Method to enable vehicles to avoid weigh stations

Abstract

Method for controlling weighing of a vehicle travelling on a road by means of a weigh station alongside the road includes determining weight of the vehicle using a processor on-board the vehicle and transmitting from the vehicle using a telematics device, the determined weight of the vehicle to the weigh station. Determining the weight of the vehicle may entail processing inertial property data from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) into an indication of the weight of the vehicle. The inertial property data from the IMU may be multiple sets of inertial property data obtained over time. The IMU may be calibrated, using the processor, based differential motion of the vehicle over a period of time as determined by a location positioning system. A Kalman filter may also be used. A vehicle transmitting its determined weight avoids stopping at the weigh station.

1 . A method for controlling weighing of a vehicle travelling on a road by means of a weigh station alongside the road, comprising:
 determining weight of the vehicle using a processor on-board the vehicle; and   transmitting from the vehicle using a telematics device, the determined weight of the vehicle to the weigh station.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of determining the weight of the vehicle comprises processing inertial property data from an inertial measurement unit (IMU) into an indication of the weight of the vehicle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the inertial property data from the IMU is multiple sets of inertial property data obtained over time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising calibrating the IMU, using the processor, based differential motion of the vehicle over a period of time as determined by a location positioning system. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the IMU calibrating step comprises using a Kalman filter. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a vehicle transmitting its determined weight avoids stopping at the weigh station. 
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling travel of vehicles on a road having a weigh station alongside the road at which vehicles must provide their vehicle weight at least for some designated times and designated vehicle types, comprising:
 for those vehicles equipped with an on-board weight determining unit,
 determining weight of the vehicle using a processor on-board the vehicle; and 
 transmitting from the vehicle using a telematics device, the determined weight of the vehicle to the weigh station, 
 whereby a vehicle transmitting its determined weight avoids stopping at the weigh station. 
   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the on-board weight determining unit includes an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and the step of determining the weight of the vehicle comprises processing inertial property data from the IMU into an indication of the weight of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the inertial property data from the IMU is multiple sets of inertial property data obtained over time. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising calibrating the IMU, using the processor, based differential motion of the vehicle over a period of time as determined by a location positioning system. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the IMU calibrating step comprises using a Kalman filter. 
     
     
         12 . A method for managing road information, comprising:
 obtaining road properties from vehicles during travel on the vehicle on a road at an off-vehicle location, the road properties being obtained using an inertial measurement unit on board each vehicle and transmitted from the vehicle using a telematics device;   storing the road properties from the vehicles at the off-vehicle locations in a data storage device; and   selectively distributing from the data storage device to the telematics device on vehicles traveling on the road, at least part of the collected road properties to the vehicles traveling on the road.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising associating the road properties with the weather in the area of the road at the off-vehicle location, the at least part of the collected road properties being distributed to the vehicles traveling on the road based on the weather.