EP2435990A1

EP2435990A1 - Method and system for generating information related to how a vehicle is driven

Info

Publication number: EP2435990A1
Application number: EP10780881A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kalle Fagerberg; Martin Dillman; Jonny Johansson; Patrik Kenning; Jonny Andersson
Original assignee: Scania CV AB
Current assignee: Scania CV AB
Priority date: 2009-05-28
Filing date: 2010-05-24
Publication date: 2012-04-04
Also published as: SE0950384A1; EP2435990A4; WO2010138060A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for generating and indicating of information on a displaying unit (5) that makes it easier for a driver of a vehicle to control/operate the vehicle more optimally in various driving situations, comprising a processing unit (1) for receiving, processing, storing and evaluating signals from various sensors and units located within or outside the vehicle, wherein the information represents various operating parameters for the vehicle, including the steps of determining (10) how the vehicle is actually driven in said driving situation, determining (11) how the vehicle might optimally be driven in said driving situation and comparing (12) how the vehicle was actually driven with the optimum possible in said driving situation. The invention is effected by the method steps of generating (13) a score value which represents how well the driver actually drove the vehicle in the specific driving situation and indicating (19, 21, 23), via said displaying unit (5), of a hint, a congratulation and/or a score value based on if the score value underpasses, exceeds or lies between predetermined limit values (G1, G2) for the actual driving situation.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING INFORMATION RELATED TO HOW A VEHICLE IS DRIVEN

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and a system for generating and indicating to the driver of vehicle information that makes it possible for the driver to be able to improve the driving of the vehicle. The invention relates in particular to a method and a system which on a displaying unit close to the driver show information based on how well the driver drives the vehicle as compared with optimum driving of the vehicle in different driving situations.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

It has become increasingly important to find ways and methods for optimising the use of and driving of a vehicle, e.g. for improving in particular the way drivers drive heavy commercial vehicles such as trucks, buses, etc. There is much to be gained from vehicles being driven in an optimum way, e.g. improvement of the road safety, the fuel consumption of the vehicle can be reduced and the wear of the vehicle can be decreased, thereby not only affording economic advantages but also sparing the environment.

Various systems have therefore been configured to show the driver how to drive the vehicle in as an effective way as possible and also how good the driver is at applying given driving instructions. Some systems also show the vehicle's current driving state and when the driver should change up or down, which gear should be selected, how much acceleration should be applied in different situations and whether vehicle speed should be lowered or increased to cater for the nature of the road ahead, i.e. whether there are upgrades, downgrades, bends etc. ahead. WO/2007/139491 describes for example a device which measures the steps taken by a driver which are of significance for the vehicle's fuel consumption. The device measures how well the driver drives over, for example, a crest of a hill, and detects the acceleration applied both before and at the crest and can decide therefrom whether the driver makes optimum use of the downgrade ahead. The invention does not generate a score value which represents how well the driver actually drove the vehicle in the specific driving situation and does not indicate a hint, a congratulation and/or a score value based on if the score value underpasses, exceeds or lies between predetermined limit values for the actual driving situation .

EP1811481 describes a method and system for monitoring and analysing drivers' various driving styles. The driver's driving style is identified on the basis of the vehicle's various operating parameters, and scores are awarded according to how well the driver drives the vehicle. The invention does no in-depth analysis and provides the driver with only general feedback.

WO2005/109273 describes a further method for distribution of vehicle driving information over a communication network. A central data collection unit gives feedback in real time and also afterwards. The real time information can be delivered by smartphone/PDA or similar apparatuses in connection with the driving. The feedback afterwards, after the driving, may be presented from several drivings of the vehicle, and may be processed before presentation to reveal statistical values and to present a behaviour pattern. The invention does not indicate a hint, a congratulation and/or a score value based on if the score value underpasses, exceeds or lies between predetermined limit values for the actual driving situation. US2004/0030458 describes a method and a device for evaluating driver performance. The method detects continuously the actual state of travel and the actual traffic situation and determines a reference state of travel pertaining to the actual traffic situation. The actual state of travel detected is evaluated according to evaluation criterions by comparing it with the pertaining detected reference state of travel. This invention does not indicate a hint, a congratulation and/or a score value based on if the score value underpasses, exceeds or lies between predetermined limit values for the actual driving situation.

