Vehicle drive override subsystem

• US 20020016653A1
• Filed: 08/02/2001
• Published: 02/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfred B. Levine
• Original Assignee: Alfred B. Levine
• Inventors: Levine, Alfred B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,721,644 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/00 Vehicle fittings, acting on a single sub-unit only, for automatically controlling vehicle speed, i.e. preventing speed from exceeding an arbitrarily established velocity or maintaining speed at a particular velocity, as selected by the vehicle operator fittings acting on two or more sub-units B60W30/14; speedometers G01P; systems or devices for controlling speed in general G05D13/00 ; in traffic anti-collision system for road vehicles G08G1/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 31/0058 responsive to externally generated signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/35 Road bumpiness, e.g. potholes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/40 Coefficient of friction
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/406 Traffic density
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/60 Traffic rules, e.g. speed limits or right of way
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/30 Arrangements interacting with transmitters or receivers otherwise than by visible means, e.g. using radar reflectors or radio transmitters E01F11/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/01 Detecting movement of traffic to be counted or controlled G08G1/07 - G08G1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 : where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096783 : where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 : Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

An electronic subsystem for automotive vehicles for overriding the manual control of the vehicles and substituting limited automatic control in response to onboard sensors detecting external and internal conditions that are in violation of the traffic laws or adverse to the normal manually controlled operation of the vehicle. Traffic laws and regulations are digitally detected from the vehicle by wireless acquisition, and the vehicle is automatically controlled to insure compliance. The system detects adverse environmental conditions, including degraded traction and visibility, proximity of other vehicles and objects, uncontrolled vehicle movements, including skidding and fishtailing, and others, and overrides the manual control of the vehicle to minimize the effects of such conditions. The system also provides for monitoring traffic flow along roadways and wirelessly regulating such flow.

Claims

1. A hybrid control system for automotive vehicles that permits manual control of the vehicle unless and until traffic laws have been violated or driving hazards exist, including adverse weather conditions, and in response thereto overriding the manual control and substituting limited automatic control of the vehicle, comprising:

an onboard system for the vehicle having a controller and a plurality of sensor means coupled to the conytoller for detecting various driving conditions affecting operation of the vehicle,

said plural sensor means including a sensor for continually detecting traffic laws and regulations as the vehicle proceeds from location to location,

a weather sensor means for detecting adverse weather conditions affecting the safe driving of the vehicle,

a proximity sensor means for detecting the nearby presence of other vehicles and objects that may present a hazard to the vehicle, and

a movement sensor means for detecting uncontrolled movement of the vehicle, including skidding of the vehicle,

aaid controller responding to said plurality of sensors to override the manual control of the vehicle and substitute limited automatic control of the vehicle movement, speed, and rate of acceleration to comply with the traffic laws and regulations and to compensate for the detected conditions that adversely affect the driving of the vehicle.

2. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

said sensor means for detecting the traffic laws and regulations detecting a requirements to stop the vehicle at an intersections, and in response overriding the manually control of the vehicle to automatically bring the vehicle to a stop at said intersection.

3. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

said sensor means for detecting the traffic laws and regulations continually detecting the speed limits for different locations, and in response thereto energizing the controller to override the manual control of the vehicle to limit its maximum speed to the limit.

4. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

said sensor means for detecting the proximity of other vehicles, and objects, and in response, thereto energizing the controller to override the manual control of the vehicle to limit vehicle movements in the path of such other vehicles and objects.

5. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

said sensor means detecting adverse weather conditions including detecting reduced wheel traction with the road and detecting reduced optical vision in advance of the vehicle, and in response thereto energizing the controller to override the manual control of the vehicle to limit the vehicle maximum speed and its rate of acceleration.

6. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

said sensor means detecting uncontrolled movements of the vehicle, including skidding, and in response thereto energizing the controller to override the manual control of the vehicle to limit its maximum speed and its rate of acceleration.

7. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

said weather sensor for detecting adverse weather conditions affecting the driving of the vehicle including means for detecting reduced wheel traction of the vehicle with the road.

8. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

said sensor means for detecting weather conditions affecting the driving of the vehicle including means for detecting impaired optical visibility in front of the vehicle.

9. In the hybrid system of claim 1,

the addition of onboard alerting means within the vehicle, including an audible announcer, for notifying the vehicle occupants that override of the vehicle'"'"'s manual control system has occurred and the reasons therefore.

10. A hybrid system for automotive vehicles for overriding driver control of a vehicle only to comply with traffic laws and only to compensate for roadway and traffic conditions that are hazardess to the vehicle comprising:

An onboard control for overriding the driver controlled speed of the vehicle and its rate of acceleration, and a plurality of sensors energizing the onboard control,

A traffic law sensor continually detecting traffic laws and regulations as the vehicle proceeds,

A vehicle movement sensor monitoring the movements of the vehicle,

A roadway and weather sensor for detecting degraded roadway conditions and reduced visability ahead of the vehicle,

an uncontrolled movement sensor for detecting skidding of the vehicle and other

uncontrolled movements,

and a proximity sensor for detecting other vehicles and objects near the vehicle,

said onboard control responding to said series of sensors to override the manual control of

the vehicle and regulate its maximum speed, acceleration, and movement to comply with

the traffic laws and regulations, to reduce the vehicle speed and acceleration for degraded

roadway, reduced visability condition, and uncontrolled vehicle movements.

11. A road by road cellular system for regulating the maximum speed and acceleration-deceleration of a vehicle having a fuel control feed and braking subsystem, and regulating the stopping of the vehicle as required by traffic laws and regulations,

an onboard control system for the vehicle that is connectable to the vehicle fuel control feed and braking subsystems for regulating the vehicle maximum speed, acceleration, and stopping,

a cellular system of digitally coded traffic signs containing the traffic laws and regulations, dispersed at spaced apart locations along the streets and roads,

said digitally coded signs being remotely readable by said moving vehicle passing along said streets and roads, thereby to communicated the traffic laws and regulations to said moving vehicle,

said control system responding when the content of said signs require stopping of the vehicle to override the manual control of the vehicle to stop the vehicle, and said control system responding when the vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit set forth on said signs to override the manual control of the vehicle and regulate its maximum speed and acceleration.

12. In the cellular system of claim 11,

said digitally coded signs being read by a reader onboard the vehicle for remotely reading the content of said signs.

13. In the system of claim 11,

the addition of an onboard sensor for sensing the tractive condition of the streets

and roads in advance of the vehicle to override the manual control of the vehicle

and limit its maximum speed according to the sensed tractive condition.

14. In the system of claim 11,

the addition of an onboard sensor for sensing the optical visibility ahead of the vehicle and overriding the manual control of the vehicle to limit its maximum speed in relation to reduced visibility.

15. In the system of claim 11,

the addition of a proximity sensor for detecting the nearby position of another vehicle or objects to restrict movement of the vehicle in the path of said detected vehicle or object.

16. In the system of claim 11,

the addition of an onboard sensor for remotely detecting a digitallycoded traffic sign at the roadside requiring stopping of the vehicle, for overriding the manual control of the vehicle and bringing it to a stop.

17. In the system of claim 11,

the overriding of the manual system to stop the vehicle being calibrated according to the manufacturer established stopping characteristics of the vehicle, and being additionally responsive to the speed of the vehicle when detecting the the coded traffic requirment to stop to regulate the degree of braking of the vehicle to bring it to a stop.

19. In the subsystem of claim 18,

said controller including a time delay means energized by the error signal to delay subsequent changes in fuel flow to the vehicle, initiated by the driver, in response to the detected condition.

20. In the subsystem of claim 18,

said controller including a fuel flow modifier energized by the error signal to reduce the quantity of fuel subsequently initiated by the driver'"'"'s manual control, in response to the detected error signal.

21. In the subsystem of claim 18,

the addition of means for remotely monitoring the vehicle'"'"'s traffic movement along a road,

said means comprising a wireless beam transmitter onboard the vehicle, and a roadside monitoring receiver for receiving and analyzing the beam from the moving vehicle.

22. In the subsystem of claim 18,

the addition of means for remotely monitoring the movement of the vehicle along a road by a roadside monitor, and remotely controlling the movement of the vehicle under the control of the roadside monitor to regulate traffic flow along the road.

23. In the subsystem of claim 18,

said vehicle having a braking subsystem and said controller being connectable to said braking subsystem,

said controller being energized by said error signal to additionally activate the braking subsystem upon receiving a detected requirement to slow and stop the vehicle.

24. In the subsystem of claim 18,

said detected restrictive condition including sensor means for detecting the proximity of another vehicle in the path of said vehicle at a road intersection, to generate a control signal, and

said controller responsive to said control signal to inhibit movement of the vehicle.

25. In the subsystem of claim 18, said restrictive traffic condition including one of a requirement to stop the vehicle and control its maximum speed.

27. In the subsystem of claim 26,

said controller including a time delay energized by said error signal to adjustably time delay the acceleration-deceleration response of the vehicle to actuation by the driver.

28. In the subsystem of claim 26,

said controller including a reduction means energized by said error signal to adjustably reduce the extent of acceleration-decelaration response of the vehicle to actuation by the driver.

29. In the subsystem of claim 26,

said controller including a time delay means and a magnitude modifier means, both energized by the error signal, to both time delay and change the extent of acceleration-deceleration response of the vehicle to actuation by the driver according to the detected restrictive condition.

30. In the system of claim 26,

the addition of means for monitoring the movement of said vehicle along a road,

said means comprising a wireless beam transmitter onboard the vehicle for transmitting a beam, and a roadside receiver-monitor for receiving the beam and monitoring the movement of the vehicle.

