SE1550549A1 - Method and control unit for reducing fuel consumption in a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Method (400) and control unit (310) in a vehicle (100) for generating a driver rating value, based on parameter data, collected and stored while driving along a route (200) from a starting point (210) to a destination (220), for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel consumption. The method (400) comprises determining (401) geographical position of the vehicle (100) continuously; collecting (402) parameter data, when driving at each geographical position of the vehicle (100); storing (403) the parameter data in a memory (525, 360); generating (406) the driver rating value and a fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle fuel consumption along the route (200), based on the collected (402) parameter data; and outputting (407) the generated (406) driver rating value and fuel consumption estimate, and a comparison with a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle (100) along the route (200), to the driver.(Publ. Fig. 2)

Description

METHOD AND CONTROL UNIT FOR REDUCING FUEL CONSUMPTIONIN A VEHICLE TECHNICAL FIELD This document discloses a control unit and a method to be performed therein. More par-ticularly, a control unit and a method are described, for generating a driver rating value,based on parameter data, collected and stored while driving along a route in a driving di-rection from a starting point to a destination, for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel con- sumption of the vehicle.

BACKGROUND Reducing fuel consumption and other costs for maintenance etc., associated with vehicletransportation is for economic reasons important for the vehicle owner. Reduced fuel con- sumption also results in decreased environmental impact.

The fuel consumption of a vehicle is very much depending on the driving style of the driver,i.e. acceleration, usage of the brake, velocity of the vehicle etc. When the vehicle is aheavy vehicle such as a truck or a bus, the driver is normally not the owner of the vehicle,nor responsible for paying the fuel bill. Thus the driver may have a low incitement for re- ducing the fuel consumption. lt would be desired to find a way to encourage and stimulate the vehicle driver to consis- tently reduce the fuel consumption of the vehicle.

Another problem associated with long distance driving for a single driver, perhaps in par-ticular when driving to the same destination iteratively, is that the driver easily lose focusand may become bored or tired, which remove the driver's focus from safe and environ- mental friendly driving, and may even present a safety problem.

As these described scenarios, and similar variants of them, will lead to increased fuel con-sumption and/ or increased maintenance costs, it would be desired to find a solution whichinspires and stimulates the driver in reducing fuel consumption of the vehicle and in addi- tion stimulates the driver to keep focused on safe and environmental friendly driving.

SUMMARY lt is therefore an object of this invention to solve at least some of the above problems and encourage a vehicle driver to reduce fuel consumption of a vehicle.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved by a method for use ina vehicle. The method aims at generating a driver rating value, based on parameter data,co||ected and stored While driving along a route in a driving direction from a starting point toa destination. The purpose is to encourage the driver to reduce fuel consumption of thevehicle. The method comprises determining geographical position of the vehicle continu-ously along the route. Further the method comprises collecting parameter data related tothe vehicle, when driving at each determined geographical position of the vehicle. Themethod also comprises storing the co||ected parameter data at each determined geo-graphical position, associated with the driving direction in a memory. ln addition the methodalso comprises generating the driver rating value and a fuel consumption estimate of thevehicle fuel consumption along the route, based on the co||ected parameter data. Further-more the method also comprises outputting the generated driver rating value and fuel con-sumption estimate, and a comparison with a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle along the route, to the driver. ln a first possible implementation of the method according to the first aspect, the co||ectedparameter data related to fuel consumption of the vehicle comprises: fuel consumption,velocity, acceleration, selected gear, weight of the vehicle, engine load, vehicle slope, ve-hicle type, tyre pressure, usage of brake, usage of retarder, driver identity, vehicle identity, haulage company of the vehicle or similar parameters. ln a second possible implementation of the method according to the first aspect, or accord-ing to the first possible implementation thereof, the driver rating value is generated bycomparing the fuel consumption of the vehicle along the route with stored values, and also comparing the co||ected set of parameters with previously stored parameter values. ln a third possible implementation of the method according to the first aspect, or accordingto any previous possible implementation thereof, the method further comprises detectinganother road user in vicinity of the vehicle. The method also comprises notifying brakingmade due to the detected other road user. ln addition the driver rating value may be gen- erated further based on the notified braking. ln a fourth possible implementation of the method according to the first aspect, or accord-ing to any previous possible implementation thereof, the method further comprises trans-mitting parameter data related to the vehicle and/ or the generated driver rating value when arriving at the destination, to a vehicle external receiver. ln a fifth possible implementation of the method according to the first aspect, or accordingto any previous possible implementation thereof, wherein the generated driver rating valueand the fuel consumption of the route is presented in comparison with previously storeddriver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the route made by: the same driverin the same vehicle, any driver in the same vehicle, the same driver in any vehicle, anydriver in any vehicle belonging to the same haulage company, any driver in any vehicle of the same weight, any driver in any vehicle of the same producer. ln a sixth possible implementation of the method according to the first aspect, or accordingto any previous possible implementation thereof, wherein the generated driver rating valueand the fuel consumption estimate of the route is outputted in comparison with previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the route in a ranking list. ln a seventh possible implementation of the method according to the first aspect, or ac-cording to any previous possible implementation thereof, further comprising comparing thecollected parameter data with previously stored parameter data, detecting an improvementpossibility for the driver to improve the driver rating value, and outputting the detected im- provement possibility, to the driver.

