Using telematics data including position data and vehicle analytics to train drivers to improve efficiency of vehicle use

Abstract

A driver efficiency score is based on defining at least metric, collecting data related to the metric during the driver's operation of a vehicle, determining how often the driver's deviated from an optimal standard for that metric, and then reducing the efficiency score based on how often the driver's deviated from the optimal standard, to express the result as an efficiency score of 100% or less (100% meaning the driver never varied from the optimum). The efficiency score for a specific trip is reported along with a loss in dollars due to an efficiency score of less than 100%. Useful metrics include how often the driver deviated from an optimal RPM range (a sweet zone) for the vehicle being operated, how often the driver operated a vehicle at highway speeds without using cruise control, and how often the driver operated a vehicle in excess of a predetermined maximum speed.

The invention in which an exclusive right is claimed is defined by the following: 
     
         1 . A method to analyze how efficiently a driver operates a vehicle, comprising:
 defining, with a computing device, a plurality of data parameters under driver control that affect vehicle efficiency;   automatically collecting vehicle data associated with each data parameter of the plurality of defined data parameters during vehicle operation, each data parameter automatically collected using one or more sensors at the vehicle, the one or more sensors drawn from a group of sensors including at least one engine-based sensor and at least one telematics sensor;   determining a fuel efficiency for each of a plurality of segments of a trip;   ignoring one or more of the plurality of segments based on a determination of safe vehicle operation during the respective segment;   calculating, with the computing device, a driver efficiency score based on remaining ones of the plurality of segments that were not ignored; and   in response to a user request, displaying the driver efficiency score.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating the vehicle over the plurality of segments, each segment having an associated segment length;   determining how much fuel is consumed by the vehicle within each of the plurality of segments;   determining an amount of fuel used by the vehicle when the driver operated the vehicle at an engine speed outside of a predetermined range;   determining an amount of fuel wasted by not operating the vehicle at an engine speed within the predetermined range; and   in response to the user request, concurrently displaying the driver efficiency score and a value representative of the amount of fuel wasted.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 ignoring incidents of cruise control not being used during the one or more of the plurality of segments based on the determination of safe vehicle operation during the respective segment;   determining an amount of fuel used by the vehicle when the driver could have used cruise control but did not; and   applying a corrective factor based on efficiency gains related to cruise control to determine an amount of fuel wasted when not using cruise control.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein determining the amount of fuel used by the vehicle when the driver could have used cruise control but did not includes:
 ignoring incidents of cruise control not being used or ignoring incidents of increased RPM based on the determination of safe vehicle operation during the respective segment.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of fuel used by the vehicle when the driver operated the vehicle at a speed greater than a predetermined speed value;   applying a corrective factor based on an effect of speed on fuel efficiency; and   determining an amount of fuel wasted by operating the vehicle at the speed greater than the predetermined speed value.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the corrective factor is adjustable. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an amount of fuel wasted when the vehicle has idled for longer than a predetermined idle value.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 ,
 wherein automatically collecting vehicle data includes:
 collecting incremental fuel use data correlated with location data; and 
   wherein calculating, with the computing device, the driver efficiency score includes:
 segmenting operation of the vehicle into the plurality of segments, each segment associated with a sequential incremental fuel use reading; 
 calculating an amount of fuel consumed during each segment; 
 calculating a length of each segment using the location data; 
 determining a vehicle fuel efficiency for each segment; 
 associating the vehicle fuel efficiency for each segment with a driver-controllable fuel efficient behavior; and 
 producing a per segment cost of fuel wasted. 
   
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a computing device configured to analyze how efficiently a driver operates a vehicle;   at least one engine-based sensor communicatively coupled to the computing device; and   at least one telematics device arranged to provide telematics data to the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to:
 segment operation of the vehicle into a plurality of segments, each segment associated with a sequential incremental fuel use reading; 
 calculate an amount of fuel consumed during each segment; 
 calculate a length of each segment using location data from the telematics unit; 
 determine a vehicle fuel efficiency for each segment; 
 associate the vehicle fuel efficiency for each segment with a driver-controllable fuel efficient behavior; 
 produce a per segment cost of fuel wasted; 
 ignore one or more of the plurality of segments based on a determination of safe vehicle operation during the respective segment; and 
 calculate a driver efficiency score based on remaining ones of the plurality of segments that were not ignored. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a presentation device, wherein the computing device is further configured to, in response to a user request, present the driver efficiency score via the presentation device.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the presentation device is a display. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computing device is an in-vehicle computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 determine an amount of fuel used by the vehicle when the driver operated the vehicle at an engine speed outside of a predetermined range;   apply a corrective factor based on efficiency gains related to operating the vehicle at an engine speed within the predetermined range; and   determine an amount of fuel wasted by not operating the vehicle at the engine speed within the predetermined range.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the corrective factor is adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the computing device is further configured to:
 determine an amount of fuel wasted when the vehicle has idled for longer than a predetermined idle value.   
     
     
         16 . A system to improve operating efficiency of a vehicle, comprising:
 a telematics unit that provides location data when a driver is operating the vehicle over a plurality of selected segments, each segment having an associated segment length;   a computing device that selects one or more driver-controllable fuel efficient behavior metrics on which to generate a driver efficiency score, the one or more driver-controllable fuel efficient behavior metrics drawn from a plurality of driver-controllable fuel efficient behavior metrics including:
 an amount of time that the vehicle is idling or not idling within each of the plurality of selected segments, 
 an amount of time that the vehicle is operated above or below a determined engine speed within each of the plurality of selected segments, 
 an amount of time that the vehicle is operated above or below a determined vehicle speed within each of the plurality of selected segments, and 
 an amount of time that the vehicle is operated using or not using cruise control within each of the plurality of selected segments; and 
   a one or more in-vehicle drawn from a group of sensors including at least one engine-based sensor and at least one telematics sensor that provide vehicle data when the vehicle is operating within each of the plurality of selected segments, wherein the computing device is arranged to:
 calculate a plurality of interim driver efficiency values, the plurality of interim driver efficiency values including at least one interim driver efficiency value per selected segment, each interim driver efficiency value calculated using at least some of the vehicle data; and 
 calculate a driver efficiency score using some but not all of the plurality of interim driver efficiency values, wherein interim driver efficiency values calculated in segments where the vehicle was operated outside of a predetermined range based on a determination of safe vehicle operation during the respective segment are ignored. 
   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the computing device is further arranged to:
 determine how much fuel is consumed by the vehicle within each of the plurality of selected segments;   determine an amount of fuel used by the vehicle when the driver could have used cruise control but did not; and   apply a corrective factor based on efficiency gains related to cruise control use to determine an amount of fuel wasted when not using cruise control.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a display device that displays, in response to a user request, the driver efficiency score.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the computing device is further arranged to:
 determine an amount of fuel used by the vehicle when the driver operated the vehicle at an engine speed outside of a predetermined range;   apply a corrective factor based on efficiency gains related to operating the vehicle at an engine speed within the predetermined range; and   determine an amount of fuel wasted by not operating the vehicle at the engine speed within the predetermined range.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the computing device is further arranged to:
 determine an amount of fuel wasted when the vehicle has idled for longer than a predetermined idle value.