Method and system for remote immobilization of vehicles

A method for immobilizing a vehicle in response to an immobilization signal from a remote location, comprising:

• determining current vehicle data regarding at least one of vehicle dynamics and driving conditions, the vehicle dynamics comprising vehicle speed on a roadway, the driving conditions comprising a roadway congestion index;
• obtaining an immobilization profile based on the current vehicle data, the immobilization profile being characterized by a decrease in vehicle speed over a set time interval, the decrease being determined by at least one of an initial vehicle speed and the roadway congestion index;
• and
• adjusting vehicle powertrain so that the vehicle speed approximates the immobilization profile.

A system for remotely immobilizing a vehicle, comprising:

• a receiver unit for receiving current vehicle data regarding at least one of vehicle dynamics and driving conditions, the vehicle dynamics comprising vehicle speed on a roadway, the driving conditions comprising a roadway congestion index;
• a processor unit for generating an immobilization profile based on the received current vehicle data, the immobilization profile being characterized by a decrease in vehicle speed over a set time interval, the decrease being determined by at least one of an initial vehicle speed and the a roadway congestion index;
• and
• a transmitter unit for sending the immobilization profile to the vehicle over a wireless communication network.

A system for immobilizing a vehicle in response to an immobilization signal from a remote location, comprising:

• an onboard vehicle computer is programmed to:
• receive current vehicle data regarding vehicle dynamics and driving conditions;
• obtain an immobilization profile based on the received current vehicle data;
• and
• determine at least one vehicle powertrain control parameter;
• and
• a vehicle powertrain subsystem that adjusts itself upon receiving the at least one vehicle powertrain control parameter from the onboard computer so that vehicle speed approximates the immobilization profile.