Method for identifying optimal vehicle paths when energy is a key metric or constraint

US11029168B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy · US

Inventors

• Richard Stroman · Washington, US
• Daniel J. Edwards · Monroe, US
• Daniel S. Newton · Springfield, US
• John J. Bird · Rochester, US
• Jacob Willem Langelaan · State College, US
• Vladimir Dobrokhodov · Monterey, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 10, 2018
• Grant date: Jun 8, 2021
• Expiry date: Oct 11, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01C21/3691
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computer in a vehicle, cause the computer to carry out a method for determining an energy-optimal path for the vehicle from an initial location to a final location, the vehicle corresponding to a vehicle energy model. Based at least on the initial location, an initial time, the final location, the vehicle energy model, and an environmental forecast a global path is generated. The global path includes a final maximum net energy path and a plurality of waypoints. Based on the global path a local path from the present location to a next waypoint of the plurality of waypoints is generated. Whether a net energy gain is generated by a deviation from the global path to the next waypoint of the plurality of waypoints is determined. Generating a local path is repeated until the vehicle reaches the final location.