It is a technical problem for the information system in a vehicle to generate and select exactly that information that is important to indicate to the driver in every moment of the driving run. It is therefore important to improve the method of generating such relevant information for each driving situation and to present this to the driver in an efficient way in order to minimize the distraction for the driver, to increase the road safety and to reduce wear and fuel consumption for the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to solve the aforesaid problems and propose a method and a system that generates and indicates to the driver of a vehicle information that makes it possible for the driver to be able to improve the driving of the vehicle and thereby result in e.g. reduced wear on, and lower fuel consumption of, the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to propose a method and a system which, on a displaying unit close to the driver, show information based on how well the driver drives the vehicle as compared with optimum driving of the vehicle in different driving situations.

A further object of the invention is to generates and present essential information to the driver without distracting him/her more than necessary.

A further object of the present invention is to enable the driver to vary what information is to be presented and when this is to take place.

These and further objects and advantages are achieved according to the invention by a method and system according to the features indicated in the characterising part of claims 1 and 8.

According to the invention, the objects and advantages are achieved by a method and a system identifying the respective driving situation, how the driver is driving the vehicle, comparing this with how the vehicle might optimally be driven in the same driving situation and generating and indicating relevant information to the driver. The system scores the driver, compares the drivers score with at least one predetermined limit value for the respective driving situation and, on the basis of that comparison, presents the driver with relevant information via a displaying unit.

A technical effect of the invention is that correct information is generated at every moment of the drive and presented to the driver in an effective manner. The interface between the driver and the vehicle system is improved and the transferring of the information can be carried out in a shorter time interval. Further features and advantages of the invention are indicated by the more detailed description of the invention set out below and the attached drawings and further claims.

BRIEF LIST OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail below in the form of preferred embodiment examples with reference to the attached drawings .

Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system according to the invention.

Figures 2a-d illustrates an example of a screen image and different variants of symbols which may be presented therein, depending on the driving situation, current scores and pertinent hints and congratulations.

Figures 3a-e illustrates further examples of screen images for various situations, including hints, congratulations and scores.

Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of the various method steps according to the invention.

Figure 5 illustrates a 0-100% scoring scale which schematically illustrates the information presented to the driver on the basis of how well the driver handles a given driving situation .

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention relates to a method and a system for generating and indicating to the driver of a vehicle such information about driving the vehicle that makes it possible for the driver to be able to improve the driving behaviour and thereby inter alia reduce wear on the vehicle and save fuel. Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of a system according to the invention which comprises a processing unit 1 with an interface 2a for receiving data and/or signals from various sensors and units situated in or outside the vehicle, an internal data bus 3 for transfer of data internally between the interface 2a, a processing unit 2b and a HMI unit 2c. In the processing unit 2b is arranged a CPU 4a that receives incoming signals and data such as accelerator pedal position, gear position, engine torque, driving resistance, braking force, navigation information, vehicle speed, vehicle weight, engine characteristics, engine speed etc. From these incoming signals is identified all different driving situations that the vehicle is driven through. A "driving situation" is defined as "how a vehicle is driven on a predetermined type of road section". The CPU 4a stores data/information in a first memory 4b that reflects the actual driving for each driving situation. The CPU 4a also calculates an optimum driving for each driving situation and stores this data/information in a second memory 4c. The data for the actual driving of a certain driving situation and the optimal driving of the same driving situation is compared to each other and this comparison results in scores, hints and congratulations, stored in memories 4d-f .

