Denver, USA, August 6, 2007: Intermap Technologies Corp. announced it has provisioned a grant to Auburn University to investigate and evaluate ways to save fuel using the Company’s GIS 3D road geometries. The project’s initial focus is on achieving simulation results and designing a predictive cruise controller and automatic gear shifting algorithm to calculate optimal vehicle speed and gear selection that improve fuel economy and operating costs.
A significant amount of the fuel expense in the heavy trucking industry is attributed to changes in road slope. In an effort to address this problem, Intermap has sponsored a research team headed by Dr. David Bevly, assistant professor in mechanical engineering at Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.
GPS technology is applied to estimate the truck position, while Intermap’s 3D road geometry is used to identify information on the road slope that lies ahead. An optimal control system is then designed to predict and achieve ideal truck velocity and/or engine speed, based on the road geometry, with the consideration of fuel consumption and travel time. The basic function of this optimal control system is to automatically gauge when best to accelerate, decelerate, or change gears going into and coming out of slopes and curves. The Auburn study will also look at the tradeoffs between increased travel time and additional fuel savings.
According to Wei Huang, a member of Bevly’s research team leading the research effort, the project is unique in two ways, “First, the designed system is tested with real commercial 3D road geometry. Then, the influence of the road geometry and sensor accuracy on fuel economy is investigated. The 3D road geometry and GPS- based control system is designed to reduce the heavy trucks’ fuel consumption. The system consists of vehicle state estimators, the road geometry, and an optimal control system.”
According to the American Trucking Association, motor carriers spent $103.3 billion on fuel in 2006. Increased fuel efficiency will help carriers reduce their fuel consumption and overall operating costs – potentially saving approximately $3 billion dollars and a billion gallons of diesel per year.
“It opens up a new avenue of pursuit to help our customers get more miles out of a gallon of diesel fuel.” states Daniel G. Smedley, manager of advanced automation & control for Eaton Corporation’s Truck Technology group. Eaton Corporation, suppliers of heavy duty transmissions, is serving in an advisory role in the project.
