VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20010014846A1
• Filed: 07/02/1998
• Published: 08/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: IIHOSHI, AKIRA, SAWAMOTO, KIICHIROU
• Granted Patent: US 6,311,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/96
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0008 including means for detecting potential obstacles in vehicle path
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/20 Direction indicator values
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal

Abstract

A vehicle control system for controlling its own vehicle to follow another vehicle in pursuit has a radar unit. The radar unit has function for detecting a relative distance from its own vehicle to a front vehicle in front of its own vehicle and a relative speed of the front vehicle with respect to its own vehicle, and outputting information representing the relative distance and the relative speed. A lane change detector detects a lane change which is made by its own vehicle and outputs a lane change signal indicative of the lane change. A processor estimates a future lane or path for its own vehicle from the lane change signal from the lane change detector, unlocks a preceding vehicle which its own vehicle has followed, and determines a new preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to lock on based on the estimated future lane or path and the information outputted by the radar unit.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system for controlling its own vehicle to follow another vehicle, comprising:

a radar unit for detecting a relative distance from its own vehicle to a front vehicle in front of its own vehicle and a relative speed of the front vehicle with respect to its own vehicle, and outputting information representing the relative distance and the relative speed;

a lane change detector for detecting a lane change which is made by its own vehicle and outputting a lane change signal indicative of said lane change; and

a processor for estimating a future lane or path for its own vehicle from present running states of its own vehicle and the lane change signal from said lane change detector, and determining a preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to follow based on the estimated future lane or path and the information outputted by said radar unit.

2. A vehicle control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said processor comprises means for determining a vehicle closest to its own vehicle in the estimated future lane or path therefor, as a preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to follow based on the estimated future lane or path and the information outputted by said radar unit.

3. A vehicle control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said lane change detector comprises a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of its own vehicle and means for outputting said lane change signal when the detected steering angle is greater than a predetermined threshold.

4. A vehicle control system according to

claim 1

, wherein said lane change detector comprises a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of its own vehicle and means for outputting said lane change signal when the detected yaw rate is greater than a predetermined threshold.

5. A vehicle control system for controlling its own vehicle to follow another vehicle, comprising:

a radar unit for detecting a relative distance from its own vehicle to a front vehicle in front of its own vehicle and a relative speed of the front vehicle with respect to its own vehicle, and outputting information representing the relative distance and the relative speed;

a lane change detector for detecting a lane change which is made by its own vehicle and outputting a lane change signal indicative of said lane change; and

a processor for estimating a future lane or path for its own vehicle from present running states of its own vehicle, determining a preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to follow based on the estimated future lane or path and the information outputted by said radar unit, and preventing its own vehicle from following said preceding vehicle in response to the lane change signal outputted by said lane change detector.

6. A vehicle control system according to

claim 5

, wherein said lane change detector comprises a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of its own vehicle and means for outputting said lane change signal when the detected steering angle is greater than a predetermined threshold.

7. A vehicle control system according to

claim 5

, wherein said lane change detector comprises a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of its own vehicle and means for outputting said lane change signal when the detected yaw rate is greater than a predetermined threshold.

8. A vehicle control system for controlling its own vehicle to follow another vehicle, comprising:

a radar unit for detecting a relative distance from its own vehicle to a front vehicle in front of its own vehicle and a relative speed of the front vehicle with respect to its own vehicle, and outputting information representing the relative distance and the relative speed;

a lane change detector for detecting a lane change which is made by its own vehicle and outputting a lane change signal indicative of said lane change; and

a processor for estimating a future lane or path for its own vehicle from the lane change signal from said lane change detector, unlocking a preceding vehicle which its own vehicle has followed, and determining a new preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to lock on based on the estimated future lane or path and the information outputted by said radar unit.

9. A vehicle control system according to

claim 8

, wherein said processor comprises means for determining a vehicle closest to its own vehicle in the estimated future lane or path therefor, as a new preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to lock on based on the estimated future lane or path and the information outputted by said radar unit.

10. A vehicle control system according to

claim 8

, wherein said lane change detector comprises a steering angle sensor for detecting a steering angle of its own vehicle and means for outputting said lane change signal when the detected steering angle is greater than a predetermined threshold.

11. A vehicle control system according to

claim 8

wherein said lane change detector comprises a yaw rate sensor for detecting a yaw rate of its own vehicle and means for outputting said land change signal when the detected yaw rate is greater than a predetermined threshold.

12. A method for controlling its own vehicle to follow another vehicle, comprising the steps of:

detecting a relative distance from its own vehicle to a front vehicle in front of its own vehicle and a relative speed of the front vehicle with respect to its own vehicle, and outputting information representing the relative distance and the relative speed;

detecting a lane change which is made by its own vehicle and outputting a lane change signal indicative of said lane change; and

estimating a future lane or path for its own vehicle from present running states of its own vehicle and the lane change signal, and determining a preceding vehicle which its own vehicle is to follow based on an estimated future lane or path and the information requesting the relative distance and relative speed.