The data/information of the actual score, hint or congratulation is further sent to the HMI unit 2c wherein a operating device 4g derive relevant text and/or symbols from a text memory 4h and a symbol memory 4i and via an interface graphics unit 4k send this text data and graphic symbols for display- ing/indication on a displaying unit 5 provided with operating devices 6 in the form of buttons operable by the driver. The displaying unit 5, or its screen image 7, is divided into two or more displaying parts where at least one part shows symbols indicating the actual driving situation. The symbols could be enlightened by, or represented by, e.g. bulbs or light emitting diodes (not shown) , be represented by a bitmap symbol on a graphics display or be presented in another relevant way. It is also possible that some or all of the information from the processing unit 1 and its HMI unit 2c is transferred to the driver via voice messages in order to reduce the distraction for the driver to a minimum.

Figure 2a depicts an example of a screen image 7 displayed to the driver. The screen image 7 is here divided into four parts 7a-d and displays in a first part 7a at the top of the image static information about the current state of the system, here "Driver performance". A second part 7b displays a scoring scale in the form of a bar chart. This second part 7b may instead display a "hint" or a "congratulation", depending on how well the driver dealt with the latest or a certain driving situation. The scoring scale in the second part 7b may be supplemented by a percentage expressing more exactly the current score value. The bottom left of the screen image displays, in a third part 7c, a symbol representing the current driving situation (or driving category), i.e. the driving situation identified as the latest conducted and evaluated, and the bottom right of the screen image displays, in a fourth part 7d, the instantaneous score in the form of the respective number of yellow or bright stars awarded to the driver according to how well the driver succeeded in conducting the respective driving situation.

Figure 2b illustrates examples of various symbols each representing a unique driving situation, or driving category, which the system is adapted to handling/evaluating and to displaying scores and hints for. The vehicle's whole driving run is thus divided into various driving situations, examples of which may be "use of gears", "thinking ahead", "hill climbing", "hill cresting", "braking", "engine speed" etc. Figure 2c illustrates scores in the form of graphic symbols comprising here up to five stars as a simple and quick way to display the driver's scores for various driving situations. Half-stars may also be awarded. The example here constantly displays all five stars but in at least two shades, e.g. a really bright colour, e.g. yellow, and a less strong colour, e.g. grey. Bright stars or parts of stars thus indicate the score which the driver is awarded. The stars may of course be replaced by other symbols.

Figure 2d illustrates mainly examples of various hints and congratulations which may be communicated to the driver, e.g. when the driver does not perform well enough, or performs really well, in a given driving situation. Hints may be direct or preparatory. Direct hints, e.g. "Change up (to gear 6H)" or "Activate brake blending", are given to enable the driver interactively to take a step for immediately improving the driving of the vehicle. Preparatory hints such as "Next time release accelerator pedal before the hill" are given when a driving situation has been completed and evaluated and it is possible for the driver to improve the driving behaviour on the occasion of the next similar driving situation. Examples of congratulations are "Good anticipation" or "Exemplary driving", which may be displayed if the driver conducts the respective driving situation so well as to result in a high score .

Figures 3a-e illustrates further practical examples of screen images for various situations in which, inter alia, hints, congratulations and scores are displayed.

Figure 3a illustrates in more detail a screen image which relates to the driving situation "Thinking ahead" where the driver has been awarded a five-star score and the congratu- lation "Good anticipation!". The scoring is based on the time which passes between the driver operating the accelerator pedal and the brake pedal .

Figure 3b illustrates a screen image relating to the driving situation "Braking" where the driver has been awarded a score of 68% corresponding to 3.5 stars. The score is here depicted both in numerals on a scale and in the form of stars.

Figure 3c illustrates a screen image relating to the driving situation "Hill cresting" in which the driver has not done so well and has only been awarded a score of 0.5 star. The hint "Next time release accelerator before the crest" is displayed.

Figure 3d illustrates a screen image relating to the driving situation "Use of gears" (or "Engine speed") where the speed of the engine is so high that the system, based also on other parameters, considers that a higher gear needs to be engaged. All that is displayed is the hint "Change up" in combination with an indication of which gear, "6H", should be engaged.

