METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRIVER CONTROL OF A LIMITED-ABILITY AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE

• US 20090287367A1
• Filed: 05/01/2009
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2008
• 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: Salinger, Jeremy A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,374,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS

Abstract

A vehicle system for providing an interface for driver control of at least a partially autonomous vehicle. The system includes a driver command processor that receives request signals from a driver interface device of the driver'"'"'s desire for the vehicle system to take certain actions and sends appropriate signals in response thereto to the proper autonomous vehicle systems. The driver command processor also sends signal to a display device indicating available actions, acknowledgement of the driver request, status of actions being taken or to be taken, etc.

Claims

1. A vehicle system for providing control between a vehicle driver and at least a partially autonomous driving system, said vehicle system comprising:

at least one driver interface device that allows the vehicle driver to input driving request signals for specific vehicle maneuvers;

a display device for displaying requests and operations of the vehicle system; and

a driver command processor responsive to the driving request signals, said driver command processor providing driving signals to the autonomous driving system that cause the autonomous driving system to autonomously operate the vehicle to perform maneuvers in response to the driving signals and providing signals to the display device for displaying selected vehicle operations.

2. The vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one driver interface device includes an interface device having a plurality of buttons where each button provides a particular driving maneuver.

3. The vehicle system according to claim 2 wherein the plurality of buttons on the interface device are arranged in an arrow type configuration where buttons for forward vehicle requests are at the front of the arrow, buttons for slower vehicle requests are towards the back of the arrow, buttons for left vehicle requests are at the left side of the arrow and buttons for right vehicle requests are at the right side of the arrow.

4. The vehicle system according to claim 3 wherein the plurality of buttons include one or more of a button for a continue in the present lane request, a button for a speed up request, a button for a follow more closely request, a button for a change lane to the left request, a button for a turn left request, a button for a merge left request, a button for a following a left fork request, a button for a slow down request, a button for a follow farther back request, a button for a change lane to the right request, a button for a turn right request, a button for a merge right request, a button for a follow right fork request and a button for a stop request.

5. The vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one driver interface device includes an interface device having a plurality of buttons including a button for a turn left into a next drive request, a button for a parallel park in the next spot on the left request, a button for an angle park in the next spot on the left request, a button for a turn right into next drive request, a button for a parallel park in next spot on the right request, and a button for an angle park in next spot on the right request.

6. The vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one driver interface device includes a shaped device that provides driver requests by moving the shaped device left, right, forward, backward, up, down and rotationally.

7. The vehicle system according to claim 6 wherein the shaped device is a toy car.

8. The vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein the at least one driver interface device includes a joy stick that provides driver requests by moving the joy stick left, right, forward, backward or rotationally.

9. The vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein the at least partially autonomous driving system includes an autonomous driving coordinator that coordinates the driver request signals and other data for autonomous driving sub-systems.

10. The vehicle system according to claim 9 wherein the other data includes traffic flow assessment data, road assessment data and driver attentiveness data.

11. The vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein the display device displays options for various driving maneuvers that the driver can select.

12. The vehicle system according to claim 1 wherein the driver command processor receives signals identifying driver-requested vehicle braking, vehicle steering and vehicle throttle control.

13. A vehicle system for providing control between a vehicle driver and at least a partially autonomous driving system, said vehicle system comprising:

at least one driver interface device that allows the driver to input driving request signals, said at least one driver interface device including an interface device having a plurality of buttons where each button provides a particular driving maneuver, and wherein the plurality of buttons are arranged so that buttons for forward vehicle requests are towards the front of the interface device, buttons for slower vehicle requests are towards the back of the interface device, buttons for left vehicle requests are towards the left side of the interface device and buttons for right vehicle requests are towards the right side of the interface device;

a display device for displaying operations of the vehicle system and options for the driver to select various driving maneuvers; and

a driver command processor responsive to the driving request signals, said driver command processor providing signals to the autonomous driving system that cause the autonomous driving system to autonomously operate the vehicle in response to the driving signals and providing signals to the display device for displaying selected vehicle operations;

14. The vehicle system according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of buttons include one or more of a button for a continue in the present lane request, a button for a speed up request, a button for a follow more closely request, a button for a change lane to the left request, a button for a turn left request, a button for a merge left request, a button for a following a left fork request, a button for a slow down request, a button for a follow farther back request, a button for a change lane to the right request, a button for a turn right request, a button for a merge right request, a button for a follow right fork request and a button for a stop request.

15. The vehicle system according to claim 13 wherein the at least one driver interface includes an interface device having a plurality of buttons including a button for a turn left into a next drive request, a button for a parallel park in the next spot on the left request, a button for an angle park in the next spot on the left request, a button for a turn right into next drive request, a button for a parallel park in next spot on the right request, and a button for an angle park in next spot on the right request.

16. The vehicle system according to claim 13 wherein the at least partially autonomous driving system includes an autonomous driving coordinator that coordinates the driver request signals and other data for autonomous driving sub-systems.

17. The vehicle system according to claim 16 wherein the other data includes traffic flow assessment data, road assessment data and driver attentiveness data that may override the autonomous driving.

18. The vehicle system according to claim 13 wherein the driver command processor receives signals identifying driver-requested vehicle braking, vehicle steering and vehicle throttle control.

19. The vehicle system according to claim 13 wherein the at least one driver interface device includes a joy stick that provides driver commands by moving the joy stick left, right, forward or backward.

20. The vehicle system according to claim 13 wherein the at least one driver interface device includes a shaped device that provides driver requests by moving the shaped device left, right, forward, backward, up, down and rotationally.