METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND VEHICLES FOR DYNAMIC ROUTING

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method includes receiving, by a processor, a current location of a vehicle, a destination location, and a routing plan having a routing factor and a reward arrangement, planning, by the processor, a planned route from the current location to the destination location based on the routing factor of the routing plan, providing a direction to travel from the current location to the destination location via the planned route, determining a level of adherence based on a comparison of the planned route and an actual route on which the vehicle actually travels, and providing a reward based on the level of adherence and the reward arrangement.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to vehicle routing and, more particularly, to incentive-based vehicle routing.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles may often be routed according to a user's needs, such as distance and/or time requirements. Although the user cannot be forced to follow the route, the user is likely to follow the route because it directly benefits the user by satisfying the user's needs. Routing may also have broader benefits beyond the user's needs, such as traffic density reduction, noise reduction, pollution reduction, maximizing energy conservation, along with other benefits. However, it may be difficult to get the user to follow the route as it may not benefit the user, and in some cases, it might be detrimental to the user. Therefore, intelligent strategies for dynamic routing that incentivize users to follow routes are desired.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method includes receiving, by a processor, a current location of a vehicle, a destination location, and a routing plan having a routing factor and a reward arrangement, planning, by the processor, a planned route from the current location to the destination location based on the routing factor of the routing plan, providing a direction to travel from the current location to the destination location via the planned route, determining a level of adherence based on a comparison of the planned route and an actual route on which the vehicle actually travels, and providing a reward based on the level of adherence and the reward arrangement.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a system includes a processor, and machine-readable instructions when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving a current location of a vehicle, a destination location, and a routing plan having a routing factor and a reward arrangement, planning a planned route from the current location to the destination location based on the routing factor of the routing plan, providing a direction to travel from the current location to the destination location via the planned route, determining a level of adherence based on a comparison of the planned route and an actual route on which the vehicle actually travels, and providing a reward based on the level of adherence and the reward arrangement.

In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle includes a processor, and machine-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including receiving a current location of a vehicle, a destination location, and a routing plan having a routing factor and a reward arrangement, planning a planned route from the current location to the destination location based on the routing factor of the routing plan, providing a direction to travel from the current location to the destination location via the planned route, determining a level of adherence based on a comparison of the planned route and an actual route on which the vehicle actually travels, and providing a reward based on the level of adherence and the reward arrangement.

Although the concepts of the present disclosure are described herein with primary reference to user-driven automobiles, it is contemplated that the concepts will enjoy applicability to any vehicle, user-driven or autonomous. For example, and not by way of limitation, it is contemplated that the concepts of the present disclosure will enjoy applicability to autonomous automobiles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments disclosed herein include methods, systems, and vehicles for dynamic routing. Embodiments may route vehicles to provide broader benefits beyond the user's needs, such as energy conservation, traffic density reduction, noise reduction, pollution reduction, along with other benefits. However, it may be difficult to get the user to follow the route as it may not benefit the user, and in some cases, it might be detrimental to the user. To encourage the user to follow the route generated, embodiments may provide an incentive framework for the user. The incentive framework may be a direct benefit that the user may receive based on the user's adherence to the framework.

Referring now toFIG.1, a system100for dynamic vehicle routing is depicted. The system100may comprise a vehicle102and/or a server120. The vehicle102may also be a device that may be placed onboard the vehicle102. The vehicle102may be a connected vehicle and may include a processor108, a memory106, a driving assist module112, a network interface118, a location module114, and an input/output interface (I/O interface116). The vehicle102also may include a communication path104that communicatively connects the various components of the vehicle102.

The processor108may include one or more processors that may be any device capable of executing machine-readable and executable instructions. Accordingly, each of the one or more processors of the processor108may be a controller, an integrated circuit, a microchip, or any other computing device. The processor108is coupled to the communication path104that provides signal connectivity between the various components of the connected vehicle. Accordingly, the communication path104may communicatively couple any number of processors of the processor108with one another and allow them to operate in a distributed computing environment. Specifically, each processor may operate as a node that may send and/or receive data. As used herein, the phrase “communicatively coupled” means that coupled components are capable of exchanging data signals with one another such as, e.g., electrical signals via a conductive medium, electromagnetic signals via air, optical signals via optical waveguides, and the like.