According to a second aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved by a control unit ina vehicle, for generating a driver rating value, based on parameter data. The parameterdata is collected and stored while driving along a route in a driving direction from a startingpoint to a destination. The purpose is to encourage the driver to reduce fuel consumption ofthe vehicle. The control unit is configured for determining geographical position of the vehi-cle continuously along the route. Further the control unit is configured for collecting pa-rameter data related to the vehicle, when driving at each determined geographical positionof the vehicle. The control unit is also configured for storing the collected parameter data ateach determined geographical position, associated with the driving direction in a memoryand additionally configured for generating the driver rating value and a fuel consumptionestimate of the vehicle fuel consumption along the route, based on the collected parameterdata. ln addition the control unit is further configured for outputting the generated driverrating value and fuel consumption estimate, and a comparison with a previously storeddriver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle along the route, to the dnven ln a first possible implementation of the control unit according to the second aspect, thecontrol unit is further configured to exchange information related to the collected parameterdata related to the vehicle and/ or the generated driver rating value to a vehicle externalreceiver, and/ or a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the route.

According to a third aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved by a computer pro-gram comprising program code for performing a method according to the first aspect, orany possible implementation thereof, when the computer program is executed in the con- trol unit, according to the second aspect.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved by a vehicle com-prising a control unit according to the second aspect, or according to the first possible im- plementation of the control unit according to the second aspect.

Thanks to the described aspects, by collecting and storing parameter data related to thevehicle and in particular the fuel consumption of the vehicle, associated with geographicalpositions, and measuring fuel consumption continuously during a route, it is possible for thedriver to compete with his/ her own historical fuel record, or against another driver's re- sults. Thereby the driver's focus on reducing fuel consumption is upheld and stimulated.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, a driver may upload his/ her driver rating value andfuel consumption of the vehicle along the route to a vehicle external server, where theymay be inserted in a ranking list. This updated ranking list may then be distributed to in-volved or interested drivers. Thus the driver may be further motivated to reduce fuel con- sumption.

Other advantages and additional novel features will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description.

FIGURES Embodiments of the invention will now be described in further detail with reference to theaccompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a vehicle driving along a route according to an embodiment of the invenfion; Figure 3 illustrates a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the first method; Figure 5 is an illustration depicting a system according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Embodiments of the invention described herein are defined as a method and a control unit,which may be put into practice in the embodiments described below. These embodimentsmay, however, be exemplified and realised in many different forms and are not to be lim-ited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these illustrative examples of embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete.

Still other objects and features may become apparent from the following detailed descrip-tion, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. lt is to be understood,however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as adefinition of the limits of the herein disclosed embodiments, for which reference is to bemade to the appended claims. Further, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scaleand, unless othenNise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

Figure 1 illustrates a scenario with a vehicle 100 driving in a driving direction 105.

The vehicle 100 may comprise e.g. a truck, a bus, a car, a motorcycle or any similar vehi- cle or other means of conveyance.

The vehicle 100 may be driver controlled or driverless autonomously controlled vehicles indifferent embodiments. However, for enhanced clarity, the vehicle 100 is subsequently de- scribed as having a driver.

According to some embodiments, the fuel consumption and driver behaviour when drivinga route with the vehicle 100 is measured and estimated. The driver behaviour may com-prise e.g. number and size of acceleration, braking, retarder use, etc., of the driver alongthe route, at different geographical positions. The recorded driver behaviour may be com-pared with either a computed ideal behaviour, or a previously recorded behaviour made by an ideal/ professional driver when driving along the same route.

When arriving at the destination at the end of the route, the driver may receive an overallassessment of his/ her driving and fuel consumption of the vehicle and may select to store the collected information, or not. lf he/ she chooses to save it, it may be used for compari- son next time the driver drive the same route, in order to further decrease the fuel con-sumption on that route and set a new fuel consumption record, in some embodiments. Al-ternatively, the driver may make the result accessible to his/ her colleagues, either bysending the result to a server or other similar vehicle external structure, or distributing the result to selected receivers, such as other vehicles of colleagues.

