FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adaptable real time driving and braking performance evaluating system for evaluating terrain based Performance of braking system of vehicle by considering vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, force applied on the brake pedal and noise levels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that the driving and braking capabilities of vehicle operators vary notice¬ably even with a vehicle having faultless braking system depending on terrain condition and environmental impacts. So, a periodic braking evaluation will ensure both brake and drivers performance.

But, the existing vehicle braking performance monitoring system has many drawbacks such as high investment cost, bulky and fragile instruments, which are difficult to carry and need extra care to maintain. The existing monitoring system also consumes long instrumentation time and also require vehicle modifications.

Further these existing bulky instruments, which are prominently visible, change the driving behavior, and can be used only on test tracks, and are not suitable for on-road data acquisition and also require higher level skill to install and operate the test instruments furtherdownloading, data at remote locations not possible for analysis.

So, there is a need for a braking performance evaluation system with following advantages:

- To minimise investment cost.

- To reduce installation time.

- To eliminate bigger/complicated instrumentation.

- To achieve accurate analysis capability.

- To eliminate need of skilled persons

- To enable easy data acquisition from intended sensors

- To provide analysis report in user understandable manner.

- To collect data from any location.

- To avoid data loss.

- To enable effortless data analysis wherever required

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION _

The object of the invention is to provide an adaptable real time driving and braking performance evaluating system for evaluating terrain based performance of braking system of vehicle by considering vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, force applied on the brake pedal and noise levels.

Another object of the present invention is to monitor and analyse braking performance of automobile/vehicle by recording vehicle speed, deceleration, stopping distance, brake pedal effort and noise levels at all stops with instrumentation which is easy to install and to evaluate the impact from the driver's point of view.

Yet another object of the invention is to enable perfect analysis by collecting data multiple times per second which includes the vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, the force or effort on the brake pedal, and the sound level (noise) field within the vehicle cabin.

Yet another object of the invention is to design a system with 3 components viz., hardware, software and analysis for calibrating the incoming data for accuracy, sorting the data, and to present it to the user in easily understandable visual and graphical forms. The analysis component identifies key points of interest, removes extraneous data, and compares performance across various configurations of vehicles, braking system and make friction materials.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a system with wireless communication feasibility and to design a system with Scalable/Extendable manner.

Further object of the invention is to provide storage means for storing the acquired and/or compared data locally and/or remotely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adaptable real time braking performance monitoring system. The system objectively characterizes the driving and braking performance of a motor vehicle. The collected performance data of the invention can be used to improve

vehicle systems (especially braking systems) and evaluate the impact from the driver's point of view. The data collected by the suite (multiple times per second) includes the vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, stopping distance, the force or effort on the brake pedal, and the sound level(noise) field within the vehicle cabin.

The present invention suite can be divided as hardware, software and analysis. The hardware components consist of elements that perform data collection (sensors), data integration (processing), and data transmission (telecommunication). The software components calibrates the incoming data for accuracy, sorting the data, and presents it to the user in an easily understandable visual and graphical form. The analysis component identifies key points of interest, removes extraneous data, and compares performance across various configurations of vehicles and friction materials.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Figure 1 illustrates the block diagram of the present invention which shows working flow of an adaptable real time driving and braking performance evaluating system.

Figure 2 illustrates the embodiment of the invention which shows performance analysis report.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One of the embodiments of the invention discloses about an adaptable real time driving and braking performance evaluating system for evaluating terrain based performance of braking system of vehicle by considering vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, force applied on the brake pedal and noise level. The system comprises of a first sensing means configured to trigger a signal for each effort on the pedal in predetermined manner by means of control means, a second sensing means configured to dynamically monitor in-cab noise level, a third sensing means configured to acquire geographical position information at real time, plurality of optional sensing means configured to sense other required parameters, a control means connected with selected number of sensing means, a reporting means configured to acquire data from plurality of sensing means or by means of control means to send data to a locally/remotely located main monitoring system and/or plurality of optional display means, wherein the main monitoring system provides the geographical based performance analysis report.

Another embodiment of the invention discloses about a first sensing means can be a flexible sensor configured to sense the effort on the pedal, especially the sensor senses the dynamic effort on the pedal.

Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about a second sensing means which can be a mobile data logger and/or a microphone and/or can be an extended connection with internal display means/any cabin communication module or any telecommunication module/smart phone or tablet or laptop or suitable means or any printer or any LED/LCD display or any audio device or any video device or combination thereof.

Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about the system which can generate report in every acceleration, deceleration, braking duration, time taken for braking, stopping time, stopping distance and thereof. The generated report can be a user understandable visual, graphical, text, audio and/or any other suitable form. The generated report in the form of frequency graph (Hz) and/or noise level graph (dB) with respect to sensed inputs.

Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about the third sensing means can be a satellite based navigation system or GPS Device. The main monitoring system can compare the acquired result with location information/GPS for providing terrain based analysis report of braking system and driver.

Yet another embodiment of the system discloses about storage option of the system, the system/reporting means can store the data either locally or remotely.

Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about scale up and extendable possibilities of the system. The system includes plurality of optional sensing means for analysis data with different parameters. A temperature sensor can be one of the optional sensor unit.

Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about transmission medium of vehicle, wherein reporting means, control means and sensing means can be a connected through wired connection or Bluetooth or WIFI or and/or combination thereof.

Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about a method for evaluating terrain based impact of braking system of vehicle by considering vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, force applied on the brake pedal and noise level, the method comprises the steps of;

Step 1: acquiring pedal effort details through first sensing means and control means,

Step 2: acquiring noise level through second sensing means,

Step 3: acquiring geographical position from third sensing means,

Step 4: acquiring optional parameters from other sensing means and

Step 5: interpreting the acquired sensed signals for providing geographical position based performance analysis report.

Yet another embodiment of the invention discloses about installation procedure of the system, the installation procedure comprises the steps of;

- Place the Mobile data logger/reporting means with microphone on the vehicle dashboard and switch ON.

- Place the GPS unit/third sensing means on the vehicle dashboard and switch ON.

- Install pedal effort sensor/first sensing means with sleeve on the brake pedal.

- Connect pedal effort sensor/first sensing means with microprocessor/control means - Bluetooth unit through 2 pin wire.

- Strap Microprocessor- Bluetooth unit to brake pedal linkage and switch ON

- (Fill in the check sheet and Bluetooth identification for GPS unit, microprocessor-Bluetooth unit..)

- Set the threshold pressure for pedal effort & set the email file size, enable the send email box and save it.

- Click the start to start the test.

- Press stop button when test completed.

Further embodiment of the invention discloses about working principle present invention,

- Driver presses the brake pedal to decelerate the vehicle.

- System starts collecting data like pedal effort, time, vehicle speed, noise during braking, geographical position of the vehicle on route map.

. - Pedal effort data reaches mobile data logger/reporting means from pedal effort sensor/first sensing means via microprocessor/control means - Bluetooth unit.

- Geographical position of the vehicle reaches mobile data logger via GPS unit/third sensing means.

- Data like vehicle speed , pedal effort .braking time are processed at Windows software.

- Data processed and final report is generated by programmed/main monitoring system. Report contains Initial speed, final speed, stopping time, pedal effort, noise level for each brake application.
Further, the system generates the analysis report either locally or through central monitoring station in critical or normal or required conditions. The sensing means, control means and reporting means can be rapidly assembled on any vehicle for establishing performance analysis report of braking system /driver. The generated report can be user understandable visual, graphical, text, audio and/or any other suitable form.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION

- The system can be installed in any intended vehicle easily.

- The size and configuration makes the system cost effective.

- Compact and unobtrusive- can be easily fitted within a vehicle and will not change or influence vehicle driving behavior.

- The system eliminates the usage of cables.

- The system is configured to expand its features according to user needs.

- Rugged sensors that can be used across a variety of conditions

- Highly accurate

- Real time vehicle data acquired transmitted continuously for remote monitoring and analysis (no human intervention required)

- Data backed up on Storage Data card is possible, in case of a lack of network coverage.
That the foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting' sense is thus made apparent. A worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

We claim

1. An adaptable real time driving and braking performance evaluating system for evaluating terrain based impact of brake liner performance by considering vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, force applied on the brake pedal and the noise level, wherein the system comprises of:

- a first sensing means configured to trigger a signal for each effort on the pedal in predetermined manner by means of control means,

- a second sensing means configured to dynamically monitor in-cab noise level,

- a third sensing means configured to acquire geographical position information at real time,

- plurality of optional sensing means configured to sense other required parameters,

- control means connected with selected number of sensing means,

- a reporting means configured to acquire data from plurality of sensing means or by means of control means to send data to a locally/remotely located main monitoring system and/or plurality of optional display means,

- wherein the main monitoring system provides the geographical based performance analysis report.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensing means can be a flexible sensor configured to sense the effort on the pedal, especially the sensor senses the dynamic effort on the pedal.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reporting means can be a mobile data logger and/or can be an extended connection with internal display means/any cabin communication module or any telecommunication module/smart phone or tablet or laptop or suitable means or any printer or any LED/LCD display or any audio device or any video device or combination thereof.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system can generate report in everyacceleration, deceleration, braking duration, time taken for braking, stopping time, stopping distance and thereof.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 and 4, wherein the generated report can be a user understandable visual, graphical, text, audio and/or any other suitable form.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1,4 and 5, wherein the generated report in the form of frequency graph (Hz) and/or noise level graph (dB) with respect to sensed inputs.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the third sensing means can be a satellite based navigation system or GPS Device.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, where in the main monitoring system can compare the acquired result with location information/GPS for providing terrain based analysis report of braking system and driver.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reporting means can store the data either locally or remotely.

10\The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optional sensing means can be a temperature sensor or other sensor.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein reporting means, control means and sensing means can be a connected through wired connection or Bluetooth or WIFI or and/or combination thereof.

12. A method for evaluating terrain based impact of braking system of vehicle by considering vehicle's position, velocity, deceleration, force applied on the brake pedal and noise level, the method comprises the steps of;

Step 1: acquiring pedal effort details through first sensing means and control means,

Step 2: acquiring noise level through second sensing means,

Step 3: acquiring geographical position from third sensing means,

Step 4: acquiring optional parameters from other sensing means and

Step 5: interpreting the acquired sensed signals for providing geographical position based performance analysis report.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, the system generates the analysis report either locally or through central monitoring station in critical or normal or required conditions.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said sensing means, control means and reporting means can be rapidly assembled on any vehicle for establishing performance analysis report of braking system /driver.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said generated report can be user understandable visual , graphical, text, audio and/or any other suitable form.