The memory106is coupled to the communication path104and may contain one or more memory modules comprising RAM, ROM, flash memories, hard drives, or any device capable of storing machine-readable and executable instructions such that the machine-readable and executable instructions can be accessed by the processor108. The machine-readable and executable instructions may comprise logic or algorithms written in any programming language of any generation (e.g., 1GL, 2GL, 3GL, 4GL, or 5GL) such as, e.g., machine language, that may be directly executed by the processor, or assembly language, object-oriented languages, scripting languages, microcode, and the like, that may be compiled or assembled into machine-readable and executable instructions and stored on the memory106. Alternatively, the machine-readable and executable instructions may be written in a hardware description language (HDL), such as logic implemented via either a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) configuration or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or their equivalents. Accordingly, the methods described herein may be implemented on any conventional computer programming language, as pre-programmed hardware elements, or as a combination of hardware and software components.

The vehicle102may also include a driving assist module112. The data gathered by the driving assist module112may be used to perform various driving assistance including, but not limited to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), adaptive cruise control (ACC), cooperative adaptive cruise control (CACC), lane change assistance, anti-lock braking systems (ABS), collision avoidance system, automotive head-up display, and the like. The driving assist module112may also generate routes for the vehicle102, which may generate routes according to factors outlined by a routing plan. Routing plans may be created by a service provider such as a vehicle fleet manager (e.g., busses and cabs), rideshare provider, mapping service, or any other provider of vehicle services. Service providers may create routing plans to direct how vehicles are routed, track vehicles' adherence to routes, and determine and/or deliver an incentive based on the vehicle's adherence.

The vehicle102also comprises a network interface118that includes hardware for communicatively coupling the vehicle102to the server120. The network interface118can be communicatively coupled to the communication path104and can be any device capable of transmitting and/or receiving data via a network or other communication mechanisms. Accordingly, the network interface118can include a communication transceiver for sending and/or receiving any wired or wireless communication. For example, the hardware of the network interface118may include an antenna, a modem, a LAN port, a Wi-Fi card, a WiMAX card, a cellular modem, near-field communication hardware, satellite communication hardware, and/or any other wired or wireless hardware for communicating with other networks and/or devices.

The vehicle102may connect with one or more other connected vehicles and/or external processing devices (e.g., the server120) via a direct connection. The direct connection may be a vehicle-to-vehicle connection (“V2V connection”) or a vehicle-to-everything connection (“V2X connection”). The V2V or V2X connection may be established using any suitable wireless communication protocols discussed above. A connection between vehicles may utilize sessions that are time and/or location-based. In embodiments, a connection between vehicles or between a vehicle and an infrastructure may utilize one or more networks to connect which may be in lieu of, or in addition to, a direct connection (such as V2V or V2X) between the vehicles or between a vehicle and an infrastructure. By way of a non-limiting example, vehicles may function as infrastructure nodes to form a mesh network and connect dynamically/ad-hoc. In this way, vehicles may enter/leave the network at will such that the mesh network may self-organize and self-modify over time. Other non-limiting examples include vehicles forming peer-to-peer networks with other vehicles or utilizing centralized networks that rely upon certain vehicles and/or infrastructure. Still other examples include networks using centralized servers and other central computing devices to store and/or relay information between vehicles.

A location module114is coupled to the communication path104such that the communication path104communicatively couples the location module114to other modules of the vehicle102. The location module114may comprise one or more antennas configured to receive signals from global positioning system (GPS) satellites. Specifically, in one embodiment, the location module114includes one or more conductive elements that interact with electromagnetic signals transmitted by GPS satellites. The received signal is transformed into a data signal indicative of the location (e.g., latitude and longitude) of the location module114, and consequently, the vehicle102.

The vehicle102may also include an I/O interface116. The I/O interface116may allow for data to be presented to a human driver and for data to be received from the driver. For example, the I/O interface116may include a screen to display information to a user, speakers to present audio information to the user, and a touch screen that may be used by the user to input information. The interface may output information that the vehicle102received from the server120. For example, the I/O interface116may display instructions to follow a route generated by the server120, such as turn-by-turn instructions.

In some embodiments, the vehicle102may be communicatively coupled to the server120by a network via the network interface118. The network may be a wide area network, a local area network, a personal area network, a cellular network, a satellite network, and the like.

The server120comprises a processor126, a memory component124, a network interface128, a data storage component130, and a communication path122. Each server120component is similar in features to its connected vehicle counterpart, described in detail above. It should be understood that the components illustrated inFIG.1are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. More specifically, while the components inFIG.1are illustrated as residing within vehicle102, this is a non-limiting example. In some embodiments, one or more of the components may reside external to vehicle102, such as with the server120.