The colleagues may then try to beat the first driver's "record" in economic driving. Thereby also other drivers becomes motivated and inspired to reduce their fuel consumption.

This may trigger and inspire the involved drivers to constantly trying to improve themselvesand challenge themselves to constantly beat their own record on the route, or the route record in the Haulage Company, etc. ln some embodiments geographical positioning may be performed, e.g. by a Global Posi-tioning System (GPS) receiver in the vehicle 100. Further, fuel consumption during theroute may be measured. Also certain parameters related to fuel consumption of the vehicle100 comprises: fuel consumption, velocity, acceleration, selected gear, weight of the vehi-cle 100, engine load, vehicle slope, vehicle type, tyre pressure, usage of brake, usage ofretarder or similar parameters. lt may thereby be determined when, i.e. at which geo-graphical position, the driver is to accelerate or release the accelerator, and also how much to press the gas pedal, e.g. 70% depression. ln some embodiments, radar, lidar or similar may be used to determine if/ when the driver brakes due to that a vehicle in front suddenly brakes.

The next time the driver is driving the same route, he/ she can choose to try to beat his/ herold record, in order to reduce the fuel consumption. Further, the best strategy when drivinge.g. down a hill may be extracted. One driver may e.g. release the accelerator, anotherdriver may release the accelerator and use the retarder and a further driver may not re-lease the gas at all, as they may perceive the downhill slope differently. However, one ofthese strategies will have the smallest fuel consumption, and is to be preferred and will render a higher driver rating value estimation. ln some embodiments, this information may be presented to the driver. Thus the drivermay learn how to reduce the fuel consumption, e.g. by releasing the accelerator earlier when approaching a downhill, by reducing velocity, by change to another gear etc., by comparing the driver's parameter data with previously stored more successful parameter data.

Thereby, the driver will be learned to adapt the driving in order to reduce the fuel consump-tion. ln case the driver drives the vehicle 100 on the same route repeatedly back and forth,further fine tuning of the driving parameters may be stored. Thereby the fuel consumption may be further reduced.

Thereby, an inexperienced driver quickly could learn and adapt a fuel saving driving styleby copying the driving commands of the more experienced driver, which shortens the timeit takes to become a skilful driver. Thereby an educational tool is provided, supporting thedriving skill development of the inexperienced driver, without presence of any teacher. Bycomparing generated driver rating values of the driver over time, the progress of the inex- perienced driver is visualised, further stimulating an economic driving style. ln some embodiments, different drivers may have the lowest fuel consumption on differentsegments of the route. A combination may then be made in some embodiments, of thestored data of the most successful drivers on each respective segment of the route. Thusan optimal strategy may be determined by combining the best subsections of a route, fromdifferent drivers/ vehicles 100. lt may thereby be possible to create instructions that woulddecrease the fuel consumption for all the drivers at a haulage company, also the most ex- perienced drivers.

Further, in some alternative embodiments, the collected and stored parameter data may besent to the vehicle producer, in order for the engineers to get a deeper understanding ofhow customers use their vehicles 100. The support that the customer then receive would be more customised when it is known more precisely how customers use their vehicles.

Figure 2 illustrates an example of a scenario where the vehicle 100 presented in Figure 1have arrived to a hilly region while driving along a route 200 from a starting point 210 to a destination 220 in a driving direction 105. ln the illustrated example, the vehicle 100 is driving uphill, at a road slope oi of the road in front of the vehicle 100 in the driving direction 105 Parameter data related to the vehicle 100, such as e.g. fuel consumption of the vehicle 100 may be collected and stored in a memory or database, while driving in the driving direction 105 at each determined geographical position of the vehicle 100. Such parameter datarelated to the vehicle 100 may comprise: fuel consumption, velocity, acceleration, selectedgear, weight of the vehicle 100, engine load, vehicle slope oi, vehicle type, tyre pressure,usage of brake, usage of retarder, driver identity, vehicle identity, haulage company of thevehicle 100 or similar parameters. lt may for example be collected and stored, associatedwith the currently determined geographical position, when 230-1, 230-2 the driver releasesthe accelerator and let the vehicle 100 roll in order to convert stored potential energy intokinetic energy in a forthcoming downhill, or when 240-1, and how much, the driver press' the accelerator in order to overcome a forthcoming uphill.

When the driver and the vehicle 100 arrives at the destination 220, an estimation of thedriver behaviour may be made, based on the collected and stored parameter data. Also, the total fuel consumption of the vehicle 100 along the route 200 may be estimated.

