Mirenco, a small company in Radcliffe, Iowa, is a step closer to marketing its innovative fuel-saving cruise control system with the award of a patent.

The company has been issued a patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its "Method and Apparatus for Reducing Unwanted Vehicle Emissions Using Satellite Navigation."
The patent covers a new application for the satellite Global Positioning System. The EconoCruise computer module monitors rpm, exhaust, speed, fuel usage, etc. But it also uses GPS signals to precisely control the throttle in the most fuel-efficient way based on "knowledge" of the upcoming terrain, surrounding conditions and the operators' objectives.
The route map may be obtained through a prior run over the route so EconoCruise will "know" the terrain. In the future, Mirenco envisions versions of the EconoCruise employing real time onboard emissions sensors and communicating directly with existing highway map database systems such as Navtech from Navigation Technologies, advanced systems from Trimble, or any number of navigational systems now being included in newer model vehicles.
EconoCruise is not available yet for purchase. A production model is currently in final stages of development under Mirenco's second engineering contract with the U.S. Department of Energy. Preliminary testing has shown fuel savings of 8-12 percent over standard cruise control technology. Emissions reductions are a direct result of the reduced consumption of fuel in that, according to EPA figures, over 22 pounds of greenhouse gas are produced for each gallon of fuel burned.