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PONSFORD, Alan, Thomas (Stone Cross, Chicksgrove, Salisbury SP3 6NA, GB)
| CLAIMS 1. An autonomous vehicle comprising drive means, and control means for optimising the operation of the vehicle, the control means comprising: (i) first means for determining energy stored and remaining range of the autonomous vehicle; (ii) second means for determining current passenger loading and destination requests of the current passengers; (iii) third means for estimating future potential passenger loading and destination requests of the future passengers; (iv) fourth means for determining an optimum route, the fourth means including distance to be travelled, traffic and topographical factors; (v) fifth means for determining distance of the autonomous vehicle from the next available re-charging system; (vi) voting means for rating the data provided by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth means, and for then making an autonomous decision as to a forward route, an operating speed, and whether or not new passengers are to be collected; and (vii) communication means for communicating decisions of the voting means to a supervisory system for an entire fleet of the autonomous vehicles so that the operation of the entire fleet of the autonomous vehicles is able to be optimised. 2. An autonomous vehicle according to claim 1 in which the control means includes: (viii) sixth means for determining fare structures; and in which the voting means rates the data provided by the sixth means. 3. An autonomous vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the control means includes: (ix) seventh means for determining: (c) time of day; and (d) updated road conditions related to available access, updated mapping, updated police limitations, and updated road works; and in which the voting means rates the data provided by the seventh means. 4. An autonomous vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first to the fifth means, and the sixth and seventh means when present, are all in the form of an algorithm. 5. An autonomous vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drive means is battery operated and/or liquid fuel operated and/or gas fuel operated. |
FOR OPTIMISING THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE
This invention relates to an autonomous vehicle and, more especially, this invention relates to an autonomous vehicle with control means for optimising the operation of the vehicle.
Autonomous vehicles are known. They are sometimes known as driverless vehicles. Their development is in its infancy. Autonomous vehicles are required to operate in an optimum manner.
It is an aim of the present invention to provide an autonomous vehicle which is able to operate in an optimum manner.
According, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an autonomous vehicle comprising drive means, and control means for optimising the operation of the vehicle, the control means comprising:
(i) first means for determining energy stored and remaining range of the autonomous vehicle;
(ii) second means for determining current passenger loading and destination requests of the current passengers;
(iii) third means for estimating future potential passenger loading and destination requests of the future passengers; (iv) fourth means for determining an optimum route, the fourth means including distance to be travelled, traffic and topographical factors;
(v) fifth means for determining distance of the autonomous vehicle from the next available re-charging system;
(vi) voting means for rating the data provided by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth means, and for then making an autonomous decision as to a forward route, an operating speed, and whether or not new passengers are to be collected; and
(vii) communication means for communicating decisions of the voting means to a supervisory system for an entire fleet of the autonomous vehicles so that the operation of the entire fleet of the autonomous vehicles is able to be optimised.
The autonomous vehicle of the present invention is able to take account of a complex range of operational requirements that need to be managed both by the autonomous vehicle and by the supervisory system. As a result, the autonomous vehicle and the entire fleet of autonomous vehicles are able to operate in an optimum manner.
The autonomous vehicle may be one in which the control means includes:
(viii) sixth means for determining fare structures; and in which the voting means rates the data provided by the sixth means.
The autonomous vehicle may be one in which the control means includes.
(ix) seventh means for determining:
(a) time of day; and
(b) updated road conditions related to available access, updated mapping, updated police limitations, and updated road works; and in which the voting means rates the data provided by the seventh means.
The autonomous vehicle may be one in which the first to the fifth means, and the sixth and seventh means when present, are all in the form of an algorithm.
The drive means may be battery operated and/or liquid fuel operated and/or gas fuel operated. The drive means may be a single type of drive means operating on one energy source only. Alternatively, the drive means may be a hybrid drive means able to operate on more than one source of energy as required. The drive means may be convertible from one drive type to another. The drive means may thus be convertible from electric battery to electric hybrid. The drive means may also be convertible from uni-directional to bi-directional operation. An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an area covered by autonomous vehicles.
Referring to the drawing, there is shown an area 2 which is covered by autonomous vehicles 4. The autonomous vehicles 4 operate along generally circular routes 6, 8, 10. These circular routes 6, 8, 10 are interconnected by interconnections 12. Each route 6, 8, 10 has stops 14 for passengers 16. Each autonomous vehicle 4 is such that it comprises drive means, and control means for optimising the operation of the vehicle. The control means comprises:
(i) first means for determining energy stored and remaining range of the autonomous vehicle;
(ii) second means for determining current passenger loading and destination requests of the current passengers;
(iii) third means for estimating future potential passenger loading and destination requests of the future passengers;
(iv) fourth means for determining an optimum route, the fourth means including distance to be travelled, traffic and topographical factors;
(v) fifth means for determining distance of the autonomous vehicle from the next available re-charging system; (vi) voting means for rating the data provided by the first, second, third, fourth and fifth means, and for then making an autonomous decision as to a forward route, an operating speed, and whether or not new passengers are to be collected; and
(vii) communication means for communicating decisions of the voting means to a supervisory system for an entire fleet of the autonomous vehicles so that the operation of the entire fleet of the autonomous vehicles is able to be optimised.
Each autonomous vehicle 4 may optionally be provided with sixth means for determining fare structures, and in this case the voting means will also rate the data provided by the sixth means.
Each autonomous vehicle 4 may optionally be provided with seventh means for determining:
(a) time of day; and
(b) updated road conditions related to available access, updating mapping, updated police limitations, and updated road works, and in this case the voting means will rate the data provided by the seventh means. Each autonomous vehicle 4 may be such that its drive means is a battery operated drive means and/or a liquid fuel operated drive means and/or a gas fuel operated drive means.
The autonomous vehicles 4 are able to operate in the area 2 in an optimised manner. The operation is managed by each autonomous vehicle itself, and also by an overall supervisory system. The control means is in the form of a control algorithm that takes into account all the required vehicular and operational factors. The voting system rates all of the factors affecting the vehicle and then opts for a forward route, operating speed and whether new passengers are to be collected. The autonomous on-board decisions of each autonomous vehicle 4 are communicated to the supervisory system so that the overall fleet can optimise transport provision. It will be appreciated from the above that the autonomous vehicles 2 are each able to include forward looking control in order to assess congestion ahead so that routes can be changed to minimise energy losses. The vehicle control is able to include traffic conditions, and also topography-based factors in terms of balancing energy demand with up and downhill sections.
The vehicle control may be centred on a power-based operation in order to optimise energy consumed by the vehicle, irrespective of whether the vehicle is battery driven and/or liquid fuel driven and/or gas fuel driven. The performance of each autonomous vehicle 4 is able to be tailored to a changing route and varying passenger loads. The operation of each autonomous vehicle 4 is able to be linked to the operation of an entire fleet of the autonomous vehicles 4. New passenger access at the stops 14 is able to be controlled by the algorithm being based on a voting mechanism based on existing and potential forward routes, passenger loading, forward traffic, and new passenger requests, all input into an overall system. Both the vehicle route and operational speed are based on the voting decisions. The collection of passengers is able to be strictly controlled in relation to remaining energy on board each autonomous vehicle 4, and the upcoming requirements to recharge or refuel.
The drawing shows the routes able to be taken by the autonomous vehicles 4. It will be apparent that there is available a wide range of combinations of autonomous vehicle 4, vehicle positions, passengers 16 and routes. The overall system is able to make decisions about vehicle routing, passenger collection, and passenger delivery. The decisions are accomplished by the voting control algorithm on board the vehicles, in communication with the supervisory control system.
It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in all aspects of the invention.