US 2014/0195106 A1 · VIRTUAL TRAINER FOR IN VEHICLE DRIVER COACHING AND TO COLLECT METRICS TO IMPROVE DRIVER PERFORMANCE

Abstract

A method of providing visual feedback to a driver based on data collected during vehicle operation. A processor at the vehicle analyzes vehicle data, and determines when predetermined threshold values have been reached for particular parameters. Whenever such a threshold is reached, a visual alert is presented to the driver. Certain parameters have at least two threshold values. When a first threshold value is reached, an alert is presented to the driver, but no data is recorded or reported. When a second threshold value is reached, another alert is presented to the driver, and data is recorded for reporting to a driver manager or supervisor. The tiered threshold approach provides a warning to a driver, such that if they correct the behavior triggering the warning, their supervisor is never notified of that behavior. However, if the behavior escalates, and the second threshold is breached, the behavior is recorded.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for displaying driver feedback to a driver during operation of a vehicle;

comprising the steps of:
(a) automatically collecting vehicle data that can be used to evaluate the driver's performance while the driver is operating the vehicle;
(b) using a computing device to automatically analyze the vehicle data and determine if a driver has exceeded a baseline for a specific metric;
(c) after the baseline is exceeded, automatically displaying to the driver information indicating the baseline has been exceeded, along with a timer indicating how long of a period of time the driver has to change his driving behavior before exceeding the baseline will be reported, thereby providing driver feedback;
(d) after the time period has elapsed, using the computing device to automatically determine if the baseline for that specific metric is still exceeded;
and if so;
and
(e) automatically reporting that the baseline for that specific metric was exceeded by the driver.

5 more elements

A system for displaying driver feedback to a driver during operation of a vehicle;

the system comprising:
(a) at least one vehicle data generating component, the at least one vehicle data generating component is configured to generate time indexed vehicle data that can be used to evaluate driver performance;
(b) a display for displaying feedback to the driver during vehicle operation;
(c) at least one processor logically coupled to the display, the at least one processor implementing the functions of
(i) automatically analyzing the vehicle data to determine if any of the vehicle data exceeds a predefined threshold, and if so automatically displaying to the driver information indicating the predefined threshold has been exceeded and a timer counting down time left in a predefined time period the driver has in which to correct the driving behavior that triggered the feedback;
(ii) automatically analyzing the vehicle data to determine if after the time period has elapsed the predefined threshold is still being exceeded, and if so automatically reporting that the driver exceeded the predetermined threshold for longer than the predefined time period.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Virtual trainer for in vehicle driver coaching and to collect metrics to improve driver performance

Life of this patent

Virtual trainer for in vehicle driver coaching and to collect metrics to improve driver performance

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17