GRID UNLOCK

• US 20110190972A1
• Filed: 02/02/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Altan, Osman D., Timmons, Adam T.
• Application Number:
  US12/698,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20110190972A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A method to operate a vehicle during a grid-lock traffic condition includes monitoring a vehicle speed, tracking a target vehicle in proximity of the vehicle including monitoring a range to the target vehicle, monitoring activation of a grid unlock mode when the vehicle speed is less than a threshold grid-lock speed, monitoring a location of the vehicle based upon data from a GPS device, monitoring a distance envelope with respect to the vehicle, and controlling operation of the vehicle while the vehicle speed remains less than the threshold grid-lock speed based upon the vehicle speed, the range to the target vehicle, the location of the vehicle, and the distance envelope. Controlling operation of the vehicle includes controlling acceleration of the vehicle, controlling braking of the vehicle, and controlling steering of the vehicle.

Claims

1. Method to operate a vehicle during a grid-lock traffic condition, the method comprising:

monitoring a vehicle speed;

tracking a target vehicle including monitoring a range to the target vehicle;

when the vehicle speed is less than a threshold grid-lock speed, monitoring activation of a grid unlock mode;

monitoring a location of the vehicle based upon data from a GPS device;

monitoring a distance envelope with respect to the vehicle; and

while the vehicle speed remains less than the threshold grid-lock speed, controlling operation of the vehicle, including vehicle acceleration, braking and steering, based upon the vehicle speed, the range to the target vehicle, the location of the vehicle, and the distance envelope.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring operation of a traffic signal;

and

wherein controlling operation of the vehicle is further based upon the monitored operation of the traffic signal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring activation of a grid unlock mode comprises:

determining conditions for activation of the grid unlock mode to be met based upon the vehicle speed and the range to the target vehicle;

presenting a grid unlock mode option through a human machine interface device; and

monitoring selection of the grid unlock mode option through the human machine interface device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating the controlling operation of the vehicle based upon no target vehicle remaining within the proximity of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising terminating the controlling operation of the vehicle when no target vehicle is blocking acceleration of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the range to the target vehicle to the distance envelope; and

generating a warning when the target vehicle is within the distance envelope.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the distance envelope with respect to the vehicle comprises:

computing a time to collision estimate for the target vehicle;

comparing the time to collision estimate to a threshold time to collision; and

indicating the distance envelope to be violated based upon the comparing.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring the distance envelope with respect to the vehicle comprises:

monitoring a range distance in front of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein monitoring the distance envelope with respect to the vehicle further comprises:

monitoring range distances to the sides of the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein monitoring the distance envelope with respect to the vehicle further comprises:

monitoring a range distance to the rear of the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring an input to a driver control of the vehicle; and

terminating the controlling operation of the vehicle based upon the monitored input indicating a driver override.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing the controlled operation of the vehicle to a safe condition threshold; and

generating a warning based upon the comparing.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

navigating the vehicle to a road shoulder based upon the comparing.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a planned route for the vehicle;

and

wherein controlling operation of the vehicle is further based upon the planned route for the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling steering comprising maintaining a present lane of travel.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a likelihood of collision based upon the vehicle speed, the range to the target vehicle, and the location of the vehicle;

and

wherein controlling operation of the vehicle is further based upon the likelihood of collision.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring voice commands;

and

wherein the controlled operation of the vehicle is further based upon the monitored voice commands.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring vehicle to vehicle communications;

and

wherein the controlled operation of the vehicle is further based upon the monitored vehicle to vehicle communications.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring vehicle to infrastructure communications;

and

wherein the controlled operation of the vehicle is further based upon the monitored vehicle to infrastructure communications.

20. System for controlling a vehicle upon a roadway at slow speeds and in heavy traffic, the system comprising:

a sensing device tracking a target vehicle in proximity to the vehicle;

a global positioning device determining a position of the vehicle relative to a digital map; and

a control module;

monitoring conditions indicating a grid-lock condition;

monitoring selection of a grid unlock mode selector through a human machine interface device;

monitoring a speed of the vehicle;

monitoring data from the sensing device tracking the target vehicle;

monitoring data from the global positioning device;

determining a distance envelope for the vehicle based upon the speed of the vehicle, the data from the sensing device, and the data from the global positioning device; and

controlling vehicle acceleration, braking and steering based upon the distance envelope and the data from the global positioning device.