Autonomous ready vehicle
First Claim
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1. A vehicle including:
- a plurality of ground engaging members;
at least one electric motor coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members, the electric motor configured to drive the plurality of ground engaging members;
a communication network having a plurality of vehicle devices coupled thereto, the plurality of vehicle devices comprising a control module configured to control the at least one electric motor and a plurality of sensors configured to determine a terrain being traversed by the vehicle;
a vehicle control unit coupled to the communication network and able to control a first subset of the plurality of devices via the communication network to effect vehicle operation;
the vehicle control unit operable to receive input from a second subset of the vehicle devices via the network and to control the first subset of the plurality of devices responsive to the input received from the second subset of vehicle devices, input from the second subset of vehicle devices being indicative of operator interaction with one or more of the vehicle devices; and
an autonomous vehicle controller such that the autonomous vehicle controller is able to effect vehicle operation via the control module controlling the at least one electric motor based on the terrain being traversed and independent of input from the second subset of vehicle devices.
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Abstract
A system and method for interfacing an autonomous or remote control drive-by-wire controller with a vehicle'"'"'s control modules. Vehicle functions including steering, braking, starting, etc. are controllable by wire via a control network. A CAN architecture is used as an interface between the remote/autonomous controller and the vehicle'"'"'s control modules. A CAN module interface provides communication between a vehicle control system and a supervisory, remote, autonomous, or drive-by-wire controller. The interface permits the supervisory control to control vehicle operation within pre-determined bounds and using control algorithms.
26 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A vehicle including:
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a plurality of ground engaging members; at least one electric motor coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members, the electric motor configured to drive the plurality of ground engaging members; a communication network having a plurality of vehicle devices coupled thereto, the plurality of vehicle devices comprising a control module configured to control the at least one electric motor and a plurality of sensors configured to determine a terrain being traversed by the vehicle; a vehicle control unit coupled to the communication network and able to control a first subset of the plurality of devices via the communication network to effect vehicle operation;
the vehicle control unit operable to receive input from a second subset of the vehicle devices via the network and to control the first subset of the plurality of devices responsive to the input received from the second subset of vehicle devices, input from the second subset of vehicle devices being indicative of operator interaction with one or more of the vehicle devices; andan autonomous vehicle controller such that the autonomous vehicle controller is able to effect vehicle operation via the control module controlling the at least one electric motor based on the terrain being traversed and independent of input from the second subset of vehicle devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 28)
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14. A method of providing autonomous vehicle operation including:
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providing a vehicle with (i) a plurality of ground engaging members, (ii) at least one electric motor coupled to the plurality of ground engaging members, the electric motor configured to drive the plurality of ground engaging members, and (iii) a communication network having a plurality of vehicle operation devices coupled thereto, the plurality of vehicle operation devices comprising a control module configured to control the at least one electric motor and a plurality of sensors configured to determine a position of the vehicle relative to positions of other vehicles and being capable of operating the vehicle, the plurality of vehicle operation devices including a first subset of devices that operate based upon instructions from a vehicle control unit, the plurality of vehicle operation devices including a second subset of devices that provide input to the vehicle control unit, the input being indicative of operator interaction with one or more of the vehicle devices; and effecting operation of the vehicle by an autonomous vehicle controller controlling the at least one electric motor via the control module based on the position of the vehicle relative to positions of other vehicles. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29)
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27. A computer readable media having non-transitory instructions thereon that when interpreted by a processor cause the processor to:
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provide instructions to a first subset of vehicle devices capable of operating a vehicle, the first subset of devices operate based upon instructions from a vehicle control unit, the instructions being provided via a vehicle communication network, and the first subset of devices comprising a plurality of sensors configured to determine conditions under which the vehicle is operating; receive input, via the communication network, from a second subset of vehicle devices, the input being indicative of operator interaction with one or more of the vehicle devices; and receive, via an interface to the communication network, input from an autonomous vehicle controller, thereby allowing the autonomous vehicle controller to control vehicle operation based on the conditions under which the vehicle is operation and independent of input from the second subset of vehicle devices.
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Specification