Systems and methods for driver assistance
First Claim
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1. A driver assistance system for a first vehicle, the system comprising:
- a sensor module communicatively coupled to one or more sensors;
a processor; and
a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to;
responsive to detecting an entry condition;
wait until a second, leading vehicle is identified, andupon identifying the leading vehicle, notify the leading vehicle about a desire of the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle at a threshold separation including communicating the threshold separation to the leading vehicle, the threshold separation adjusted based on one or more of a user of the first vehicle driving habit, user of the first vehicle driving skill, and user of the first vehicle distraction level,receive a response from the leading vehicle acknowledging the desire of the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle at the threshold separation,form a mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle based on the threshold separation prior to initiating an automatic control routine for controlling the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle, andresponsive to the mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle on one or more of the threshold separation and a speed at which to follow;
initiate the automatic control routine,decrease an amount of control of the first vehicle provided by a driver of the first vehicle,increase an amount of control of the first vehicle automatically provided by one or more vehicle systems, andautomatically control the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle at the threshold separation until detecting an exit condition.
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Abstract
Embodiments are disclosed for an example driver assistance system for a vehicle. The example driver assistance system includes a sensor module communicatively coupled to one or more sensors, a processor, and a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to, responsive to detecting an entry condition, disengage control of the vehicle by a driver of the vehicle, and engage autopilot of the vehicle upon detecting a leading vehicle in front of the vehicle. The instructions are further executable to follow the leading vehicle at a threshold separation until detecting an exit condition.
41 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A driver assistance system for a first vehicle, the system comprising:
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a sensor module communicatively coupled to one or more sensors; a processor; and a storage device storing instructions executable by the processor to; responsive to detecting an entry condition; wait until a second, leading vehicle is identified, and upon identifying the leading vehicle, notify the leading vehicle about a desire of the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle at a threshold separation including communicating the threshold separation to the leading vehicle, the threshold separation adjusted based on one or more of a user of the first vehicle driving habit, user of the first vehicle driving skill, and user of the first vehicle distraction level, receive a response from the leading vehicle acknowledging the desire of the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle at the threshold separation, form a mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle based on the threshold separation prior to initiating an automatic control routine for controlling the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle, and responsive to the mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle on one or more of the threshold separation and a speed at which to follow; initiate the automatic control routine, decrease an amount of control of the first vehicle provided by a driver of the first vehicle, increase an amount of control of the first vehicle automatically provided by one or more vehicle systems, and automatically control the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle at the threshold separation until detecting an exit condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A navigation system for a first vehicle, comprising:
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a sensor subsystem communicatively coupled to one or more sensors mounted on the first vehicle and/or positioned along a travelling road; an inter-vehicle communication system configured to receive and transmit information between the first vehicle and a second, leading vehicle; a global positioning system (GPS); a processor; and a storage device storing user preferences and storing instructions executable by the processor to; detect an upcoming no-pass zone based on sensor data from the sensors, wait until the leading vehicle is identified, upon identifying the leading vehicle, notify the leading vehicle of a threshold separation at which the first vehicle requests to follow the leading vehicle, receive a response from the leading vehicle acknowledging a desire of the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle at the threshold separation, form a mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle based on the threshold separation prior to initiating an automatic control routine for controlling the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle, and responsive to the mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle on the threshold separation, send instructions to a vehicle control system of the first vehicle, based on the user preferences, to activate the automatic vehicle control routine to trail the leading vehicle at the threshold separation, wherein the automatic vehicle control routine includes automatically controlling movement of the first vehicle with reduced driver intervention relative to driver intervention while operating the first vehicle using a manual vehicle control routine. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for a navigation system of a first vehicle, the method comprising:
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responsive to detecting a no-pass zone of a roadway and receiving an authorization from a driver to trail a leading vehicle, notifying the leading vehicle of a threshold separation at which the first vehicle requests to follow the leading vehicle, receiving a response from the leading vehicle acknowledging the threshold separation at which the first vehicle requests to follow the leading vehicle, forming a mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle based on the threshold separation prior to initiating an automatic control routine for controlling the first vehicle to follow the leading vehicle, and responsive to the mutual agreement between the first vehicle and the leading vehicle on the threshold separation, initiating the automatic control routine by issuing a vehicle control command from the navigation system to a vehicle control system to control engine operation of the first vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification