System and method for energy efficient prognostics

Abstract

Described herein is a server computing system that controls an autonomous vehicle to perform an operation to at least one of measure or isolate an effect of a variable on an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle. Data indicative of the actual power consumption, which is generated based on the operation, and data indicative of a projected power consumption, which is accumulated based on prior execution of the operation by a same or different autonomous vehicle, is received by the server computing system to determine whether an energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is degraded. The operation may be performed to identify a degraded vehicle system or component of the autonomous vehicle or to identify an autonomous vehicle in a fleet of autonomous vehicles for which further analysis is desirable. An output is generated by the server computing system that is indicative of the energy efficiency prognostics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 a computing system, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
 controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform an operation for detecting whether a vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle is damaged; and 
 generating data indicative of an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation, wherein damage to the vehicle system is detectable based on the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation and projected power consumption data for the operation. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the operation is performed by the autonomous vehicle to at least one of measure or isolate an effect of a variable on the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle to detect whether the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle is damaged. 
     
     
         3 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 2 , wherein the variable includes at least one of surface grade, surface roughness, ambient weather conditions, solar irradiance, weight of passengers and cargo, tire design, wheel alignment, tire pressure, heating ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) system efficiency, electric drive motor efficiency, drive unit efficiency, autonomous driving system computer (ADSC) operations, braking efficiency, wheel bearing friction, thermal resistance of cabin, or aerodynamic drag. 
     
     
         4 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , the acts further comprising:
 transmitting the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation to a server computing system, wherein the server computing system determines whether energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is degraded based on the projected power consumption for the operation and the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation, and wherein degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation is indicative of damage to the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle.   
     
     
         5 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 4 , the acts further comprising:
 receiving a service recommendation from the server computing system based on the degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation.   
     
     
         6 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 4 , the acts further comprising:
 receiving instructions from the server computing system to navigate the autonomous vehicle to a service hub to address the damage to the vehicle system based on the degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation; and   controlling at least one of a steering system, a braking system, and a vehicle propulsion system to cause the autonomous vehicle to travel to the service hub based on the instructions.   
     
     
         7 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein a differing autonomous vehicle in a fleet of autonomous vehicles comprises the server computing system, and wherein the fleet of autonomous vehicles comprises the autonomous vehicle. 
     
     
         8 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , the acts further comprising:
 determining whether energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is degraded based on the projected power consumption for the operation and the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation, and wherein degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation is indicative of damage to the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , the acts further comprising:
 generating a service recommendation based on the degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation.   
     
     
         10 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 8 , the acts further comprising:
 generating instructions to navigate the autonomous vehicle to a service hub to address the damage to the vehicle system based on the degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation; and   controlling at least one of a steering system, a braking system, and a vehicle propulsion system to cause the autonomous vehicle to travel to the service hub based on the instructions.   
     
     
         11 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein a component of the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle that causes degradation in energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is identified based on the operation. 
     
     
         12 . The autonomous vehicle of  claim 1 , the acts further comprising:
 controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform a second operation; and   generating data indicative of an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the second operation, wherein the second operation is performed by the autonomous vehicle to detect whether a system component of the vehicle system is a root cause of degradation in energy efficiency of the vehicle system.   
     
     
         13 . A method performed by an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform an operation for detecting whether a vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle is damaged; and   generating data indicative of an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation, wherein damage to the vehicle system is detectable based on the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation and projected power consumption data for the operation.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the operation is performed by the autonomous vehicle to at least one of measure or isolate an effect of a variable on the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle to detect whether the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle is damaged. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 transmitting the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation to a server computing system, wherein the server computing system determines whether energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is degraded based on the projected power consumption for the operation and the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation, and wherein degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation is indicative of damage to the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving instructions from the server computing system to navigate the autonomous vehicle to a service hub to address the damage to the vehicle system based on the degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation; and   controlling at least one of a steering system, a braking system, and a vehicle propulsion system to cause the autonomous vehicle to travel to the service hub based on the instructions.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 determining whether energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is degraded based on the projected power consumption for the operation and the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the operation, and wherein degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation is indicative of damage to the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 generating instructions to navigate the autonomous vehicle to a service hub to address the damage to the vehicle system based on the degradation in the energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle when performing the operation; and   controlling at least one of a steering system, a braking system, and a vehicle propulsion system to cause the autonomous vehicle to travel to the service hub based on the instructions.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a component of the vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle that causes degradation in energy efficiency of the autonomous vehicle is identified based on the operation. 
     
     
         20 . An autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 a computing system, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 memory that stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:
 controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform a first operation for detecting whether a vehicle system of the autonomous vehicle is damaged; 
 generating data indicative of an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the first operation, wherein damage to the vehicle system is detectable based on the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the first operation and projected power consumption data for the first operation; 
 controlling the autonomous vehicle to perform a second operation for detecting whether a system component of the vehicle system is a root cause of the degradation in the energy efficiency of the vehicle system; and 
 generating data indicative of an actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the second operation, wherein damage to the system component of the vehicle system is detectable based on the data indicative of the actual power consumption by the autonomous vehicle while performing the second operation and projected power consumption data for the second operation.