Systems and methods for automatically disengaging a braking function of a vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle, comprising:
- one or more sensors sensing an environment surrounding the vehicle;
a vehicle control system autonomously controlling a braking function of the vehicle;
a processor in communication with the one or more sensors and the vehicle control system, the processor programmed to;
identify an object within the environment via information received from the one or more sensors;
determine, based on the information received from the one or more sensors, that the object is about to collide with the vehicle;
determine a location of other objects in proximity to the vehicle;
determine, prior to a collision with the object and based on the location of the other objects in proximity to the vehicle, an escape path and escape angle for the vehicle to follow upon colliding with the object;
determine, based on the information received from the one or more sensors, to control the braking function of the vehicle to reduce a force of impact when colliding with the object;
disengage the braking function of the vehicle prior to and during a collision with the object; and
control autonomously a steering function of the vehicle to steer the vehicle at the escape angle and along the escape path around the other objects in proximity to the vehicle.
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Abstract
Embodiments herein relate to an autonomous vehicle or self-driving vehicle with a vehicle control system. The vehicle control system can determine, prior to and/or during a collision, whether an escape path exits. If an escape path exists, the brakes are disengaged such that at least some of the energy and/or momentum from a colliding vehicle is transferred and a jolt or shock experienced by an occupant is reduced.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle, comprising:
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one or more sensors sensing an environment surrounding the vehicle; a vehicle control system autonomously controlling a braking function of the vehicle; a processor in communication with the one or more sensors and the vehicle control system, the processor programmed to; identify an object within the environment via information received from the one or more sensors; determine, based on the information received from the one or more sensors, that the object is about to collide with the vehicle; determine a location of other objects in proximity to the vehicle; determine, prior to a collision with the object and based on the location of the other objects in proximity to the vehicle, an escape path and escape angle for the vehicle to follow upon colliding with the object; determine, based on the information received from the one or more sensors, to control the braking function of the vehicle to reduce a force of impact when colliding with the object; disengage the braking function of the vehicle prior to and during a collision with the object; and control autonomously a steering function of the vehicle to steer the vehicle at the escape angle and along the escape path around the other objects in proximity to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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sensing an environment surrounding a vehicle by one or more sensors; sending sensor information to a processor; identifying, by the processor and based on the sensor information received from the one or more sensors, an object within the environment; determining, by the processor and based on the information received from the one or more sensors, that the object is about to collide with the vehicle; determining, by the processor, a location of other objects in proximity to the vehicle; determining, by the processor prior to a collision with the object and based on the location of the other objects in proximity to the vehicle, an escape path and an escape angle for the vehicle to follow upon colliding with the object; determining, by the processor and based on the information received from the one or more sensors, to autonomously control a braking function of the vehicle to reduce a force of impact when colliding with the object; disengaging the braking function of the vehicle prior to and during a collision with the object; and controlling, autonomously by the processor, a steering function of the vehicle to steer the vehicle at the escape angle and along the escape path around the other objects in proximity to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory information storage media having stored thereon one or more instructions, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
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sensing an environment surrounding a vehicle by one or more sensors; sending sensor information to the processor; identifying, by the processor and based on the sensor information received from the one or more sensors, an object within the environment; determining, by the processor and based on the information received from the one or more sensors, that the object is about to collide with the vehicle; determining, by the processor, a location of other objects in proximity to the vehicle; determining, by the processor prior to a collision with the object and based on the location of the other objects in proximity to the vehicle, an escape path and an escape angle for the vehicle to follow upon colliding with the object; determining, by the processor and based on the information received from the one or more sensors, to autonomously control a braking function of the vehicle to reduce a force of impact when colliding with the object; disengaging the braking function of the vehicle prior to and during a collision with the object; and controlling, autonomously by the processor, a steering function of the vehicle to steer the vehicle at the escape angle and along the escape path around the other objects in proximity to the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification