Vehicle Fuel Waste Measurement and Route Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicles waste fuel due to suboptimal component performance and excessive horsepower/torque usage, as well as inefficient route selection, which affects fuel economy.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses sensors and processors to categorize fuel use, determine fuel waste, and optimize routes by analyzing vehicle and segment characteristics, including slope, traffic, and weather conditions, to minimize fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors and processors are used to monitor and categorize fuel use, then fuel waste identification capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fuel use monitoring system segments fuel consumption into distinct categories (normal fuel use vs. wasted fuel use) based on component performance levels. This segmentation allows precise identification of fuel waste sources without requiring complex continuous analysis of all vehicle operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing sensors and processors to monitor and categorize its own fuel consumption, eliminating the need for external monitoring equipment. The vehicle's control unit itself performs the fuel waste identification, reducing additional device complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If route optimization is performed based on fuel consumption, then fuel economy is improved, but calculation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates fuel consumption for multiple potential routes before the vehicle journey begins. By performing route optimization calculations in advance rather than during travel, the system identifies the most fuel-efficient route without delaying the actual trip.
Solution Approach 2:
The system evaluates only the most promising routes rather than exhaustively analyzing every possible path. This partial evaluation approach provides sufficiently optimal routing decisions while significantly reducing calculation time compared to complete route analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of determining an amount of fuel wasted by a vehicle due to sub-optimal performance of at least one component of the vehicle includes receiving information about operation of the vehicle from at least one sensor positioned on the vehicle, categorizing, with a processor, a fuel use by the vehicle as a normal fuel use or a wasted fuel use due to the at least one component performing at a sub-optimal level by comparing the received information to expected information from the at least one sensor when the vehicle is operating at optimal performance, and determining, with the processor, the amount of fuel wasted due to the at least one component operating at the sub-optimal level based on categorized fuel use.