Increased distance routine functionality

Abstract

A control system for controlling a vehicle after an activation of a limited operation mode. The limited operation mode being associated with a predetermined distance the vehicle is permitted to travel

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to an increased distance routine functionality. Aspects of the invention relate to a control system for controlling a vehicle after an activation of a limited operation mode of the vehicle, to a vehicle, and to an apparatus for initiating a limited operation mode of a vehicle. BACKGROUND It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects of the invention are defined in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram illustrating a control system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart showing a method in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram illustrating an apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 shows a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION A control system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is described herein with reference to the accompanying Figure 1. As shown in Figure 4, the control system is installed in a vehicle 400. With reference to Figure 1, there is illustrated a control system 100 for controlling a vehicle after an activation of a limited operation mode of the vehicle, the limited operation mode being associated with a predetermined maximum distance the vehicle is permitted to travel while in the limited operation mode. The limited operation mode may be a vehicle mode for permitting the vehicle to travel a predetermined distance after a predetermined condition has triggered in the vehicle. For example, it may be required that, if emissions of a vehicle measured at the vehicle exhaust exceed a threshold emission, the vehicle is only permitted to be driven for a predetermined distance, and after travelling the predetermined distance, the vehicle may be prevented from operation. Such requirements may be technical requirements initiated to ensure proper performance of the vehicle or may be legislative. For example, vehicle emissions exceeding the threshold emission may be indicative of a technical issue with one or more components of the vehicle, such as the engine. However, to enable the user to repair the vehicle, for example, a limited operation mode may be initiated which may provide a limited additional permitted travel distance. The limited operation mode may be initiated by an external device such as a vehicle diagnostic tool, and to prevent abuse, may only be initiated once. The control system 100 as illustrated in Figure 1 comprises one controller 110, although it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative. The controller 110 comprises processing means 120 and memory means 130. The processing means 120 may be one or more electronic processing device 120 which operably executes computer-readable instructions. The memory means 130 may be one or more memory device. The memory means 130 is electrically coupled to the processing means 120. The memory means 130 is configured to store instructions, and the processing means 120 is configured to access the memory means 130 and execute the instructions stored thereon. The controller 110 comprises an input means 140 and an output means 150. The input means 140 is configured to receive a vehicle operation signal 160 indicative of a request for the vehicle 400 to be operated to travel. Such a request is typically to operate the vehicle 400 is received after the predetermined condition has been triggered. The controller 110 is configured to determine whether a distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode exceeds the predetermined maximum distance. The distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode may be determined by the controller 110 based on data received from one or more vehicle systems which monitor the vehicle’s mileage. The predetermined maximum distance may be a distance set by the manufacturer of the vehicle 400 or may be governed by regulations. The limited operation mode may be initiated in dependence on a comparison of a vehicle emission to a vehicle emission threshold. That is, when the vehicle emission exceeds the vehicle emission threshold, the vehicle 400 may be prohibited from operating after travelling a permitted distance. The limited operation mode may be initiated in dependence on a control signal received from an external vehicle diagnostic tool after the vehicle has travelled the permitted distance, for example to allow the vehicle 400 to travel an additional predetermined maximum distance to be repaired. In some examples, the request for the vehicle to be operated to travel comprises a request to turn on an engine of the vehicle 400. The output means 150 is configured to, in dependence on a determination that the distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode is less than the predetermined maximum distance, output a first control signal 170 to permit the request for the vehicle 400 to be operated to travel. The output means 150 is further configured to, in dependence on a determination that the distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode is not less than the predetermined maximum distance, output a second control signal 172 to deny the request for the vehicle 400 to be operated to travel. That is, the control system 100 is configured to permit or deny a request for the vehicle 400 to be operated to travel depending on the distance travelled by the vehicle 400 so far in the limited operation mode. The limited operation mode is associated with a predetermined maximum distance the vehicle 400 is permitted to travel. The distance travelled by the vehicle 400 so far in the limited operation mode may be totalled across a plurality of previous travel sessions. The number of travel sessions in the limited operation mode may be unlimited, and operation of the vehicle is instead constrained by the predetermined maximum distance. By considering a sum total distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since activation of the limited operation mode directly 2 compared to permitted travel distance of the vehicle 400 in the limited operation mode, the user may utilise the full distance allowance across any number of sessions. In some examples, the controller 110 may further be configured to determine a remaining distance as a difference between the predetermined maximum distance and the distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode. In this example, the first control signal 170 may be configured to permit operation of the vehicle 400 to travel