Fuel Range Estimation Using External Route Factors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle computer systems provide inaccurate fuel range estimates due to neglecting various factors such as driving habits, terrain, and weather conditions, leading to unreliable notifications for refueling needs.
Innovation Solution
A system that determines whether a vehicle can reach a destination without refueling by considering both internal and external factors, such as curb weight, engine size, driving style, terrain, and weather, and provides real-time refueling notices with suggestions for nearby fueling stations based on proximity and price.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the computer system displays simple fuel range estimates based on basic metrics, then the user interface remains simple and easy to operate, but the accuracy and reliability of fuel information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments fuel consumption calculation into multiple independent factors: base consumption rate from historical data, driving style adjustments, terrain modifications, weather conditions, traffic patterns, and vehicle load. Each factor is calculated separately and combined to produce the final accurate estimate, allowing complex computation without complicating the user interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that sits between simple user input and the final fuel range display. This intermediary layer automatically collects and processes multiple data sources (sensor data, map data, weather data, traffic data) and applies complex algorithms without requiring user intervention, thus maintaining interface simplicity while achieving high accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If the computer system incorporates multiple factors (driving habits, terrain, weather) to improve fuel range accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a universal fuel consumption model that handles multiple factors (driving style, terrain, weather, traffic, vehicle load) through a single integrated algorithmic framework. This multi-functional approach allows the same core system to process diverse inputs and generate accurate predictions without requiring separate specialized subsystems for each factor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically collects, processes, and updates all necessary data without requiring manual user input or configuration. It self-adjusts to changing conditions by continuously monitoring sensor data, map updates, weather forecasts, and traffic patterns, performing complex calculations autonomously to maintain accurate fuel estimates without increasing operational complexity for the user.
3Reliability
If the system provides detailed refueling recommendations and real-time monitoring, then the reliability of fuel sufficiency assessment improves, but the loss of information and processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of fuel consumption based on current conditions and predicted future conditions (planned route, forecasted weather, expected traffic). By proactively assessing whether the vehicle will have sufficient fuel before the user needs to know, the system provides advance warning and refueling recommendations, improving reliability without requiring continuous real-time processing during critical moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual fuel consumption against predicted consumption and uses this feedback to refine its models and predictions. This feedback loop allows the system to learn from discrepancies between expected and actual usage patterns, improving the reliability of future assessments while processing information efficiently by focusing on deviations from the norm rather than continuously analyzing all parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
One or more techniques and/or systems are provided for determining whether a vehicle comprises a sufficient amount of fuel to reach a destination. Making such a determination may comprise, among other things, estimating an amount of fuel required to reach the destination and/or estimating a rate of consumption along a travel route. Such estimates may be based upon factors external to the vehicle, including, among other things, topology of the travel route, current and/or predicted traffic patterns along the travel route, and/or driving habits of a user or others whom have navigated a similar route (or at least a portion of the route). When it is determined that the vehicle comprises an insufficient amount of fuel, a refueling notice indicative of the determination may be provided. In one embodiment, such a refueling may also suggest possible refueling stations along the travel route.