Further the estimated driver behaviour may be presented to the driver in form of a driverrating value, and the estimated fuel consumption. These values may be presented togetherwith reference values such as e.g. previously stored lowest fuel consumption of the vehicle 100 on the route 200 in question. ln some embodiments, parameter data recorded by another vehicle 201, which may bedriving along the same route between the starting point 210 to the destination 220 in thedriving direction 105, may be presented to the driver when passing the same geographicalposition, such as e.g. when 230-1, 230-2 to release the accelerator and let the vehicle 100roll in order to convert stored potential energy into kinetic energy in a forthcoming downhill,or when 240-1, and how much, to press the accelerator in order to overcome a forthcominguphill; which gear to select; which velocity to keep; how much to accelerate etc. Therebyimprovement possibilities of the driver of the vehicle 100, in order to improve his/ her driverrating value may be detected, by comparison of the parameter data of the respective vehi-cles 100, 201, and advice may be presented to the driver of the vehicle 100, e.g. continu- ously along the route 200, in some embodiments.

Thereby the driver is challenged and stimulated to reduce the fuel consumption. Further,thanks to the disclosed method, a preferred strategy for saving fuel may be extracted and presented to the driver.

Figure 3 illustrates an example of how the previously scenario in Figure 1 or Figure 2 may be perceived by the driver of the vehicle 100. ln the illustrated embodiment, the vehicle 100 comprises a control unit 310. The control unit310 is configured for generating a driver rating value, based on parameter data, collectedand stored While driving along a route 200 in a driving direction 105 from a starting point210 to a destination 220, for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel consumption of the vehi-cle 100.

The control unit 310 may be connected to a display 320, where e.g. information may beoutputted to the driver. The display 320 may be integrated in the dashboard of the vehicle100, or constitute a separate unit in different embodiments. ln some embodiments, infor-mation may be outputted to the driver by a loudspeaker, or a combination of the display 320 and the loudspeaker.

Further, the vehicle 100 comprises a positioning unit 330. The positioning unit 330 may bebased on a satellite navigation system such as the Navigation Signal Timing and Ranging(Navstar) Global Positioning System (GPS), Differential GPS (DGPS), Galileo, GLONASS, or the like. Thus the positioning unit 330 may comprise a GPS receiver.

The geographical position of the vehicle 100 may be determined continuously or at certain predetermined or configurable time intervals according to various embodiments.

Positioning by satellite navigation is based on distance measurement using triangulationfrom a number of satellites 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4. The satellites 340-1, 340-2, 340-3,340-4 continuously transmit information about time and date (for example, in coded form),identity (which satellite 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4 which broadcasts), status, and wherethe satellite 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4 are situated at any given time. GPS satellites 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4 sends information encoded with different codes, for example, butnot necessarily based on Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA). This allows informationfrom an individual satellite 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4 distinguished from the others' infor-mation, based on a unique code for each respective satellite 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4.This information can then be transmitted to be received by the appropriately adapted posi- tioning unit 330 in the vehicle 100.

Distance measurement can according to some embodiments comprise measuring the dif-ference in the time it takes for each respective satellite signal transmitted by the respectivesatellites 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4, to reach the positioning unit 330. As the radio signals travel at the speed of light, the distance to the respective satellite 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340- 4 may be computed by measuring the signal propagation time.

The positions of the satellites 340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4 are known, as they continuouslyare monitored by approximately 15-30 ground stations located mainly along and near theearth's equator. Thereby the geographical position, i.e. latitude and longitude, of the vehicle100 may be calculated by determining the distance to at least three satellites 340-1, 340-2,340-3, 340-4 through triangulation. For determination of altitude, signals from four satellites340-1, 340-2, 340-3, 340-4 may be used according to some embodiments.

Having determined the geographical position of the vehicle 100, and also determined thedriving direction 105 of the vehicle 100, the control unit 310 may collect a set of parametersrelated to fuel consumption of the vehicle 100, when driving in the driving direction 105 ateach geographical position of the vehicle 100, such as e.g. when 230-1, 230-2 the accel-erator is released and the vehicle 100 is let to roll in order to convert stored potential en-ergy into kinetic energy in a forthcoming downhill, and/ or when 240-1, and how much, the accelerator is depressed in order to overcome a forthcoming uphill.

The collected set of parameters may then be stored, associated with the geographical posi-tion and the driving direction 105 in a memory or database 360. The memory or database360 may be situated in the vehicle 100 in some embodiments. However, in the illustratedembodiment, the collected parameter data may be stored in a database 360 external to thevehicle 100.

The illustrated embodiment further comprises a transmitter 350, for transmitting the col-lected parameter data to the external database 360 over a wireless interface. The vehicle100 may also comprise a receiver in some embodiments, for receiving parameter datastored in the database 360. Alternatively, the transmitter 350 and the receiver may be combined in one unit, a transceiver.