Referring now toFIG.2, a flowchart of a method200for dynamic vehicle routing is depicted. The method200may be carried out by the vehicle102ofFIG.1. The memory106of the vehicle102may store machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor108, may cause the processor108to perform steps of the method200. It should be understood that the method200may also or instead be performed by a server120ofFIG.1or any other computing device.

At step202, the vehicle102identifies a current location of the vehicle102. The current location of the vehicle102may be identified with, for example, a location module114onboard the vehicle102. For example, the vehicle102may have a GPS device for determining the latitude and longitude of the vehicle102. The current location may also or instead be identified with a mobile device of the user. For example, the current location may be determined by triangulating the mobile device with cellular signals in range of the mobile device. The current location allows the system100to determine a starting point for vehicle routing as well as available routing plans. For example, the vehicle102may be part of a rideshare fleet that utilizes the current location of the vehicle102to determine where the vehicle102is to be routed as well as the routing plans available.

At step204, the vehicle102receives a destination location. The destination location is a location that the vehicle102is planning on driving to from the current location. The destination location may be received from the user. For example, the user may enter a destination location into the system100by an I/O interface116, such as a touchscreen of a navigation system. The destination location may also or instead be received from a computing device. For example, the user's mobile device may store a schedule of the user, and a location corresponding to an entry of the schedule may be automatically input to the system100as a destination location for the system100to navigate the vehicle102.

At step206, the vehicle102receives a routing plan having a routing factor and a reward arrangement from a provider. The provider may be a manager of the vehicle102, such as a fleet manager, a rideshare coordinator, a dispatcher, and/or any other kind of entity that exerts influence over the traveling of the vehicle102. The provider may manage its operations via one or more computing devices, such as the server120. Management of vehicles may be according to one or more routing plans. A routing plan may contain instructions on how a vehicle102is to be routed from its current location to a destination location. The routing plan includes one or more routing factors and/or one or more reward arrangements. A routing factor is a factor that influences how routes are generated. For example, routing factors may include battery charge needed for regions limited to electric vehicles, traffic conditions, construction conditions, congestion conditions, weather conditions, road conditions, driver behavior, driver preferences, desired efficiency, noise ordinances, and the like. In some embodiments, the routing factor is to further a particular goal. For example, goals may include maximizing energy saved, minimizing infrastructure wear, minimizing noise pollution, and/or any other vehicle-related goals. A reward arrangement is an incentive structure for encouraging users to drive along the route generated according to the routing factors of the routing plan. For example, a reward arrangement may include money, discounts, and/or credits for tolls, parking, congestion fees, vehicle chargers, and other vehicle-related infrastructure as well as privileged access to aspects of vehicle-related infrastructure such as fast lanes, higher speed limits, and the like. The routing plan may be received from an external device, such as the server120, owned by the provider. The routing plan may also or instead be generated onboard the vehicle102if the provider is the manufacturer of the vehicle102, for example.

At step208, one or more routes may be planned for the vehicle102. The route may be from the current location to the destination location determined at steps202and204, respectively. The route may be generated by the vehicle102and/or the server120. The route may be based on the one or more routing factors of the one or more routing plans of step206. For example, ordinary navigation systems may generate a route based on the earliest arrival time, but embodiments of the present application may generate routes that may save the most electricity by avoiding areas of stop-and-go traffic, targeting downhill roadways to take advantage of regenerative braking, and/or implementing other strategies for maximizing energy saved when the vehicle102arrives at the destination location. Planning a route may be based on map information, roadway information, traffic information, driver information, weather information, and/or any other information that may impact the travel of the vehicle102from its current location to its destination location.

At step210, the user may be directed to travel from the current location to the destination location. The vehicle102may have a screen on an I/O interface116to present a navigation UI to the user, which may be visual, audio, and/or the like. The navigation UI may include a map, turn-by-turn directions, and/or the like. Although the user may be presented with a route generated according to the one or more routing factors of the one or more routing plans of step206, the user may not always follow the planned route. The route the user chooses to travel may be considered an actual route, whereas the route planned in step208may be considered the planned route. Differences between the actual route and the planned route may be displayed on the navigation UI for the user to be aware. The vehicle102and/or the server120may redirect the user back to the planned route if the actual route diverges from the planned route. In embodiments, the vehicle102may be a smart vehicle (e.g., autonomous vehicle, semi-autonomous vehicle, self-driving car, or the like) that may travel based on the direction provided. For example, the vehicle102may travel along the planned route. A user may have an ability to override the vehicle102to deviate from the planned route. Differences between the actual route actually traveled by the vehicle102and the planned route may be displayed on the navigation UI for the user to be aware. The vehicle102and/or the server120may redirect the vehicle102back to the planned route if the actual route diverges from the planned route.

