Dynamic Low-Fuel Indicator Threshold Based on Station Proximity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional low-fuel indicators in vehicles do not consider the location of fuel stations relative to the vehicle's current position, leading to unnecessary alerts when the remaining fuel is sufficient to reach a station based on the vehicle's location.
Innovation Solution
A system that calculates a vehicle's current fuel range and determines the proximity of fuel stations, enabling the low-fuel indicator only when the range is below a threshold specific to the vehicle's geographic location, using geofences and route-based fuel station distances to dynamically adjust the alert threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed threshold fuel level is used to trigger the low-fuel indicator, then the indicator activation rule is simple, but false alerts occur when fuel stations are nearby
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the low-fuel indicator threshold dynamic rather than fixed. The system continuously adjusts the threshold based on the vehicle's current location and the distance to the nearest fuel station. When a fuel station is nearby, the threshold is raised to prevent false alerts; when no station is nearby, the threshold is lowered to ensure timely warnings. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between operational simplicity and alert accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of the fuel threshold from a constant value to a variable that depends on geographic location and fuel station proximity. By modifying this key parameter based on external conditions (location data, fuel station database queries), the system achieves both simplicity in implementation and high reliability in alert accuracy, directly resolving the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If the low-fuel indicator is enabled based on location-aware fuel range calculation, then false alerts are reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing multi-functionality of modern vehicles by integrating location-aware fuel monitoring into the vehicle's existing navigation and communication systems. The system uses the vehicle's GPS receiver, cellular modem, and existing fuel level sensors to perform location-based threshold adjustment, rather than adding entirely new dedicated hardware. This approach reduces system complexity while maintaining high alert accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically querying fuel station locations using the vehicle's existing cellular communication capabilities and autonomously adjusting the indicator threshold without requiring manual user input or external intervention. This self-adjusting mechanism simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving location-aware reliability.
3Reliability
If a dynamic threshold based on fuel station proximity is implemented, then user confidence in the indicator is improved, but computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching fuel station location data and pre-calculating distance thresholds before the vehicle actually needs the information. The threshold adjustment is prepared in advance based on current location, reducing the computational burden at the moment of decision-making and lowering energy consumption while maintaining high user confidence in the indicator's accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, systems, and program products are disclosed for low-fuel indicator enablement based on fuel station locations. An apparatus includes a processor and a memory that stores code executable by the processor. The memory stores code executable by the processor to calculate a current fuel range for a vehicle. The memory stores code executable by the processor to determine locations of fuel stations within a proximity of the vehicle. The memory stores code executable by the processor to enable a low-fuel indicator for the vehicle in response to the current fuel range of the vehicle being less than a threshold fuel range as determined based on the locations of the fuel stations.