A Classification Method of Road Transport Missions Using the Operating Cycle Format

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) classify vehicular usage based on simplified descriptions formulated in colloquial tones, whereas optimisation routines rely on accurate representations of the environment. In this paper, a method for classification of road transport missions is proposed within the theoretical framework of the operating cycle (OC). The approach discussed in the paper combines a collection of stochastic models for environment, called stochastic operating cycle (sOC), with a bird’s eye view description. Algebraic expressions, called in the paper operating classes, are derived analytically using elementary probability operators for all the stochastic models presented in the paper, establishing a connection between the sOC and the bird’s eye view levels of representation. An illustrative example is adduced using six sOCs parametrised from log-data collected during real-world missions. The proposed approach may facilitate the interaction between OEMs, customers and road operators, allowing for design and selection of more energy-efficient vehicular configurations