Lane change advisor

• US 10,514,457 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2017
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Talamonti, Walter Joseph, Szwabowski, Steven Joseph, Tijerina, Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Camby, Richard M
• Application Number:
  US15/608,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20180284266A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/161 Explanation of functions, e.g. instructions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/172 Driving mode indication
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/179 Distances to obstacles or vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/23 Head-up displays [HUD] optical aspects of head-up displays G02B27/01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/25 using haptic output
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/406 Traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/80 Spatial relation or speed relative to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/16 : Tactile feedback to the driver, e.g. vibration or force feedback to the driver on the steering wheel or the accelerator pedal
• 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 15/0255 : Automatic changing of lane, e.g. for passing another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/029 : Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 : of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/932 : using own vehicle data, e.g. ground speed, steering wheel direction
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/01 : Head-up displays
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0212 : with means for defining a desired trajectory involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 : Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 : where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096822 : where the segments of the route are transmitted to the vehicle at different locations and times
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/16 : Anti-collision systems road vehicle drive control systems for predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision otherwise than by control of a particular sub-unit B60W30/08
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 : event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 : Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 : for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 : Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 : Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A computing device in a vehicle, programmed to pilot a vehicle by adaptive cruise control and determine a lane change maneuver based on the adaptive cruise control and determined traffic in an adjacent lane. The computing device can display a prompt to an occupant based on the lane change maneuver.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

while piloting a vehicle by adaptive cruise control;

determining a lane change maneuver based on the adaptive cruise control and determined traffic in an adjacent lane; and

displaying a prompt to an occupant based on the lane change maneuver, including displaying a safe field of travel based on an available lateral acceleration, wherein the available lateral acceleration is a function of a coefficient of friction and a longitudinal acceleration, and the safe field of travel is further based on factors including an intended lane change distance and a lane change maneuver time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein piloting a vehicle by adaptive cruise control includes controlling the vehicle to maintain a target speed.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein controlling the vehicle to maintain the target speed does not include braking to a stop.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the traffic in the adjacent lane including by determining position, speed, and direction of one or more other vehicles.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the lane change maneuver includes determining a merge into traffic in the adjacent lane.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the prompt includes delivering a haptic output via a steering wheel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein a force and a frequency of the haptic output is based on the lane change maneuver.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the prompt includes displaying a visual prompt including turn signal blinking.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a frequency and a direction of the visual prompt is based on the lane change maneuver.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the prompt includes sounding an audio alert.

11. A computer apparatus, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, such that the computer is programmed to:

pilot a vehicle by adaptive cruise control;

determine a lane change maneuver based on the adaptive cruise control and determined traffic in an adjacent lane; and

display a prompt to an occupant based on the lane change maneuver, including displaying a safe field of travel based on an available lateral acceleration, wherein the available lateral acceleration is a function of a coefficient of friction and a longitudinal acceleration, and the safe field of travel is further based on factors including an intended lane change distance and a lane change maneuver time.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, the computer further programmed to pilot the vehicle by adaptive cruise control including controlling the vehicle to maintain a target speed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, the computer further programmed to control the vehicle to maintain the target speed without braking to a stop.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, the computer further programmed to determine traffic in the adjacent lane including by determining position, speed, and direction of one or more other vehicles.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, the computer further programmed to determine the lane change maneuver by determining a merge into traffic in the adjacent lane.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, the computer further programmed to display the prompt by delivering a haptic output via a steering wheel.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein a force and a frequency of the haptic output is based on the lane change maneuver.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, the computer further programmed to display the prompt by displaying a visual prompt including turn signal blinking.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein a frequency and a direction of the visual prompt is based on the lane change maneuver.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, the computer further programmed to display the prompt by sounding an audio alert.