At step212, a user's level of adherence to the planned route is determined. The level of adherence may be based on a comparison of the planned route and the actual route and may be expressed as a function of time and/or distance. The duration driven while the vehicle102was not on the planned route and/or the distance driven while the vehicle102was not on the planned route may reduce the level of adherence to the planned route. For example, if the planned route is ten miles and the user took the vehicle102on a two-mile detour, the vehicle102may determine that the level of adherence was only 80%. The level of adherence of the user to the planned route may be determined in real-time as the user is driving or after the user has completed the trip to the destination location. In some embodiments, the level of adherence may be a binary determination (i.e., adhered to or not adhered to).

At step214, a reward may be received. The user may receive a reward based on the level of adherence and the reward arrangement. The reward is based on the level of adherence because it acts as an incentive for the user to drive along the planned route, which may be a route that the user may not normally drive. The reward arrangement is part of the routing plan from the provider and outlines the incentive structure for the user. The reward may come from the provider and/or someone other than the provider as arranged by the provider. For example, the provider may be a rideshare company that develops the routing plan but offers rewards from a third party, such as the city in which the rideshare company operates. Rewards may include financial and/or driving incentives such as reduced infrastructure fees (e.g., tolls and congestion charges), higher speed limits, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the reward arrangement may also or instead include penalties. Penalties may include financial and/or driving deterrents such as fines, reduced speed limits, and/or the like.

Referring now toFIG.3, a UI300for routing plan308requirements is depicted. The UI300may be displayed on an electronic device302. The electronic device302is a mobile device, as shown inFIG.3. In some embodiments, the electronic device302may be an I/O module of a vehicle102(e.g., I/O interface116). The electronic device302may have a screen for displaying a routing plan308. For example, here, the electronic device302presents a routing plan308entitled “routing plan.” The requirements of the routing plan308may be listed along with the title of the routing plan308. Routing plan308requirements may include components as discussed with regard to step206ofFIG.2above. For example, referring still toFIG.3, the requirements of routing plan308may be routing factors310, including an indication of a minimum vehicle102charge requirement (e.g., at least 30% charge required), a vehicle efficiency requirement (e.g., regenerative braking required), a noise limit (e.g., <70 dB), and a roadway requirement (e.g., prefer road A over road B). Routing factors310may also include weather conditions, traffic conditions, road conditions, battery charge, energy consumption, vehicle102noise, and/or vehicle102weight. It should be understood that the routing factors310are not limited to those as shown and described herein but may include any other factors related to driving and/or routing of vehicles. As another example, the UI300may also include the reward arrangement312of the routing plan308. Here, the reward arrangement312may include financial compensation of $0.10 per mile driven along the route planned by the routing plan308. The user may indicate an assent to the routing plan308by pressing the “Continue” button314or a lack of assent by pressing the “Cancel” button316.

Referring now toFIG.4, a UI400for vehicle102routing is depicted. The UI400may be displayed on an electronic device302, which may have a screen for displaying the routing plan308, in this case, entitled “routing plane.” The electronic device302, as non-limiting examples, may be a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a navigation, or any device may be communicatively coupled to the vehicle102and/or the server120. The routing plan308may utilize any existing or not yet existing routing algorithms to generate one or more routes402from a current location304to a destination location306. The routing plan308may utilize its routing factors310to bias or otherwise alter the route generation such that the routing factors310are followed, minimized, maximized, or otherwise accounted for. For example, if the routing plan308requires that a vehicle102maximize energy savings, the routing plan308may generate a route402that has more downhill regions to maximize the vehicle's ability to coast and/or utilize regenerative braking, a route402that has fewer stops, a route402that has fewer turns, and/or the like. When the user indicates that he will begin driving, such as by pressing the “Go” button404on the UI400, the electronic device302may begin tracking the vehicle's actual route. While tracking the actual route and/or after arriving at the destination location306, the electronic device302may determine a level of adherence with the route402. The electronic device302may compare the actual route with the generated route402to determine a level of adherence. For example, a level of adherence may be a percentage of the generated route402actually driven. The electronic device302may also or instead consider a degree of deviation from the routing factors310in determining a level of adherence. For example, a level of adherence may be a function of the percentage of the generated route402actually driven, the number of routing factors310satisfied by the vehicle102, and/or the distance traveled by the vehicle102having satisfied the number of routing factors310.

Referring now toFIG.5, a UI500for reward508collecting is depicted. After arriving at the destination location306from the current location304, the electronic device302may present an analysis of the user's trip. The analysis may include the actual route traveled, the satisfied routing factors502, the unsatisfied routing factors504, the reward508, and/or the penalty510. The reward508may include a cash payment, a toll subsidy, an increased speed limit, a lane availability, and/or any other kind of benefit to the user. The reward508may be proportional to the level of adherence to the generated route402. For example, the user may be driving from the current location304to the destination location306as part of a routing plan308provided by a rideshare provider. The user may receive a $20 fare506as part of the rideshare service, a $0.70 reward508for driving seven miles with the satisfied routing factors502, and an $0.08 penalty510for driving 0.8 miles with the unsatisfied routing factors504, for a total 512 of $20.62. The user may acknowledge the routing analysis by pressing the “Continue” button514.

Referring now toFIG.6, a flowchart of a method600for selecting a routing plan is depicted. The method600may be carried out by the vehicle102ofFIG.1. The memory106of the vehicle102may store machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor108, may cause the processor108to perform steps of the method600. It should be understood that the method may also or instead be performed by a server120ofFIG.1or any other computing device.

At step602, the vehicle102may query the provider for an agreement. The provider may be a computer device that facilitates the organization and/or incentivizing of vehicle routing, such as a rideshare company, a vehicle OEM, and/or the like. The provider may operate a server, such as the server120ofFIG.1, that generates the agreement with the vehicle102in response to queries from the vehicle102. The query may have the current location, the destination location, the characteristics of the vehicle102, the information of the user, and/or the like.

At step604, the vehicle102may receive an agreement from the provider. The agreement may include a routing plan for the user to adhere to. The routing plan may have a routing factor and/or a reward arrangement. For example, the agreement may indicate that the user will adhere to a routing plan with an emphasis on the routing factors in exchange for the reward arrangement. The user may have assented to the agreement in advance. For example, if the user is part of a rideshare fleet, the user may have agreed to adhere to routing plans upon joining the rideshare fleet. In some embodiments, the agreement may be in the form of an offer for the user to adhere to the routing plans. In which case, the process may proceed to step606; otherwise, the process may end at step604.

At step606, the vehicle102may receive an assent to the agreement by the user. The user may provide an indication of assent, such as an oral indication, a written indication, or any other verbal indication. For example, the user may check a box on a form displayed on an electronic display indicating an assent and confirming his assent by completing the form.

At step608, the vehicle102may send the assent to the agreement by the user. For example, the vehicle102may transmit a message via its network interface118to the network interface128of the server120of the provider. The provider may then receive from the user the assent to the agreement and begin planning a route and tracking the vehicle102.

Referring now toFIG.7, a UI700for selecting routing plans708is depicted. To view options of available routing plans708, a server120of the provider may be queried according to step602of method600. To provide information that may be included with the query, the UI700may include menu options for the user to enter information such as the current location, the destination location, the characteristics of the vehicle102, the information of the user, and/or the like. For example, the UI700includes a “vehicle” form702having a dropdown input704for the user to select the model of the vehicle102that may then be sent to the server120of the provider. The UI700may display a list of agreements for the user to select from in response to the inputs sent to the server120via the query. For example, the UI700may populate the “plans” form706to display the available routing plans708. The routing plans708may be named according to the routing plan, the routing factors, and/or the reward arrangement. The user may choose a selection710from the list of available routing plans708. For example, the UI700has a selection710of the “energy saving” routing plan, which may indicate routing factors that require the vehicle102to be routed such that it has traveled to its destination minimizing the amount of energy used. The UI700may also include an interface element such as an “agree” button712to indicate an assent to the selection710.

It should now be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein include methods, systems, and vehicles for dynamic routing. Embodiments may route vehicles to provide broader benefits beyond the user's needs, such as energy conservation, traffic density reduction, noise reduction, pollution reduction, along with other benefits. To encourage the user to follow the route generated, embodiments may provide an incentive framework for the user. The incentive framework may be a direct benefit that the user may receive based on the user's adherence to the framework.

For the purposes of describing and defining the present disclosure, it is noted that reference herein to a variable being a “function” of a parameter or another variable is not intended to denote that the variable is exclusively a function of the listed parameter or variable. Rather, reference herein to a variable that is a “function” of a listed parameter is intended to be open-ended such that the variable may be a function of a single parameter or a plurality of parameters.