Figure 3e illustrates a composite screen image displaying scores for four different situations (or categories) at the same time, where the driver has been awarded scores for hill cresting, braking, thinking ahead and use of gears. This screen image contains so much information that it is inappropriate for it to be displayed during driving, since it might distract the driver. It is therefore displayed after the driving has ended.

Figure 4 illustrates a flowchart of the most important method steps of the invention. A step 8 of the method involves inter alia an amount of information representing various operating parameters in the vehicle, in the form of digital data and/or analogue signals from devices, sensors, etc. situated in the vehicle, or arising from incoming signals transmitted by radio (e.g. GPS information, map information, topographic informa- tion etc.), being received and processed in a processing unit 1 (see fig 1) and, where appropriate, being stored in a memories 4b. These data are used at a further step 9 to identify, for example, the respective ongoing driving situation in which the vehicle is, and a step 10 decides on the basis thereof how the vehicle is actually being driven by the driver in the respective driving situation.

A step 11 calculates, decides and stores in a memory 4c how the vehicle might optimally be driven in the same driving situation on the basis of incoming information and/or previously stored empirical data.

A step 12 evaluates and quantifies how well the driver conducts a given driving situation by comparing how the vehicle is actually driven with how it might optimally be driven in a similar driving situation.

A further method step 13 generates a score value representing quantification of how well the driver may be regarded as having driven the vehicle in the respective driving situation. The value is stored in a memory 4d.

A further method step 14 is for generating and storing hints which are thereafter associated with various score values for respective driving situations. The hints are stored in a memory 4e.

A further method step 15 is for generating congratulations which accompany various score values for respective driving situations. The congratulations are stored in a memory 4f.

Based on the score and in relation to at least one, preferably two, predetermined limit values Gl, G2, the information to be presented to the driver via the display 5 is then selected/decided. As may be seen in the flowchart, a further step 16 decides whether a first part of the information should be displayed during the actual driving run, i.e. when the vehicle's speed is greater than zero. In that situation a simplified screen image with the most important instantaneous information, e.g. hints, congratulations and instantaneous scores, is displayed. A second part of the information, with more detailed data, reviews and summaries, is displayed after the driving run has ended, i.e. when the vehicle's speed is zero and the vehicle is therefore standing still. An example of such information is a composite image with average scores for the respective driving situations conducted during the driving run and a summary of deficiencies and faults on the part of the driver, and operations which the driver conducted well.

A step 17 decides whether the driver has activated viewing via the display 5. If this is not the case, the display is discontinued.

A step 18 checks whether the score for the respective driving situation is below a first predetermined limit value Gl. If such is the case, a hint is displayed 19 in the screen image.

A tenth step 20 checks whether the score for the respective driving situation exceeds a second predetermined limit value G2. If such is the case, a congratulation is displayed 21 in the screen image.

A further step 22 checks whether the score for the respective driving situation is between the two predetermined limit values Gl, G2. If such is the case, the score is displayed 23 in the screen image. In all the above cases, the score is displayed in the form of stars for the respective driving situation on the screen, irrespective of other displays.

If the vehicle's speed is zero, a step 24 checks whether viewing of the display 5 is activated by the driver. If this is the case, a further step 25 displays a composite image with average scores and/or hints/congratulations for all or a selection of the driving situations conducted.

Figure 5 illustrates a 0-100% scale schematically and the information presented to the driver for each given driving situation on the basis of how well the driver conducted it. In cases where the quantification or score is below a first limit value Gl, hints on how the driving of the vehicle may be improved are indicated. If the score exceeds the first limit value Gl but not the second limit value G2, no hint is indicated but only the score or, if deemed appropriate, nothing at all. If the second limit value G2 is exceeded, a congratulation is indicated, i.e. a congratulatory or awarding comment on the driving situation which the driver conducted well .

