System and method for fuel efficient automatic temperature control

A fuel efficient automatic temperature control system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a climate control system configured to heat or cool air delivered to a cab of the vehicle, the climate control system including a variable-speed fan operable at a fan speed;
• a first sensor configured to provide a vent-air information indicative of a condition of the air delivered to the cab;
• a second sensor configured to provide climate control system information;
• an automatic temperature controller communicatively coupled to the climate control system, the first sensor, and the second sensor, the automatic temperature controller configured to control operation of the variable-speed fan and comprising one or more processors including one or more memory devices coupled to the one or more processors, the one or more memory devices configured to store instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
• operate the climate control system at a maximum fan speed,
• determine whether the variable-speed fan is required to operate at the maximum fan speed based on at least a desired temperature and the vent-air information,
• determine whether a dehumidifying operation is requested, and
• operate the climate control system at a fan speed slower than the maximum fan speed while the maximum fan speed is not required and the dehumidifying operation is not requested.

A method for fuel efficient automatic temperature control for a vehicle, the method comprising:

• receiving a desired temperature by a controller,
• receiving a vent-air information by the controller,
• determining, by the controller, whether a variable-speed fan is required to operate at a maximum fan speed based on at least the desired temperature and the vent-air information,
• determining, by the controller, whether a dehumidifying operation is requested,
• in response to determining that the variable-speed fan is required to operate at the maximum fan speed or that the dehumidifying operation is requested, operating the variable-speed fan at the maximum fan speed by the controller, and
• in response to determining that the variable-speed fan is not required to operate at the maximum fan speed and that the dehumidifying operation is not requested, operating the variable-speed fan below the maximum fan speed by the controller.