EP-4736142-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD RATING DRIVER PERFORMANCE, PROVIDING DRIVING COACHING FEEDBACK, AND MAKING DRIVING INCIDENT PREDICTIONS

Abstract

System and methods provide driver performance rating and driving coaching feedback and make incident and exceedance predictions. Driving event data including data spanning multiple separate driving trips is analyzed using a trend detection model to generate a trend detection result that is used to determine a driver performance rating. The trend detection model may be a functional regression model, a linear fit model and/or a polynomial fit model. Driver coaching signals representative of driving instructions are generated based results of the trend detection model applied to the driving event data. Driving incident predictions are made based on the results of the trend detection model applied to the driving event data to a predetermined threshold.

Inventors

• KUEHNLE, ANDREAS
• TOKMAN, Andre
• LOMBARDI, Matthew, G.
• HOWARD, Shaun

Assignees

• RM Acquisition, LLC D/B/A Rand McNally

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240628

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system for assessing a driver’s operation of a vehicle over a selected time period and automatically providing a driver performance rating of the driver’s operation, the system comprising: a control circuit comprising: a memory device; control logic stored in the memory device; and a processor operatively coupled with the memory device, the processor being configured to execute the control logic to: receive a set of event data representative of driving events comprising occurrences of operation of the vehicle during the selected time period being determined to be non-compliant operation; analyze the set of event data based on a trend detection model to generate a trend detection result; determine a driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result; and generate based on the determined driver performance rating a driver performance rating control signal for use in controlling one or more functional aspects of the vehicle.
2. 2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuit operates to deliver the driver performance rating control signal to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle to thereby control one or more functional aspects of the vehicle based on the determined driver performance rating.
3. 3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the control logic to: receive the set of event data comprising event rate data representative of rates of occurrences of the driving events determined to be the non-compliant operation during each of a plurality of separate driving trips spanning the selected time period; analyze the event rate data based on the trend detection model to generate the trend detection result; and determine the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
4. 4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the control logic to: receive the set of event data comprising event type data representative of types of the driving events during the selected time period being determined to be non-compliant operation; analyze the event type data based on the trend detection model to generate the trend detection result; and determine the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
5. 5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the control logic to: receive the set of event data comprising event type data representative of types of the driving events during the selected time period being determined to be non-compliant operation; analyze the event type data based on the trend detection model to generate the trend detection result; and determine the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
6. 6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to execute the control logic to: analyze the set of event data based on a trend detection model comprising one or more of a functional regression model, a linear fit model and/or a polynomial fit model to generate the trend detection result; and determine the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
7. 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to execute the control logic to analyze the set of event data using the one or more of the functional regression model, the linear fit model and/or the polynomial fit model applied to predetermined event types of the driving events comprising the occurrences of operation of the vehicle determined to be non-compliant operation.
8. 8. The system according to claim 6, further comprising: driver coaching logic stored in the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to execute the driver coaching logic to: generate a driver coaching signal representative of a driving instruction based on one or more of the determined driver performance rating and/or a degree of agreement between the one or more of the functional regression model, the linear fit model and/or the polynomial fit model and the set of event data, wherein the driving instruction of the driver coaching signal informs the driver recommended control of the operation of the vehicle based on the determined driver performance rating.
9. 9. The system according to claim 6, further comprising: an annunciator operatively coupled with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the driver coaching logic to annunciate the driving instruction to the driver via the annunciator.
10. 10. The system according to claim 6, further comprising: incident prediction logic stored in the memory device; and incident threshold data stored in the memory device, wherein the processor is configured to execute the incident prediction logic to determine a driving incident prediction by determining an imminent intersection of a trajectory or event rate level resulting from fitting the trend detection model to the set of event data with a predetermined threshold setting represented by the incident threshold data stored in the memory device.
11. 1 1. A method for assessing a driver’s operation of a vehicle over a selected time period and automatically providing a driver performance rating of the driver’s operation, the method comprising: receiving a set of event data by a control circuit comprising a memory device, control logic stored in the memory device, and a processor operatively coupled with the memory device, wherein the set of event data is representative of driving events comprising occurrences of operation of the vehicle during the selected time period being determined to be non-compliant operation; analyzing by the processor executing control logic stored in the memory device the set of event data based on a trend detection model to generate a trend detection result; determining by the processor executing control logic stored in the memory device a driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result; and generating by the processor executing control logic stored in the memory device based on the determined driver performance rating a driver performance rating control signal for use in controlling one or more functional aspects of the vehicle.
12. 12. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: delivering the driver performance rating control signal to an electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle to thereby control one or more functional aspects of the vehicle based on the determined driver performance rating.
13. 13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: receiving the set of event data comprising event rate data representative of rates of occurrences of the driving events determined to be the non-compliant operation during each of a plurality of separate driving trips spanning the selected time period; analyzing by the processor executing control logic the event rate data based on the trend detection model to generate the trend detection result; and determining by the processor executing control logic the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
14. 14. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: receiving the set of event data comprising event type data representative of types of the driving events during the selected time period being determined to be non- compliant operation; analyzing by the processor executing control logic the event type data based on the trend detection model to generate the trend detection result; and determining by the processor executing control logic the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
15. 15. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: receiving the set of event data comprising event type data representative of types of the driving events during the selected time period being determined to be non- compliant operation; analyzing by the processor executing control logic the event type data based on the trend detection model to generate the trend detection result; and determining by the processor executing control logic the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
16. 16. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising: analyzing by the processor executing control logic the set of event data based on a trend detection model comprising one or more of a functional regression model, a linear fit model and/or a polynomial fit model to generate the trend detection result; and determining by the processor executing control logic the driver performance rating of the driver’s operation based on the trend detection result.
17. 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising analyzing by the processor executing the control logic the set of event data using the one or more of the functional regression model, the linear fit model and/or the polynomial fit model applied to predetermined event types of the driving events comprising the occurrences of operation of the vehicle determined to be non-compliant operation.
18. 18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: generating a driver coaching signal by the processor executing driver coaching logic stored in the memory device, wherein the driver coaching signal is representative of a driving instruction based on one or more of the determined driver performance rating and/or a degree of agreement between the one or more of the functional regression model, the linear fit model and/or the polynomial fit model and the set of event data, wherein the driving instruction of the driver coaching signal informs the driver recommended control of the operation of the vehicle based on the determined driver performance rating.
19. 19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: executing the driver coaching logic to annunciate by an annunciator operatively coupled with the processor the driving instruction to the driver.
20. 20. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: determining by the processor executing incident prediction logic stored in the memory device a driving incident prediction by determining an imminent intersection of a trajectory or event rate resulting from fitting the trend detection model to the set of event data with a predetermined threshold setting represented by the incident threshold data stored in the memory device.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD RATING DRIVER PERFORMANCE, PROVIDING DRIVING COACHING FEEDBACK, AND MAKING DRIVING INCIDENT PREDICTIONS Technical Field [0001] The present disclosure relates to monitoring vehicle operation and automatically rating driver performance, providing driving coaching feedback, and making driving incident predictions, in order to improve performance and overall efficiency of drivers and vehicle fleets. Although the example embodiments will be described in connection with a commercial fleet application, it is to be appreciated that the embodiments are usable and may be applied to any moving vehicles including for example passenger fleets, construction vehicle, and the like. Background [0002] Systems for wirelessly collecting and transmitting operational data and video from a vehicle are known. One such system known as SafetyDirect® by Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC is a world-renowned leading example. With data delivered by the SafetyDirect® system, vehicle fleet operators and managers can assess driving records, develop targeted driver training that addresses the issues taking place on the road, and make other business decisions that affect improved performance and overall efficiency of drivers and vehicle fleets. [0003] The SafetyDirect® system records events produced by signals when it is determined that those signals are above or below predetermined thresholds or within predetermined ranges that might be produced as a result of various vehicle operational events such as for example excessive braking events, unwanted lane departure events, insufficient headway events, etc. The event recordings may include sensor data, video image data, and/or other data that is representative of the vehicle operations of the event before, during and after the event (i.e., pre- and post-event (PPE) data) and the vehicle/driver signals/dynamics during the event (brake pressure, steering angle, speed, deceleration, location, etc.). [0004] While the SafetyDirect® system has met with tremendous success, it is desirable to use event data and the event data generated by the SafetyDirect® system in particular to provide driver performance ratings in order to understand which drivers produce too many of such events and/or which drivers produce extreme events. [0005] It is further desirable to use the driver performance ratings to rank the drivers among the complement of drivers in a fleet operation. [0006] It is further desirable to use the event data to make driving incident predictions. [0007] It is further desirable to use the event data to provide driving coaching feedback to selected drivers who may need driving instructional assistance based on their respective performance rating. [0008] It is further desirable to use the driver performance ratings to utilize selected drivers among the complement of drivers in a fleet operation for particular driving tasks where the selected driver may be better able to perform the driving task than other fleet drivers in order to improve the overall performance and efficiency of vehicle fleets. Summary [0009] Described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to use event data to provide driver performance assessments. [0010] Described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to use event data to provide driver performance ratings. [0011] Further described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to use the driver performance ratings to rank the drivers among a complement of drivers in a group such as for example drivers in a fleet operation. [0012] Further described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to use event data to make driving incident predictions. [0013] Further described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to use event data to provide driving coaching feedback to selected drivers who may need driving instructional assistance based on their respective performance rating. [0014] Further described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to use the driver performance ratings to utilize selected drivers among the complement of drivers in a fleet operation for particular driving tasks where the selected driver may be better able to perform the driving task than other fleet drivers. [0015] Further described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to develop event data from PPE data and to use the event data to provide driver performance assessments. [0016] Further described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to develop event data from PPE data and to use the event data to provide driver performance ratings. [0017] Further described herein are systems, methods and computer readable mediums that are executable to develop event data from PPE data and to use th