a second distance, where the second distance is less than or equal to the remaining distance. That is, the controller 110 may determine a remaining distance which the vehicle 400 is permitted to travel, and may permit the vehicle 400 to travel a second distance which may be equal to the remaining distance or which may be a predetermined distance less than the remaining distance. For example, the controller 110 may be configured to determine the second distance as the lesser of the remaining distance and a second predetermined distance. In this way, distance limits may also be applied to travel sessions as well as applying a global distance limit. This serves to prevent misuse of the vehicle 400 in the limited operation mode. The input means 140 may be further configured to receive a vehicle travel signal indicative of a second distance travelled by the vehicle 400 after the output of the first control signal. The controller 110 may be further configured to update the remaining distance in dependence on the received vehicle travel signal. In this way, the control system 100 may ensure that the vehicle 400 is not permitted to exceed the predetermined maximum distance while ensuring that the user is able to utilise the full permitted distance. The controller 110 may be further configured to control a display unit to output an indication indicative of one or more of: the predetermined maximum distance, a remaining distance, or whether the vehicle 400 is permitted to be operated. For example, the display unit may be a display console of the vehicle. Advantageously, the user is informed of the operation of the vehicle 400 and particularly the prevailing internal state of the vehicle 400 with respect to the permitted operation of the vehicle 400. Consequently, the user can interact more effectively with the vehicle 400. The control system 100 may comprise a control system of a vehicle 400, such as a vehicle electronic control unit (ECU). Figure 2 illustrates a method 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. The method 200 comprises, at 210, receiving a vehicle operation signal indicative of a request for the vehicle 400 to be operated to travel. The method 200 comprises, at 220, determining whether a distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode exceeds the predetermined maximum distance. If it is determined that the distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode is less than the predetermined maximum distance, the method 200 progresses to 230, where the method 200 comprises outputting a first control signal to permit the request for the vehicle to be operated to travel. If it is determined that the distance travelled by the vehicle 400 since the activation of the limited operation mode is not less than the predetermined maximum distance, the method 200 progresses to 240, where the method 200 comprises outputting a second control signal to deny the request for the vehicle to be operated to travel. Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram illustrating an apparatus 300 according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 300 is configured to receive an input 310 for initiating a limited operation mode of a vehicle 400. In the limited operation mode, the vehicle 400 is permitted to travel a predetermined maximum distance divisible across an unlimited number of sessions. The apparatus 300 is further configured to transmit, to the vehicle 400, a control signal configured to initiate the limited operation mode of the vehicle 400. The apparatus 300 may be a diagnostic tool, such as a diagnostic tool configured to communicate with a control system of a vehicle, such as the control system 100 of Figure 1. The apparatus 300 may be configured to initiate the limited operation mode of the vehicle 400 in response to the input 310. The input 310 may comprise a user request input via an interface of the apparatus 300 or received from an external user-operated device. Figure 4 illustrates a vehicle 400 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle 400 comprises a control system 100 as illustrated in Figure 1. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A control system for controlling a vehicle after an activation of a limited operation mode of the vehicle, the limited operation mode being associated with a predetermined maximum distance the vehicle is permitted to travel while in the limited operation mode, the control system configured to:receive a vehicle operation signal indicative of a request for the vehicle to be operated to travel;determine whether a distance travelled by the vehicle since the activation of the limited operation mode exceeds the predetermined maximum distance; andin dependence on a determination that the distance travelled by the vehicle since the activation of the limited operation mode is less than the predetermined maximum distance, output a first control signal to permit the request for the vehicle to be operated to travel; orin dependence on a determination that the distance travelled by the vehicle since the activation of the limited operation mode is not less than the predetermined maximum distance, output a second control signal to deny the request for the vehicle to be operated to travel.

2. The control system of claim 1, further configured to determine a remaining distance as a difference between the predetermined maximum distance and the distance travelled by the vehicle since the activation of the limited operation mode;wherein the first control signal is configured to permit operation of the vehicle to travel a second distance, the second distance being less than or equal to the remaining distance.

3. The control system of claim 2, further configured to:receive a vehicle travel signal indicative of a second distance travelled by the vehicle after the output of the first control signal; andupdate the remaining distance in dependence on the received vehicle travel signal.

4. The control system of any preceding claim, further configured to control a display unit to outputan indication indicative of one or more of: the predetermined maximum distance, a remaining distance, or whether the vehicle is permitted to be operated.

5. A vehicle comprising the control system of any preceding claim.

6. An apparatus for initiating a limited operation mode of a vehicle, the apparatus configured to: receive an input for initiating the limited operation mode; andtransmit, to the vehicle, a control signal configured to initiate the limited operation mode of the vehicle; wherein in the limited operation mode, the vehicle is permitted to travel a predetermined maximum distance divisible across an unlimited number of sessions.