Vehicle Power Management System

Abstract

An apparatus comprising an interface, a memory and a processor. The interface may be configured to receive sensor data samples during operation of a vehicle. The memory may be configured to store the sensor data samples over a number of points in time. The processor may be configured to analyze the sensor data samples stored in the memory to detect a pattern. The processor may be configured to manage an application of brakes of the vehicle in response to the pattern.

1 . A method of vehicle operation, comprising:
 using one or more processors:
 determining information about an external environment of a first vehicle; 
 using the determined information to calculate one or more speeds over a vehicle route; 
   and
 applying one or more calculated powers to the first vehicle to travel along the vehicle route at the one or more calculated speeds; 
   wherein the one or more calculated speeds are configured to maximize energy efficiency of the first vehicle, within one or more constraints, while traveling on the vehicle route.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of optional routes exist between a first location of the first vehicle and a future destination of the first vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises predicting the vehicle route by predicting which of the optional routes the first vehicle will take to get from the first location to the future destination. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the future destination is a destination at which the first vehicle will be parked and turned off. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of intermediary destinations exist between a first location of the first vehicle and a future destination of the first vehicle, and wherein the method further comprises predicting which of the intermediary destinations the first vehicle will traverse between the first location and the future destination. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more processors predict the intermediary destinations without determining the future destination and without having received the future destination. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the future destination is a destination at which the first vehicle will be parked and turned off. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, using the one or more processors, determining information about operational status of the first vehicle, user command inputs to the first vehicle, and one or more operational parameters of the first vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising updating the one or more operational parameters of the first vehicle from a remote source. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more operational parameters of the first vehicle are communicated to the first vehicle from an external source. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising updating control logic of the one or more processors from a remote source. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one or more remote servers comprise at least one of the one or more processors, the one or more remote servers not physically coupled with the first vehicle and not located within the first vehicle, and wherein the one or more calculated speeds are calculated by the one or more remote servers and communicated to the first vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle based at least in part on increasing the energy efficiency of the first vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus comprising:
 a first vehicle having a power source and a communication system; and   a power management system for the power source configured to:
 determine information about an external environment of the first vehicle; 
 using the determined information, calculate one or more speeds over a vehicle route; and 
 apply calculated power to the first vehicle to travel along the vehicle route at the one or more calculated speeds; 
   wherein the one or more calculated speeds are configured to maximize energy efficiency of the first vehicle, within one or more constraints, while traveling on the vehicle route.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of optional routes exist between a first location of the first vehicle and a future destination of the first vehicle, and wherein the power management system is configured to predict the vehicle route by predicting which of the optional routes the first vehicle will take to get from the first location to the future destination. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein one or more remote servers comprise at least one of the one or more processors, the one or more remote servers not physically coupled with the first vehicle and not located within the first vehicle, and wherein the one or more calculated speeds are calculated by the one or more remote servers and communicated to the first vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein a distance between the first vehicle and a second vehicle is used as an input to the power management system to increase the energy efficiency of the first vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling operation of a vehicle, comprising:
 using one or more processors:
 determining a vehicle route; 
 determining information about operational status of a vehicle; 
 determining information about an external environment of the vehicle, including identifying an uphill portion and a downhill portion along the vehicle route; 
 determining a location of the vehicle along the vehicle route; and 
 maximizing an energy efficiency of the vehicle along the vehicle route, within one or more constraints, by controlling one of:
 a difference in a speed of the vehicle on the downhill portion relative to a speed of the vehicle on the uphill portion; and 
 a ratio of energy from a first power source of the vehicle and a second power source of the vehicle. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first power source comprises an electric power source and the second power source comprises an internal combustion engine, and wherein the method further comprises maximizing the energy efficiency at least in part by:
 adjusting the ratio of energy from the first power source and the second power source while traveling on the uphill portion so that the first power source is exhausted on the uphill portion; and   charging the first power source while traveling on the downhill portion.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising maximizing the energy efficiency at least in part by increasing a speed of the vehicle on the downhill portion when the one or more processors determine that the uphill portion is upcoming. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the determined information about operational status of the vehicle includes a weight of the vehicle and a speed of the vehicle, and wherein the determined information about the external environment of the vehicle includes a road grade.