The mentioned wireless communication of the transmitter 350/ receiver/ transceiver maybe based on, or at least inspired by wireless communication technology such as e.g., 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced, Vehi-cle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication, Wi-Fi, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), UltraMobile Broadband (UMB), Bluetooth (BT), or infrared transmission to name but a few pos- sible examples of wireless communications. 11 ln an illustrative example, the vehicle 100 may determine the geographical position usingthe positioning unit 330, and the driving direction 105 of the vehicle 100 at the geographical position.

The determined geographical position and the driving direction 105 may be used whenstoring vehicle related data such as driver behaviour and associating it with that geographi- cal position and driving direction 105. ln some optional embodiments, an instruction may be provided to the driver, in order toassist him/ her to reduce the fuel consumption and improve the driver rating value. Suchinstruction may be based on previously stored parameter data of a successful driver/ vehi-cle 100, 201 and may comprise e.g. presenting an instruction to release acceleration, at acertain geographical position at 230-1 in Figure 2, in order to roll over the top of the hill andthereby reduce fuel consumption. Other such presented instructions may comprise gearselection, vehicle speed adjustment, acceleration adjustment, usage of brakes/ retarder of the vehicle 100, etc.

Figure 4 illustrates an example of a method 400 according to an embodiment. The flowchart in Figure 4 shows the method 400 for use in a vehicle 100, for generating a driverrating value to the driver, based on parameter data, collected and stored while drivingalong a route 200 in a driving direction 105 from a starting point 210 to a destination 220, for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel consumption of the vehicle 100.

The vehicle 100 may be any arbitrary kind of means for conveyance, such as a truck, a bus, a car or a motorcycle. ln order to correctly be able to collect and store the parameters, the method 400 may com-prise a number of steps 401-408. However, some of these steps 401-408 may be per-formed solely in some alternative embodiments, like e.g. steps 404-405 or step 408. Fur-ther, the described steps 401-408 may be performed in a somewhat different chronologicalorder than the numbering suggests. For example, step 402 may be performed before step 401 in some embodiments. The method 400 may comprise the subsequent steps: Step 401 comprises determining geographical position of the vehicle 100 continuously along the route 200 to the destination 220. 12 The geographical position may be determined based on GPS positioning in some embodi-ments, e.g. at certain time intervals. Alternatively, the geographical position may be in- serted by the driver. ln some embodiments, the driving direction 105 of the vehicle 100 may also be determinedin some embodiments. The driving direction 105 of the vehicle 100 may be determinedbased on the location of the destination of the journey, or by extrapolating the driving direc-tion based on previously determined geographical positions and possibly knowledge of the road direction, e.g. from stored map data.

Step 402 comprises collecting parameter data related to the vehicle 100, when driving inthe determined 402 driving direction 105 at each determined 401 geographical position ofthe vehicle 100. The parameter data may for example be related to fuel consumption of the vehicle 100 in some embodiments, and/ or identities of the vehicle 100 and/ or the driver.

The collected set of parameters related to fuel consumption of the vehicle 100 may com-prise e.g.: fuel consumption, velocity, acceleration, selected gear, weight of the vehicle100, engine load, vehicle slope d, vehicle type, tyre pressure, usage of brake, usage ofretarder, driver identity, vehicle identity, haulage company of the vehicle 100 or similar pa- rameters.

The weight of the vehicle 100 may be measured by a weight sensor on the vehicle 100, orestimated based on the load in some embodiments. ln some embodiments, the weight of the vehicle 100 may be estimated based on the acceleration capacity of the vehicle 100.

Step 403 comprises storing the collected 402 parameter data associated with the drivingdirection 105 at the determined 401 geographical position of the vehicle 100 in a memory,or database 360. The collected 402 parameter data may be continuously stored. ln someembodiments, the collected 402 parameter data may be stored at predetermined time in- tervals.

Step 404 which may be performed only in some embodiments, may comprise detecting another road user in vicinity of the vehicle 100.

Thereby, e.g. another vehicle just in front of the own vehicle 100 may be detected by asensor based on a radar, a lidar, a distance detector, a metal detector, an reflective sensor based on infrared or visible light, or other similar sensor in different embodiments. 13 The other road user may be e.g. another vehicle, a human, an animal, or actually any ob- ject appearing on the road.

Step 405 which may be performed only in some embodiments wherein step 404 has been performed, may comprise notifying braking made due to the detected 404 other road user. lt may thereby be possible to detect when the driver brakes the vehicle 100 due to the am-bient traffic situation (which typically may not result in reduced driver rating value) andwhen he/ she brakes the vehicle 100 without such reason (resulting in reduced driver rating value).

Step 406 comprises generating the driver rating value and a fuel consumption estimate ofthe vehicle fuel consumption along the route 200, based on the collected 402 parameter data.

