Automated vehicle steering and braking

• US 20050115753A1
• Filed: 01/09/2003
• Published: 06/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Safeguard Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Safeguard Technology Limited
• Inventors: Pemberton, Martin, Aylward, Roger
• Application Number:
  US10/500,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20050115753A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/167
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/08 Lane monitoring; Lane Keeping Systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/083 using active brake actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/087 using active steering actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/28 non-mechanical , e.g. following a line or other known markers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0077 using redundant signals or controls
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle steering system, with multiple independent systems, employing different route referencing, such as a primary system (10), referring to a physical reference line (30), or multiple discrete markers; and a secondary system (20), referring to an independent reference store (18), expressed as a sequential instruction table, configured as an emergency backup, implemented upon failure of the primary system; the system allows coordinated vehicle steering and braking, for adherence to a prescribe route; multiple discrete route markers (66) allow route banding (62), and multiple routes (60A, 60B).

Claims

1. A vehicle steering or guidance system,

comprising a route marker,

disposed along, or in proximity to, a prescribed route,

and responsive to interrogation by a vehicle mounted transducer,

to provide vehicle route guidance and steering direction.

2. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with a route marker configured to respond to interrogation by, say, relay of route and/or traffic data.

3. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with a route marker configured as a continuous element, such as a cable, (flat) rail, strip, tape or band.

4. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with a route marker configured as multiple discrete elements,

laid in succession and mutually juxtaposed in relation to one another,

and one or more prescribed routes.

5. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with a combination of continuous and discrete route markers.

6. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with one or more notional continuous route pathways,

defined by multiple discrete pathway markers or marker beacons.

7. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

wherein individual markers comprise radio frequency (RF) identification (ID) tags,

with integral flash memory chips for read/write data storage.

8. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

wherein markers supplement, or are integrated within,

otherwise conventional reflective optical markers, such as ‘

cats-eyes’

.

9. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with route markers configured as magnetised identification tags,

with a localised ‘

field of influence’

,

allowing coding, by say polarisation, to reflect travel direction.

10. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with route markers disposed in a mutually staggered array,

that is with a lateral offset to straddle a notional route centre line reference.

11. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with multiple individual route markers configured for collective response,

in groups or cells defining a common sphere on influence.

12. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with multiple individual route marker disposition and frequency reflecting route complexity and convolution,

with, additional markers at tight route curvature or bends.

13. A vehicle steering system, as claimed claim 1,

with a default minimum, of say, ¾

discrete route markers, in close proximity,

imposed for a collective position fix,

with an on-board vehicle arbitrator to mediate therebetween.

14. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

wherein route marker functionality includes some or all of:

a) pre-program by passage of a reference vehicle over the route;

b) record vehicle ID and time of passage—

accessible to later traffic for collision avoidance and transit history;

c) interrogation facility for accident investigation;

d) interrogation for productivity/performance assessment and maintenance regime;

e) service as wayside beacons with bolstered transmit radiation mode;

f) selective grouping for route banding and multiple routing.

15. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

configured with backup redundancy,

through multiple independent steering systems.

16. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

with a facility for triggering emergency vehicle braking,

upon steering system failure.

18. A vehicle steering system, as claimed in claim 1,

wherein a prescribed route (50) is subdivided,

into sequential segments (36),

each accorded a respective steering instruction,

in relation to a preceding segment.

21. A vehicle incorporating a steering system, as claimed in claim 2.

17. An automated vehicle steering system,

comprising a primary module (10),

referring to a physical reference line (30),

or multiple discrete route markers (66);

and a secondary module (20),

referring to an independent reference store (18),

expressed as a sequential instruction table,

configured as an emergency backup,

implemented upon failure of the primary module.

19. A vehicle steering or guidance system,

comprising

a vehicle mounted transducer,

configured to interrogate one or more route markers,

disposed along, or in proximity to, a prescribed route,

and responsive to marker reply to such interrogation,

by providing vehicle route guidance and steering direction,

to a steering actuator.

20. (canceled)

22. An emergency combined steering and braking system, for a (road) vehicle,

using accumulated sequential pre-stored route data,

to determine current position and future steering action,

in order to follow a prescribed route,

and, in emergency circumstances, to trigger braking action,

consistent with vehicle route speed and onward route profile,

and thereby to bring the vehicle safely to a halt,

while preserving directional control,

and adherence to the prescribed route.