Waypoint Pacing Control for Fuel-Efficient Vehicle Arrival Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle control systems often result in undesirable delays and increased fuel consumption due to the need for vehicles to slow down and stop frequently, especially when following slower-moving vehicles, which disrupts trip plans aimed at reducing travel time and fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A pacing trip plan is created and adjusted based on data sets including waypoint locations, target arrival time windows, and priority ranks, allowing vehicles to optimize operational settings such as throttle and brake settings as a function of time, distance, and location to minimize delays and fuel consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the vehicle system travels faster to reduce travel time, then productivity is improved, but the vehicle system may creep up on slower-moving vehicles ahead causing safety risks and requiring stops
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by creating a pacing trip plan that anticipates potential conflicts with slower-moving vehicles ahead. The plan pre-calculates optimal speed profiles and power settings to maintain safe following distances while minimizing delays, allowing the vehicle to approach waypoints efficiently without causing safety risks or unnecessary stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies dynamics by continuously adjusting operational settings (power, throttle, brake) as functions of time, distance, and location along the route. The pacing trip plan dynamically modifies speed profiles based on real-time conditions and predicted traffic patterns, enabling the vehicle to adapt its speed to maintain safe distances while optimizing travel time.
2Reliability
If the vehicle system stops to avoid accidents, then safety is improved, but fuel consumption increases and travel time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-placing the vehicle at optimal distances from slower-moving vehicles through the pacing trip plan. This anticipatory positioning prevents the need for emergency stops while maintaining safety margins, thereby avoiding the fuel consumption and time loss associated with frequent braking and acceleration cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuity of useful action by keeping the vehicle in motion through optimized speed profiles that prevent complete stops. The pacing trip plan ensures continuous forward movement at adjusted speeds that maintain safe following distances, eliminating the energy-wasting stop-and-go pattern while preserving safety.
3Productivity
If the vehicle system travels at high speed to meet arrival time, then productivity is improved, but fuel consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies dynamics by implementing variable speed profiles that adjust power settings based on location, time, and distance to waypoints. The pacing trip plan dynamically optimizes speed throughout the journey, allowing higher speeds when safe and efficient, and reduced speeds when approaching slower vehicles or waypoints, thereby minimizing overall fuel consumption while meeting arrival time targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by adjusting operational settings (power, throttle, brake) as functions of multiple variables including time, distance, and location. The pacing trip plan modifies these parameters continuously to find the optimal balance between speed and fuel efficiency, enabling the vehicle to arrive on time while consuming less fuel than constant high-speed travel would require.
4Loss of time
If the vehicle system frequently adjusts speed to follow trip plan, then arrival time is improved, but wear on vehicle components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-calculating smooth speed profiles in the pacing trip plan that anticipate required speed changes. By planning acceleration and deceleration sequences in advance rather than reacting to conditions, the system reduces the number and intensity of abrupt adjustments, thereby minimizing mechanical wear while still meeting arrival time requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle control system and method may include one or more processors that may receive a data set associated with plural waypoint locations along one or more routes. The data set may indicate plural waypoint locations, target arrival time windows for a vehicle system to reach the plural waypoint locations, and priority ranks of the plural waypoint locations. The processors may create and/or adjust a pacing trip plan based on the data set. The pacing trip plan may designate one or more operational settings of the vehicle system as a function of time, distance, and/or location. The pacing trip plan may be created and/or adjusted to direct the vehicle system to reach one or more of the plural waypoint locations within the corresponding target arrival time windows.