VEHICLE DRIVING ASSISTANCE

• US 20100312434A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Original Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Tno
• Inventors: Duringhof, Hans-Martin, Schutyser, Pieter Jan, Ploeg, Jeroen
• Granted Patent: US 8,428,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/42
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/125 Lateral acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0265 Automatic obstacle avoidance by steering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A vehicle (2) comprises sensor units (10) for collecting sensor data, and a processing unit (11) for processing the sensor data. A method of providing driving assistance information comprises the steps of: determining the cost (c) of pairs (30, 31, 32) of acceleration values on the basis of the sensor data, each pair of acceleration values representing a longitudinal (a Ion) and a lateral (a lat) acceleration of the vehicle,—selecting a pair (32) of least cost acceleration values, and—providing driving assistance information including the pair of least cost acceleration values. The processing unit (10) may be arranged for providing visible, audible and/or haptic driving assistance information to the driver of the vehicle, and/or for providing steering assistance.

Claims

1. A system for providing driving assistance information for a vehicle, the system comprising:

sensor units for collecting sensor data concerning the vehicle and its surroundings, and

a processing unit for;

determining a cost of pairs of acceleration values on a basis of the sensor data collected by the sensor units, each pair of acceleration values representing a longitudinal and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle,

selecting a pair of least cost acceleration values, and

providing driving assistance information including the pair of least cost acceleration values.

2. The system according to claim 1, the processing unit being arranged for determining the pair of least cost acceleration values by determining a cost of an initial set of pairs of acceleration values, determining a cost of surrounding pairs, and then selecting a pair, from the initial set and surrounding pairs, having the least cost.

3. The system according to claim 1, the initial set of pairs being predetermined.

4. The system according to claim 1, the acceleration values having discrete values.

5. The system according to claim 1, the processing unit being arranged for determining the cost of a pair by weighing sensor data.

6. The system according to claim 1, the processing unit being arranged for determining the cost of a pair by involving a set of factors including:

a position and a relative speed of another object, comfort of a driver, an occurrence of a collision, and/or properties of the vehicle.

7. The system according to claim 1, the processing unit being arranged to provide visible, audible and/or haptic driving assistance information for a driver of the vehicle.

8. The system according to claim 1, the processing unit being coupled to a steering unit to provide steering assistance.

9. The system according to claim 1, the processing unit being coupled to a braking unit in order to provide braking assistance.

10. A processing unit for use in a system according to claim 1.

11. A vehicle comprising a system according to claim 1.

12. A method of providing driving assistance information for a vehicle comprising sensor units for collecting sensor data concerning the vehicle and its surroundings, and a processing unit for processing the sensor data, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a cost of pairs of acceleration values on a basis of the sensor data collected by the sensor units, each pair of acceleration values representing a longitudinal and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle,

selecting a pair of least cost acceleration values, and

providing driving assistance information including the pair of least cost acceleration values.

13. The method according to claim 12, the acceleration values having discrete values.

14. The method according to claim 13, the initial set of pairs being predetermined.

15. A computer program product comprising computer-executable instructions that are configured to cause a programmable computer to carry out, for a vehicle comprising sensor units for collecting sensor data concerning the vehicle and its surroundings, the steps of:

determining a cost of pairs of acceleration values on a basis of the sensor data collected by the sensor units, each pair of acceleration values representing a longitudinal and a lateral acceleration of the vehicle,

selecting a pair of least cost acceleration values, and providing driving assistance information including the pair of least cost acceleration values.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, the acceleration values having discrete values.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, the initial set of pairs being predetermined.