According to the invention there is also prioritisation between various categories of information. Top priority is given to information about how a driving situation just conducted might be improved. If the respective driving situation can be quantified or scored, that information is displayed. If such information is not displayed, a composite score for all driving situations is presented instead. This may be combined with scored driving situations as above.

The above description is primarily intended to facilitate comprehension of the invention. The invention is of course not limited to that description, since other embodiments of the invention are also possible and conceivable within the scope of the concept of the invention and the protection scope of the claims set out below.

Claims

1. A method for generating and indicating of information on a displaying unit (5) that makes it easier for a driver of a vehicle to control/operate the vehicle more optimally in various driving situations, comprising a processing unit (1) for receiving, processing, storing and evaluating signals from various sensors and units located within or outside the vehicle, wherein the information represents various operating parameters for the vehicle, including the steps of;

- determining (10) how the vehicle is actually driven in said driving situation,

- determining (11) how the vehicle might optimally be driven in said driving situation, - comparing (12) how the vehicle was actually driven with the optimum possible in said driving situation, characterised by the following method steps

- generating (13) a score value which represents how well the driver actually drove the vehicle in the specific driving situation,

- indicating (19,21,23), via said displaying unit (5), of a hint, a congratulation and/or a score value based on if the score value underpasses, exceeds or lies between predetermined limit values (Gl, G2) for the actual driving situation.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised by the further method step of

- generating and indicating a tip (19) if the score value underpasses a first predetermined limit value (Gl).

3. A method according to claim 1, characterised by the further method step of

- generating and indicating a congratulation (21) if the score value exceeds a second predetermined limit value (G2).

4. A method according to claim 1, characterised by the further method step of

- generating and indicating the score value (23) if the score value exceeds the first predetermined limit value (Gl) and underpasses the second predetermined limit value (G2).

5. A method according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised by the further method step of

- dividing the screen image (7) of the displaying unit (5) into various indicating parts (7a-d) .

6. A method according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised by the further method step of

- indicating the actual driving situation as a graphical symbol .

7. A method according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised by the further method step of

- indicating the score value as a graphical symbol, e.g. as a bargraph.

8. A system for generating and indicating of information on a displaying unit (5) that makes it easier for a driver of a vehicle to control/operate the vehicle more optimally in various driving situations, comprising a processing unit (1) for receiving, processing, storing and evaluating signals from various sensors and units located within or outside the vehicle, wherein the information represents various operating parameters for the vehicle, including means for determining how the vehicle is actually driven in the actual driving situation, means for determining how the vehicle might optimally be driven in said driving situation, means for comparing how the vehicle was actually driven with the optimum possible in said driving situation, characterised by - means (2b) for determining/generating a score value which represents how well the driver actually drove the vehicle in the specific driving situation,

- means (2b) for selecting of a hint, a congratulation and/or a score value based on if the score value underpasses, exceeds or lies between predetermined limit values (Gl, G2) for the actual driving situation, and

- means (2c) for generating/indicating said information via said displaying unit (5) .

9. A system according to claim 8, characterised by

- means (2b) for generating a tip if the score value underpasses a first predetermined limit value (Gl).

10. A system according to claim 8, characterised by

- means (2b) for generating a congratulation (21) if the score value exceeds a second predetermined limit value (G2).

11. A system according to claim 8, characterised by

- means (2b) for generating and indicating the score value (23) if the score value exceeds the first predetermined limit value (Gl) and underpasses the second predetermined limit value (G2) .

12. A system according to any of the claims 8-11, characterised by - that the displaying unit (5) is divided in two or more indicating parts (7a-d) for indicating different information.

13. A system according to any of the claims 8-12, characterised by - means (2c) for selecting and indicating the actual driving situation as a graphical symbol.

14. A system according to any of the claims 8-12, characterised by

- means (2c) for selecting and indicating the score value as a graphical symbol, e.g. as a bargraph.

15. A vehicle comprising a system according to any one of claims 8-14.