The generation of the driver rating value and the fuel consumption estimate may be made continuously while driving, or upon arrival at the destination 220 in different embodiments.

The generation of the driver rating value may be made by comparing the fuel consumptionof the vehicle 100 along the route 200 with stored values, and also comparing the collected 402 parameter data with previously stored parameter data in some embodiments.

The generation of the driver rating value may further be based on the notified 405 brakingin some embodiments. Unnecessary use of the brakes results in lost kinetic energy, which may result in reduced driver rating value. ln some embodiments, the generation may also comprise comparing the collected 402parameter data with previously stored parameter data, which has been stored e.g. by thesame vehicle 100 when having passed the same route 200 another time, or by anothervehicle 201. By comparing the collected 402 parameter data and the previously stored pa-rameter data in addition to the respective associated fuel consumption, an improvementpossibility for the driver to improve the driver rating value may be detected. Such improve-ment may comprise e.g. releasing the accelerator earlier before entering a downhill, select- ing another gear, reducing the speed etc. 14 ln some embodiments, a combination of stored parameter data from different vehicles 100,201 may be made, in order to extract the parameter data associated with the most reducedfuel consumption for subsets of the route 200. Thereby, a driving strategy for further reduc- ing fuel consumption of all drivers may be computed.

Step 407 comprises outputting the generated 406 driver rating value and fuel consumptionestimate, and a comparison with a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel con- sumption estimate of the vehicle 100 along the route 200, to the driver.

Such output may be made e.g. in a display 320, by a loudspeaker in the vehicle 100, or a combination thereof.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the current fuel consumption estimate at the deter-mined 401 geographical position of the vehicle 100 may be outputted or presented, possi-bly together with a comparison with a previously stored fuel consumption estimate at the determined 401 geographical position of the vehicle 100.

Further the generated 406 driver rating value and the fuel consumption estimate of theroute 200 may be outputted in comparison with previously stored driver rating value and/ orfuel consumption of the route 200 made by: the same driver in the same vehicle 100, anydriver in the same vehicle 100, the same driver in any vehicle 100, 201, any driver in anyvehicle 100, 201 belonging to the same haulage company, any driver in any vehicle 100, 201 of the same weight, any driver in any vehicle 100, 201 of the same producer, etc. ln some embodiments, the generated 406 driver rating value and the fuel consumptionestimate of the route 200 may be outputted in comparison with previously stored driverrating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the route 200 in a ranking list, relevant forthe vehicle 100. ln some alternative embodiments, where an improvement possibility for the driver, to im-prove the driver rating value may be detected, an instruction may be provided to the driver,to further reduce fuel consumption, e.g. by releasing the accelerator earlier before entering a downhill, selecting another gear, reducing the speed etc.

Thereby, a virtual driving instructor is provided, which may assist the driver in further reduc- ing the fuel consumption of the vehicle 100. Also, a method for realising a knowledge trans- fer from an experienced driver to a less experienced driver is provided, without having to spend any time on particular dedicated education, which saves time and money. ln some embodiments, wherein a combination of stored parameter data from different ve-hicles 100, 201 may be made, associated with the most reduced fuel consumption esti-mates for subsets of the route 200, an optimal driving strategy for further reducing fuel consumption of all drivers may be outputted to the driver.

Step 408 which may be performed only in some embodiments, may comprise transmittingthe collected 402 parameter data related to the vehicle 100 and/ or the generated 406driver rating value, to a vehicle external receiver 201, 360, where the collected 402 pa- rameter data may be stored for future use and comparisons with other parameter data.

Such transmission of the collected 402 parameter data may be made when arriving at the destination 220, or continuously along the route in different embodiments.

Figure 5 illustrates an embodiment of a control unit 310 configured for generating a driverrating value to the driver, based on parameter data, collected and stored while drivingalong a route 200 in a driving direction 105 from a starting point 210 to a destination 220, for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel consumption of the vehicle 100.

The control unit 310 is configured to perform at least some of the steps 401-408 accordingto the method 400.

Thus the control unit 310 is configured for determining geographical position of the vehicle100 continuously along the route 200. The control unit 310 is also configured for collectingparameter data related to the vehicle 100, when driving at each determined geographicalposition of the vehicle 100. Also, the control unit 310 is further configured for storing thecollected parameter data at each determined geographical position, associated with thedriving direction 105 in a memory 525, 360. The memory 525 may be comprised in thecontrol unit 310 in the vehicle 100, or in a vehicle external unit, e.g. a database 360. Fur-thermore, the control unit 310 is configured for generating the driver rating value and a fuelconsumption estimate of the vehicle fuel consumption along the route 200, based on thecollected parameter data. The control unit 310 is also configured for outputting the gener-ated driver rating value and fuel consumption estimate, and a comparison with a previouslystored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle 100 along the route 200, to the driver. 16 ln some embodiments, the control unit 310 may further be configured for determining driv-ing direction 105 of the vehicle 100 along the route 200. Additionally the control unit 310may further be configured for exchanging information related to the collected parameterdata related to the vehicle 100 and/ or the generated driver rating value to a vehicle exter-nal receiver 201, 360, and/ or a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consump-tion of the route 200.

