Threat Assessment State Processing for Collision Warning, Mitigation and/or Avoidance in Ground-Based Vehicles

• US 20080167781A1
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Chundrlik, William J., Altan, Osman D., Green, Charles A., Labuhn, Pamela I., Balbale, Uzmaa H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,719,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0071 Controller overrides driver automatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/802 Longitudinal distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/08 Active safety systems predicting or avoiding probable or impending collision or attempting to minimise its consequences
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A method and apparatus is provided for detecting and avoiding an obstacle using a system of a vehicle. The method includes the steps of detecting a distance between the obstacle and the vehicle, generating an action when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a threshold, determining whether an override of the system has been initiated, and disabling the action if it is determined that the override has been initiated. The system includes an obstacle detector, an action generator, an override mechanism, and a processor configured to implement the steps of the method set forth above.

Claims

1. A method for detecting and avoiding an obstacle using a system of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a distance between the obstacle and the vehicle;

generating an action when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a threshold;

determining whether an override of the system has been initiated; and

disabling the action if it is determined that the override has been initiated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes brakes, and the action comprises applying the brakes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a powertrain, and the action comprises reducing power from the powertrain.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes brakes, and determining whether the override has been initiated comprises determining whether a driver of the vehicle is requesting application of the brakes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes an accelerator pedal, and determining whether the override has been initiated comprises determining whether a driver of the vehicle is applying the accelerator pedal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a second action when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a second threshold; and

disabling the second action if it is determined that the override has been initiated.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the vehicle includes a powertrain and brakes, and wherein:

the action comprises reducing power from the powertrain; and

the second action comprises applying the brakes.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of:

generating a warning when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a third threshold.

9. A method for detecting and avoiding an obstacle using a system of a vehicle, the vehicle including brakes and a powertrain, and the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a distance between the obstacle and the vehicle;

reducing power from the powertrain when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a first threshold;

applying the brakes when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a second threshold;

determining whether an override of the system has been initiated; and

at least performing one of restoring power from the powertrain and disabling the application of the brakes if it is determined that the override has been initiated.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the override has been initiated comprises determining whether a driver of the vehicle is requesting application of the brakes.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the vehicle also includes an accelerator pedal, and determining whether the override has been initiated comprises determining whether a driver of the vehicle is applying the accelerator pedal.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

generating a warning when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle is less than a third threshold.

13. A system of a vehicle for detecting and avoiding an obstacle, the system comprising:

an obstacle detector coupled to the vehicle and configured to detect a distance between the obstacle and the vehicle;

an action generator configured to generate an action;

an override mechanism configured to at least facilitate determining whether an override of the system has been initiated; and

a processor coupled to the obstacle detector, the action generator, and the override mechanism, the processor configured to (i) command the action generator to generate the action when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle detected by the obstacle detector is less than a threshold; and

(ii) disable the generated action if it is determined that the override has been initiated.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle has brakes, and the action comprises applying the brakes.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle has a powertrain, and the action comprises reducing power from the powertrain.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle has brakes, and determining whether the override has been initiated comprises determining whether a driver of the vehicle is requesting application of the brakes.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the vehicle has an accelerator pedal, and determining whether the override has been initiated comprises determining whether a driver of the vehicle is applying the accelerator pedal.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the action generator is further configured to generate a second action; and

the processor is further configured to (i) command the action generator to generate the second action when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle measured by the obstacle detector is less than a second threshold; and

(ii) disable the second action if it is determined that the override has been initiated.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the vehicle has a powertrain and brakes, and wherein:

the action comprises reducing power from the powertrain; and

the second action comprises applying the brakes.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the action generator is further configured to generate a warning; and

the processor is further configured to command the action generator to generate the warning when the distance between the obstacle and the vehicle detected by the obstacle detector is less than a third threshold.