Fuel Use Encoded GPS Data Analysis for Fleet Tax and Diagnostics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle fleet operators face challenges in accurately calculating fuel tax and diagnosing mechanical issues due to the error-prone nature of current fuel consumption calculations, which do not account for off-road usage and elevation changes, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
Combining fuel use data from fuel injectors with geographical position data to generate four-dimensional fuel use encoded position data, which can be wirelessly transmitted to a remote computer for real-time analysis, enabling accurate fuel tax calculations and mechanical condition evaluation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If average MPG is used to calculate off-road fuel consumption, then calculation is simple, but accuracy is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments fuel consumption data by geographical location (on-road vs. off-road) and operational conditions (elevation, terrain). Instead of using a single average MPG value, the system divides the route into multiple segments with different fuel consumption characteristics, allowing accurate calculation of fuel tax based on actual off-road usage.
2Measurement precision
If detailed fuel use data is collected with GPS positioning, then fuel tax calculation accuracy is improved, but data collection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes existing multi-functional components in modern vehicles. The GPS system serves both navigation and fuel tax calculation purposes. The engine control unit (ECU) that manages fuel injection also provides fuel consumption data. By leveraging these existing multi-functional systems, the patent achieves accurate fuel tax calculation without adding significant complexity.
3Loss of information
If real-time fuel use encoded position data is transmitted to remote computer, then analysis capability is improved, but communication requirements and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic transmission of fuel use encoded position data rather than continuous real-time transmission. Data is collected and transmitted at intervals (e.g., at the end of trips or at scheduled times), which significantly reduces power consumption and communication requirements while still providing sufficient data for accurate fuel tax calculation and analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for analyzing position data and fuel injector data from a vehicle equipped with a geographical position system (GPS) and fuel injector sensors to enable fuel use patterns of the vehicle to be analyzed. Data defining a flow of fuel through the vehicle's fuel injectors is combined with temporal data and GPS data to produce fuel use encoded GPS data that is transmitted to a remote computer. The fuel use encoded GPS data can be analyzed to determine how much fuel was used by the vehicle during off road use to enable proper fuel tax computations to be performed. The data can also be used to evaluate the mechanical condition of a vehicle. By monitoring fuel use for a trip repeated numerous times, a decrease in fuel efficiency may indicate a mechanical problem (dirty injectors, fouled spark plugs, etc).