Controlling skidding vehicles
First Claim
1. A method for controlling a vehicle that is skidding, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for automated corrective measures to control the skidding from an operator of the vehicle through an operator actuated switch dedicated to invoking the automated corrective measures to control the skidding;
formulating a configuration change for changing the configuration of at least one vehicle component in response to the request; and
applying the configuration change at the vehicle to change the configuration of the at least one vehicle component to mitigate the skidding.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for controlling skidding vehicles. In general, a vehicle adjusts its configuration to mitigate the skidding. The vehicle can recognize dynamic skid situations and apply strategies to avoid an accident. In response to a signal that a vehicle is in a specified type of skid, the vehicle'"'"'s configuration can be automatically changed to recover from the skid. Different configuration changes can be used to recover from different skid types, including: oversteer, understeer and counter steer. Changing vehicle configuration can include utilizing vehicle systems such as, for example, steering, braking, cruise control, lane keeping, etc.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a vehicle that is skidding, the method comprising:
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receiving a request for automated corrective measures to control the skidding from an operator of the vehicle through an operator actuated switch dedicated to invoking the automated corrective measures to control the skidding; formulating a configuration change for changing the configuration of at least one vehicle component in response to the request; and applying the configuration change at the vehicle to change the configuration of the at least one vehicle component to mitigate the skidding. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A vehicle, the vehicle comprising:
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one or more sensors for sensing operation of the vehicle and sensing the environment surrounding the vehicle out to a specified range; a plurality of wheels; one or more processors; a manually actuated switch dedicated to invoking automated corrective measures to control the skidding, the manually actuated switch being mounted to a steering wheel of the vehicle; system memory coupled to one or more processors, the system memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors; the one or more processors configured to execute the instructions stored in the system memory to control the vehicle in a skid, including the following; receive a signal from the manually actuated switch indicating that a user has actuated the switch; access a vehicle configuration of the vehicle and the environment around the vehicle; formulate an appropriate configuration change to address the skidding based at least on the vehicle configuration and the environment, the appropriate configuration change defining a change to one or more of;
the steering angle of at least one wheel from among the plurality of wheels and the speed of at least one wheel from among the plurality of wheels; andapply the configuration change at the vehicle to change the steering angle or speed of at least one wheel, from among the plurality of wheels, to mitigate the skidding. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for automatically controlling a skidding vehicle, the vehicle including a plurality of wheels, the method comprising:
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receiving a signal from a manually actuated switch dedicated to invoking automated corrective measures to control the skidding, the signal indicating that the vehicle is skidding and requesting automated corrective measures to reduce the skidding; accessing a vehicle configuration of the vehicle and the environment around the vehicle by evaluating input from the one or more sensors; formulating an appropriate configuration change to address the skidding based at least on the vehicle configuration and the environment, the appropriate configuration change defining a change to one or more of;
the steering angle of at least one wheel from among the plurality of wheels and the speed of at least one wheel from among the plurality of wheels; andapplying the configuration change at the vehicle to change the steering angle or speed of at least one wheel, from among the plurality of wheels, to mitigate the skidding. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification