Control system for platooning of vehicles
AssigneeOmnitracs, LLC
InventorsKevin Haugh, Philip Friedman, Jeffrey Champa, Wesley Mays
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure provide a network control center that coordinates candidate vehicles suited for platooning based at least in part on the hours of service (HOS) requirements, customer constraints, and service time of each candidate vehicle. Further, the network control center may integrate a navigation system that incorporates one or more of the above factors to manage logistics associated with platooning vehicles.
Claims20
A method executable by a network-based control computer for controlling vehicles for platooning, comprising:
- receiving, via a communication network, a plurality of electronic signals conveying a plurality of vehicle information for a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle information comprises at least a vehicle identifier of the vehicle and vehicle location information, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
- identifying a first subset of the plurality of vehicles that are candidates for platooning in a geographic area based on the plurality of vehicle information and the plurality of vehicles equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
- selecting at least one second subset of vehicles to be included in at least one platooning convoy from the first subset that are candidates for platooning in the geographic area based in part on logistic constraints for each vehicle identified in the first subset;
- and
- transmitting, via the communication network, a platooning configuration to the at least one second subset of vehicles for initiating the at least one platooning convoy,
- whereby the vehicles in the second subset of vehicles form at least one platooning convoy in accordance with the transmitted platooning configuration.
A network-based control computer for controlling vehicles for platooning, comprising:
- a memory configured to store instructions;
- and
- a processor communicatively coupled with the memory, the processor configured to execute the instructions to:
- receive, via a communication network, a plurality of electronic signals conveying a plurality of vehicle information for a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle information including at least a vehicle identifier of the vehicle and vehicle location information, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
- identify a first subset of the plurality of vehicles that are candidates for platooning in a geographic area based on the plurality of vehicle information and the plurality of vehicles equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
- select at least one second subset of vehicles to be included in at least one platooning convoy from the first subset that are candidates for platooning in the geographic area based in part on logistic constraints for each vehicle identified in the first subset;
- and
- transmit, via the communication network, a platooning configuration to the at least one second subset of vehicles for initiating the at least one platooning convoy,
- whereby the vehicles in the second subset of vehicles form at least one platooning convoy in accordance with the transmitted platooning configuration.
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, executable by a processor of a network-based control computer for controlling vehicles for platooning, comprising instructions for:
- receiving, via a communication network, a plurality of electronic signals conveying a plurality of vehicle information for a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle information comprises at least a vehicle identifier of the vehicle and vehicle location information, wherein the plurality of vehicles are equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
- identifying a first subset of the plurality of vehicles that are candidates for platooning in a geographic area based on the plurality of vehicle information and the plurality of vehicles equipped with communication and safety systems that facilitate vehicle platooning;
- selecting at least one second subset of vehicles to be included in at least one platooning convoy from the first subset that are candidates for platooning in the geographic area based in part on logistic constraints for each vehicle identified in the first subset;
- and
- transmitting, via the communication network, a platooning configuration to the at least one second subset of vehicles for initiating the at least one platooning convoy,
- whereby the vehicles in the second subset of vehicles form at least one platooning convoy in accordance with the transmitted platooning configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.