Driver aggression and energy use monitoring during use of vehicle
A method of determining energy use during operation of a vehicle includes determining an aggression rating associated with current use of a vehicle and determining an energy use rating as a function of the aggression rating over a period of time. The determined energy use rating is compared to an energy use threshold, and an output is provided to a driver of the vehicle when the energy use rating exceeds the energy use threshold.
1 . A method of determining energy use during operation of a vehicle, comprising:
determining an aggression rating associated with current use of a vehicle, wherein the aggression rating is determined as a function of a magnitude of a first acceleration that is associated with an increasing vehicle speed, and of a magnitude of a second acceleration that is associated with a decreasing vehicle speed, wherein the first acceleration and second acceleration are determined from one or more acceleration sensors of the vehicle and wherein vehicle operation is continuously monitored over a period of time with regard to the first acceleration and second acceleration;
determining an energy use rating as a function of the aggression rating over the period of time;
comparing the energy use rating to an energy use threshold; and
providing an output to a driver of the vehicle when the energy use rating exceeds the energy use threshold, and when the aggression rating is at least a threshold amount from a maximum aggression rating.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the output includes an estimated vehicle range compared to a nominal range determined based on a baseline energy use level.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein a first acceleration threshold is set as a function of a magnitude of acceleration at which a tire of the vehicle will slip, the magnitude of acceleration at which a tire of the vehicle will slip is determined based upon actuation of a traction control system of the vehicle, and the aggression rating is determined as a function of the magnitude of the first acceleration relative to the first acceleration threshold.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first acceleration threshold is set at a magnitude of acceleration below that at which a tire of the vehicle will slip.
5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the output includes information as to how to improve the estimated vehicle range.
6 . The method of claim 1 which also includes determining a third acceleration of the vehicle, wherein the third acceleration is a lateral acceleration associated with turning of the vehicle, and wherein the aggression rating is determined at least in part as a function of a magnitude of the third acceleration.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the energy use rating is set as a function of a baseline energy use level that is less than the energy use threshold.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the output includes an indication of the energy use rating and the baseline energy use level.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the period of time is between 5 seconds and 1 minute.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the energy use rating is determined as a function of an average aggression rating over the period of time.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the energy use rating is determined as a function of the cumulative amount of time that the energy use rating exceeds the energy use threshold within the period of time.
12 . The method of claim 1 which also includes providing a trip report after operation of the vehicle is terminated, wherein the trip report includes information relating to the energy used during the trip starting from turning on the vehicle to turning off the vehicle.
13 . The method of claim 1 which also includes, after providing the output, determining a new aggression rating associated with current use of the vehicle and providing another output when the energy use rating does not exceed the energy use threshold.
14 . A method of monitoring energy use during operation of a vehicle, comprising:
monitoring a first acceleration of a vehicle associated with increasing vehicle speed and a second acceleration associated with decreasing vehicle speed;
determining a current aggression rating based at least in part on a magnitude of the first acceleration compared to a baseline aggression rating and based at least in part on a magnitude of the second acceleration, and wherein a maximum aggression rating is determined when either: a) the magnitude of the first acceleration causes a vehicle tire to slip or causes actuation of a vehicle traction control system of the vehicle, or b) the magnitude of the second acceleration causes a vehicle tire to slip or causes actuation of an anti-lock braking system of the vehicle, and wherein the current aggression rating is determined over a period of time between five seconds and one minute;
and providing an output to a driver of the vehicle including information relating to the current aggression rating when the current aggression rating exceeds a baseline threshold, wherein the output includes information relating to energy use as a function of the aggression rating.
15 . The method of claim 14 wherein the output provides information relating to a magnitude of vehicle acceleration or deceleration.
16 . The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing the output is not performed when the current aggression rating is at or within a threshold of the maximum aggression rating.
17 . The method of claim 14 which also includes determining a third acceleration of the vehicle, wherein the third acceleration is associated with turning the vehicle and wherein the aggression rating is determined at least in part as a function of a magnitude of the third acceleration.
18 . The method of claim 14 wherein one of the first acceleration and the second acceleration is given a positive magnitude and the other of the first acceleration and the second acceleration is given a negative magnitude.
19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the magnitude of acceleration for a given aggression rating is different for the first acceleration than for the second acceleration.