Method and system for assisting a driver

• US 10,054,940 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polestar Performance AB (Polestar Automotive Holding UK Plc)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: Solyom, Stefan, Rothoff, Marcus Nils Gunnar
• Primary Examiner(s): Mawari, Redhwan K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torchinsky, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/106,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20140172221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,709 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/10 Accelerator pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/12 Lane keeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method is provided for assisting a driver of a vehicle. The method may include performing a lateral control of the vehicle in an autonomous mode, determining information about a surroundings of the vehicle, checking whether a longitudinal control of the vehicle performed by the driver is appropriate considering the determined information about the surroundings, and, if appropriate, continuing an autonomous mode of the lateral control of the vehicle. A driver assist system is also provided for performing the method.

Claims

1. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle comprising:

performing, via a lateral control system, a lateral control of said vehicle in an autonomous mode;

determining, via detection means, information about a surroundings of said vehicle;

checking, via a checking system, a longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver considering the determined information about the surroundings, wherein checking the driver longitudinal control comprises checking whether the driver maintains at least a threshold distance to another vehicle substantially in front of the vehicle, wherein the threshold distance is based on detection of a static and/or dynamic object laterally adjacent to the vehicle, and wherein checking the driver longitudinal control of the vehicle occurs while performing autonomous lateral control of the vehicle; and

continuing said autonomous mode of said lateral control based on said checking.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said autonomous mode of said lateral control comprises a change of travelling direction of said vehicle in the range of 0 to +/−

30°

, preferably 0 to +/−

60°

, more preferably 0 to +/−

90°

, most preferably 0 to +/−

120°

.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein input from said driver to perform said longitudinal control is given via a longitudinal control means.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein input from said driver to perform said longitudinal control is given via said longitudinal control means only.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising instructing said driver to act, if said check indicates that said longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver fails to meet a distance, time or speed parameter.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising leaving said autonomous mode of said lateral control, if said check indicates that said longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver fails to meet a distance, time or speed parameter.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising encouraging said driver to take over said lateral control from said lateral control system, if said check indicates that said longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver fails to meet a distance, time or speed parameter.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising entering a first state of said vehicle, if said check indicates that said longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver fails to meet a distance, time or speed parameter.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said method is performed in urban traffic, e.g. at a speed below 70 km/h, preferably below 50 km/h and most preferably below 30 km/h.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said lateral control is at least partly based on detection of a static and/or a dynamic object adjacent to said vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said lateral control is independent of detectable lane markings.

12. A driving assist system for a vehicle, said system comprising:

detection means for determining information about a surroundings of said vehicle;

a lateral control system for performing autonomous lateral control of said vehicle; and

a checking system for checking a longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by a driver of said vehicle considering the determined information about the surroundings, wherein checking the driver longitudinal control comprises checking whether the driver maintains at least a threshold distance to another vehicle substantially in front of the vehicle, wherein the threshold distance is based on detection of a static and/or a dynamic object laterally adjacent to the vehicle, and wherein the checking system checks the driver longitudinal control of the vehicle while the lateral control system is performing the autonomous lateral control of said vehicle;

wherein continuing autonomous lateral control of said vehicle is based on said checking.

13. The driving assist system according to claim 12, wherein said lateral control system is adapted to perform a change of travelling direction of said vehicle in the range of 0 to +/−

30°

, preferably 0 to +/−

60°

, more preferably 0 to +/−

90°

, most preferably 0 to +/−

120°

.

14. The driving assist system according to claim 12, further comprising means for instructing said driver to act and/or means for entering a first state of said vehicle adapted to be used, if said checking system indicates that said longitudinal control performed by said driver fails to meet a distance, time or speed parameter.

15. The driving assist system according to claim 12, wherein the system assists a driver in urban traffic, e.g. at a speed below 70 km/h, preferably below 50 km/h and most preferably below 30 km/h.

16. A vehicle comprising the driving assist system of claim 12.

17. A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle comprising:

performing a lateral control of said vehicle in an autonomous mode via a lateral control system of said vehicle;

determining information about a surroundings of said vehicle via a sensor;

checking via a controller a longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver considering the determined information about the surroundings, wherein checking the driver longitudinal control comprises checking whether the driver maintains at least a threshold distance to another vehicle substantially in front of the vehicle, wherein the threshold distance is based on detection of a static and/or a dynamic object laterally adjacent to the vehicle, and wherein checking the driver longitudinal control of the vehicle occurs while performing autonomous lateral control of the vehicle; and

continuing said autonomous mode of said lateral control based on said checking.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising leaving said autonomous mode of said lateral control, if said check indicates that said longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver fails to meet a distance, time or speed parameter.

19. The method according to claim 17 further comprising entering a first state of said vehicle, if said check indicates that said longitudinal control of said vehicle performed by said driver fails to meet a distance, time or speed parameter.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said lateral control is at least partly based on detection of a static and/or a dynamic object adjacent to said vehicle and is independent of detectable lane markings.