31. In the subsystem of claim 26,

the addition of means for monitoring the movement of said vehicle along a road, and selectively overriding the manually controlled operation of the vehicle by remote control,

said means comprising a wireless transmitter onboard the vehicle for generating a radiant beam, and a roadside receiver-monitor for receiving the beam and monitoring the movement of the vehicle,

and said roadside receiver-monitor selectively generating a radiant wireless control signal to override the driver operated control of the vehicle, and regulating means onboard the vehicle and coupled to the controller to receive the radiant control signal to override the manual control of the vehicle.

32. In the subsystem of claim 26,

said sensor means including a proximity detecting sensor for detecting the nearby presence of other vehicles or object in the path of said vehicle, and generating a proximity signal,

and said controller energized by said proximity signal to inhibit the vehicle from crossing the path of the detected other vehicle or object

18. A performance modifying subsystem for driver operated automotive vehicles that responds to driver controlled fuel flow to accelerate-decelerate the vehicle, comprising:

sensor means onboard the vehicle for detecting a restrictive condition affecting the vehicle including one of a restrictive traffic regulation, an adverse environmental condition, and an uncontrolled movement of the vehicle, to generate an error signal,

a controller onboard the vehicle and connectable to the driver controlled fuel flow of the vehicle,

said controller being energized by the error signal to modify the the fuel flow response of the vehicle corresponding to the detected condition, thereby to modify the acceleration-deceleration performance of the vehicle in response to the detected condition.

26. A performance modifying subsystem for driver operated automotive vehicles,

Sensor means onboard the vehicle for detecting a restrictive condition including one of a restrictive traffic regulation, adverse environmental condition, and uncontrolled movement of the vehicle, to generate an error signal,

A controller on board the vehicle and connectable to regulate the degree of acceleration-deceleration of the vehicle,

Said controller being energized by the error signal to modify the acceleration-deceleration response of the vehicle to operation by the driver,

Thereby to compensate for the restrictive condition detected by the sensor means.

33. A vehicle modifying subsystem for a driver operated automotive vehicle enabling the driver to normally control the acceleration-deceleration of the vehicle but imposing limited reductions in the extent of acceleration-deceleration in response to detected adverse conditions affecting the safety of the vehicle and its occupants, said adverse conditions including one of restrictive traffic regulations, adverse external environment, and uncontrolled movements of the vehicle, said subsystem comprising:

sensor means onboard of the vehicle for detecting said adverse condition,

performance modifying means adapted to be coupled to the vehicle for controlling its acceleration-deceleration,

said performance modifying means energized by said sensor means to reduce the acceleration-deceleration of the vehicle responsively to said detected adverse condition,

whereby the driver controlled performance of the vehicle is diminished to compensate for the detected adverse condition.

34. In the subsystem of claim 33,

said performance modifying means including a time delay and a magnitude reducer,

thereby to time delay and reduce the extent of acceleration-deceleration of the vehicle responsive to driver controlled operation.

36. In the subsystem of claim 35,

said proximity sensor detecting other vehicles at a street intersection that are proceeding in a potential intersection path with said vehicle, to energize said controller to inhibit movement of said vehicle into said path.

38. In the system of claim 37,

said receiving means comprising a wireless beam transmitter at road locations synchronized with the operation of a nearby road traffic light for wirelessly transmitting the content of the digitally coded instructions to said receiver on board the vehicle.

39. In the system of claim 37,

said receiving means comprising a digitally coded road sign containing said coded instructions, and said receiver on board the vehicle including a wireless reader for remotely reading the content of said digitally coded sign.

35. An override subsystem for automatically overriding the performance of a driver controlled automotive vehicle, said override subsystem being responsive to detected adverse conditions affecting the safety of the vehicle and its occupants,

said subsystem comprising a plurality of onboard sensors for detecting external and internal conditions affecting the vehicle including adverse external weather conditions including impaired optical visibility and reduced traction, excessive vehicle speed over the speed limit, uncontrolled movements of the vehicle including skidding, traffic requirements to stop, and proximity of other vehicles,

a controller adapted to be connected to the operating system for the vehicle,

said controller being energized by said sensors to override the driver controlled operation of the vehicle to a limited extent necessary to compensate for said detected adverse conditions.

37. An automatic system for driver controlled automotive vehicles to require the vehicle to comply with traffic laws comprising:

a cellular system of digitally coded traffic law instructions dispersed at spaced apart locations along roads traveled by said vehicle,

each digitally coded instruction identifying the traffic laws and regulations in effect at that one of the locations,

the content of said instructions being one of a requirement to stop the vehicle and a requirement to limit the maximum speed of the moving vehicle,

means including a receiver onboard of the vehicle for wirelessly receiving the content of said digitally coded traffic law instructions from the different locations as the vehicle proceeds,

and a controller onboard of the vehicle that is energized by said receiver and adapted to be connected to said vehicle to automatically control the stopping and movement of the vehicle responsively to the content of said received digitally coded instructions.