Furthermore, the control unit 310 may also be configured for determining weight and speedof the vehicle 100. The control unit 310 may also be configured for calculating, based onthe received set of parameters and the determined weight and speed of the vehicle 100,when 230-1, 230-2 to release the accelerator and let the vehicle 100 roll in order to convertstored potential energy into kinetic energy in a forthcoming downhill, or when 240-1, andhow much, to press the accelerator in order to overcome a forthcoming uphill; and furtherconfigured for presenting an instruction to the driver of the vehicle 100, to release or press the accelerator, according to the made calculation.

The control unit 310 may comprise a receiving circuit 510 configured for receiving a signal from one or more sensors in the vehicle 100, a positioning unit 330 or a database 360.

The control unit 310 may also comprise a processor 520 configured for performing at leastsome of the calculating or computing of the control unit 310. Thus the processor 520 maybe configured for determining geographical position of the vehicle 100 via a positioning unit330. Further, the processor 520 may be further configured for collecting parameter datarelated to the vehicle 100, When driving at each determined geographical position of thevehicle 100. Also, the processor 520 may be configured for storing the collected parameterdata at each determined geographical position, associated with the driving direction 105 ina memory 525, 360. Additionally the processor 520 may be configured for generating thedriver rating value and a fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle fuel consumption alongthe route 200, based on the collected parameter data. The processor 520 may also be fur-ther configured for outputting the generated driver rating value and fuel consumption esti-mate, and a comparison with a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consump-tion estimate of the vehicle 100 along the route 200, to the driver, via a display 320, loud- speaker or similar means of presentation.

Such processor 520 may comprise one or more instances of a processing circuit, i.e. a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a processing unit, a processing circuit, a processor, an 17 Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a microprocessor, or other processing logicthat may interpret and execute instructions. The herein utilised expression ”processor” maythus represent a processing circuitry comprising a plurality of processing circuits, such as, e.g., any, some or all of the ones enumerated above.

Furthermore, the control unit 310 may comprise a memory 525 in some embodiments. Theoptional memory 525 may comprise a physical device utilised to store data or programs,i.e., sequences of instructions, on a temporary or permanent basis. According to some em-bodiments, the memory 525 may comprise integrated circuits comprising silicon-basedtransistors. The memory 525 may comprise e.g. a memory card, a flash memory, a USBmemory, a hard disc, or another similar volatile or non-volatile storage unit for storing datasuch as e.g. ROM (Read-Only Memory), PROM (Programmable Read-Only Memory),EPROM (Erasable PROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), etc. in different em- bodiments.

Further, the control unit 310 may comprise a signal transmitter 530. The signal transmitter530 may be configured for transmitting a control signal over a wired or wireless interface tobe received by the display 320 in the vehicle 100, or another vehicle 201, or an externaldatabase 360.

The previously described steps 401-408 to be performed in the control unit 310 may beimplemented through the one or more processors 520 within the control unit 310, togetherwith computer program product for performing at least some of the functions of the steps401-408. Thus a computer program product, comprising instructions for performing thesteps 401-408 in the control unit 310 may perform the method 400 comprising at leastsome of the steps 401-408 for generating a driver rating value, based on parameter data,collected and stored while driving along a route 200 in a driving direction 105 from a start-ing point 210 to a destination 220, for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel consumption ofthe vehicle 100, when the computer program is loaded into the one or more processors520 of the control unit 310.

The computer program product mentioned above may be provided for instance in the formof a data carrier carrying computer program code for performing at least some of the steps401-408 according to some embodiments when being loaded into the one or more proces-sors 520 of the control unit 310. The data carrier may be, e.g., a hard disk, a CD ROM disc,a memory stick, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device or any other appro- priate medium such as a disk or tape that may hold machine readable data in a non- 18 transitory manner. The computer program product may furthermore be provided as com-puter program code on a server and downloaded to the control unit 310 remotely, e.g., over an lnternet or an intranet connection.

Further, some embodiments may comprise a vehicle 100 comprising the previously de- scribed control unit 310, illustrated in Figure 5.

