Following distance based on historic brake events
The present disclosure relates to determining a following distance, between a vehicle and a vehicle travelling ahead. According to a first aspect, the disclosure relates to a method that comprises obtaining an amount of energy required to propel the vehicle along the upcoming road as a function of following distance to the vehicle travelling ahead and predicting, based on brake actuation performed by the vehicle during a previous time period, one or more driving disadvantages that will be caused by braking along an upcoming road as a function of the following distance. The method further comprises determining the following distance, based on the obtained amount and on the predicted driving disadvantages caused by braking along the upcoming road. The disclosure also relates to a corresponding control arrangement and computer program, and to a vehicle comprising the control arrangement.
1 . A method for determining a following distance to be used between a first vehicle and a second vehicle travelling ahead of the first vehicle as the two vehicles are in operation, the method comprising:
determining an amount of energy required to propel the first vehicle along an upcoming road section, where the amount of energy is a function of following distance between the first and second vehicles;
predicting, based on brake actuation performed by the first vehicle during a previous time period, one or more driving disadvantages that will be caused by braking along the upcoming road as a function of following distance;
determining a following distance to use in controlling the first vehicle, based on the determined amount of energy and on the predicted driving disadvantages caused by braking along the upcoming road section; and
controlling operation of the first vehicle through the upcoming road section using the determined following distance.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predicting is based on a metric indicative of brake actuation comprising one or more of:
highest braking force applied by the vehicle during the previous time period,
an upper quartile of braking force applied by the vehicle during the previous time period, and
median or average braking force applied by the vehicle during the previous time period.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predicting is based on a count of brake events and/or timing of brake events performed during the previous time period.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a duration of the previous time period is at least 5 minutes.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein driving disadvantages includes one or more of energy loss, driver or passenger discomfort, and safety risks.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining is performed in consideration of a sum of energy required to propel the vehicle in the upcoming road and a predicted energy loss caused by braking.
7 . A method for determining a following distance to be used between a first vehicle and a second vehicle travelling ahead of the first vehicle as the two vehicles are in operation, the method comprising:
determining an amount of energy required to propel the first vehicle along the upcoming road section, where the amount of energy is a function of following distance between the first and the second vehicles;
predicting, based on brake actuation performed by the first vehicle during a previous time period, one or more driving disadvantages that will be caused by braking along an upcoming road as a function of following distance, wherein a length of the previous time period is based on a speed limit of the road the vehicle is travelling on;
determining a following distance to use in controlling the first vehicle, based on the determined amount of energy and on the predicted driving disadvantages caused by braking along the upcoming road section; and
controlling operation of the first vehicle through the upcoming road section using the determined following distance.
8 . The method according to claim 7 , further comprising, upon detecting a change to a new speed limit of the road the vehicle is driving, adjusting the previous time period based on the new speed limit.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the obtaining an amount of energy required to propel the first vehicle is based on measurements and/or on predetermined criteria.
10 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the obtaining an amount of energy required to propel the first vehicle is based on one or more of the following: vehicle speed, type of vehicle travelling ahead, inclination of road and/or friction.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the following distance is further based on one or more of:
a reference following distance input by a user,
road inclination,
road friction,
driver and passenger comfort, and/or
safety limits.
12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a duration of the previous time period is at least 10 minutes.
13 . A computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, said computer program product for determining a following distance to be used between a first vehicle and a second vehicle travelling ahead of the first vehicle as the two vehicles are in operation, wherein said computer program product comprising computer instructions to cause one or more control devices to perform the following operations:
determining an amount of energy required to propel the first vehicle along an upcoming road section, where the amount of energy is a function of following distance between the first and second vehicles;
predicting, based on brake actuation performed by the first vehicle during a previous time period, one or more driving disadvantages that will be caused by braking along the upcoming road as a function of following distance;
determining a following distance to use in controlling the first vehicle, based on the determined amount of energy and on the predicted driving disadvantages caused by braking along the upcoming road section; and
controlling operation of the first vehicle through the upcoming road section using the determined following distance.
14 . A control arrangement configured to determining a following distance to be used between a first vehicle and a second vehicle travelling ahead of the first vehicle as the two vehicles are in operation, wherein the control arrangement is configured to:
determine an amount of energy required to propel the first vehicle along an upcoming road section, where the amount of energy is a function of following distance between the first and second vehicles;
predict, based on brake actuation performed by the first vehicle during a previous time period, one or more driving disadvantages that will be caused by braking along the upcoming road as a function of following distance;
determine a following distance to use in controlling the first vehicle, based on the determined amount of energy and on the predicted driving disadvantages caused by braking along the upcoming road section; and
control operation of the first vehicle through the upcoming road section using the determined following distance.
15 . A vehicle comprising a control arrangement configured to determining a following distance, between a first vehicle and a second vehicle travelling ahead as the two vehicles are in operation, wherein the control arrangement is configured to:
an amount of energy required to propel the first vehicle along an upcoming road section, where the amount of energy is a function of following distance between the first and second vehicles;
predict, based on brake actuation performed by the first vehicle during a previous time period, one or more driving disadvantages that will be caused by braking along the upcoming road as a function of following distance;
determine a following distance to use in controlling the first vehicle, based on the determined amount of energy and on the predicted driving disadvantages caused by braking along the upcoming road section; and
control operation of the first vehicle through the upcoming road section using the determined following distance.