data for use with the second vehicle.

18 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , wherein the implementation of the driver coaching function in the second vehicle comprises normalizing the driver coaching data for use with the second vehicle, and wherein the driver coaching data comprises information characterizing a preferred distance from the road feature at which to begin coasting.

19 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
obtaining driver coaching data associated with a first driver operating a vehicle; correlating the driver coaching data with a location of the road feature upon being approached or navigated by the vehicle as it is being operated by a second driver; and implementing a driver coaching function in the vehicle using the driver coaching data associated with the first driver upon the vehicle approaching or navigating the road feature as it is being operated by the second driver.

20 . The computer-implemented method of claim 19 , wherein the driver coaching data associated with the first driver is maintained as a driver coaching data profile retrievable by the first or second driver.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Gaither Geoffrey D
• Payne Joshua D

Classifications

• B60W2556/50

  of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data · CPC title

• B60W50/14

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title

• B60W30/18127 Primary

  Regenerative braking · CPC title

• H04W4/02

  Services making use of location information · CPC title

• G09B19/167 Primary

  Control of land vehicles · CPC title