As used herein, the term "and/ or" comprises any and all combinations of one or more ofthe associated listed items. The term ”or” as used herein, is to be interpreted as a mathe-matical OR, i.e., as an inclusive disjunction; not as a mathematical exclusive OR (XOR),unless expressly stated otherwise. ln addition, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are tobe interpreted as “at least one", thus also possibly comprising a plurality of entities of thesame kind, unless expressly stated otherwise. lt will be further understood that the terms"includes", "comprises", "including" and/ or "comprising", specifies the presence of statedfeatures, actions, integers, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not pre-clude the presence or addition of one or more other features, actions, integers, steps, op-erations, elements, components, or groups thereof. A single unit such as e.g. a processormay fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certainmeasures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a com-bination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may bestored/ distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distrib- uted in other forms such as via lnternet or other wired or wireless communication system.

Claims (12)

1. A method (400) for generating a driver rating value, based on parameter data,collected and stored while driving along a route (200) in a driving direction (105) from astarting point (210) to a destination (220), for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel con-sumption of the vehicle (100), which method (400) comprises: determining (401) geographical position of the vehicle (100) continuously alongthe route (200); collecting (402) parameter data related to the vehicle (100), when driving at eachdetermined (401) geographical position of the vehicle (100); storing (403) the collected (402) parameter data at each determined (401) geo-graphical position, associated with the driving direction (105) in a memory (525, 360); generating (406) the driver rating value and a fuel consumption estimate of thevehicle fuel consumption along the route (200), based on the collected (402) parameterdata; and outputting (407) the generated (406) driver rating value and fuel consumption es-timate, and a comparison with a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consump- tion estimate of the vehicle (100) along the route (200).

2. The method (400) according to claim 1, wherein the collected (402) parameterdata related to the vehicle (100) comprises: fuel consumption, velocity, acceleration, se-lected gear, weight of the vehicle (100), engine load, vehicle slope (oi), vehicle type, tyrepressure, usage of brake, usage of retarder, driver identity, vehicle identity, haulage com- pany of the vehicle (100) or similar parameters.

3. The method (400) according to any of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the driver ratingvalue is generated (406) by comparing the fuel consumption of the vehicle (100) along theroute (200) with stored fuel consumption values, and also comparing the collected (402) parameter data with previously stored parameter data.

4. The method (400) according to any of claims 1-3, further comprising detecting (404) another road user in vicinity of the vehicle (100); notifying (405) braking made due to the detected (404) other road user; and wherein the driver rating value is generated (406) further based on the notified(405) braking.

5. The method (400) according to any of claims 1-4, further comprising: transmitting (408) the collected (402) parameter data related to the vehicle (100) and/ or the generated (406) driver rating value, to a vehicle external receiver (201, 360).

6. The method (400) according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the generated (406)driver rating value and the fuel consumption of the route (200) is outputted (407) in com-parison with previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption of the route(200) made by: the same driver in the same vehicle (100), any driver in the same vehicle(100), the same driver in any vehicle (100, 201), any driver in any vehicle (100, 201) be-longing to the same haulage company, any driver in any vehicle (100, 201) of the same weight, any driver in any vehicle (100, 201) of the same producer.

7. The method (400) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the generated (406)driver rating value and the fuel consumption estimate of the route (200) is outputted (407)in comparison with previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the route (200) in a ranking list.

8. The method (400) according to any of claims 1-7, further comprising comparingthe collected (402) parameter data with previously stored parameter data, detecting animprovement possibility for the driver to improve the driver rating value, and outputting (407) the detected improvement possibility.

9. A control unit (310), for generating a driver rating value, based on parameter data,collected and stored while driving along a route (200) in a driving direction (105) from astarting point (210) to a destination (220), for encouraging the driver to reduce fuel con-sumption of the vehicle (100), wherein the control unit (310) is configured for determininggeographical position of the vehicle (100) continuously along the route (200); and config-ured for collecting parameter data related to the vehicle (100), when driving at each deter-mined geographical position of the vehicle (100); and also configured for storing the col-lected parameter data at each determined geographical position, associated with the driv-ing direction (105) in a memory (525, 360); and additionally configured for generating thedriver rating value and a fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle fuel consumption alongthe route (200), based on the collected parameter data; and further configured for output-ting the generated driver rating value and fuel consumption estimate, and a comparisonwith a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the vehicle(100) along the route (200). 21

10. mation related to the collected parameter data related to the vehicle (100) and/ or the gen- The control unit (310) according to claim 9, further configured to exchange infor- erated driver rating value, to a vehicle external receiver (201, 360), and/ or a previously stored driver rating value and/ or fuel consumption estimate of the route (200).

11. cording to any of claims 1-8 When the computer program is executed in the control unit A computer program comprising program code for performing a method (400) ac- (310), according to any of claim 9 or claim 10.

12.10. A vehicle (100) comprising a control unit (310) according to any of claim 9 or claim