METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MODIFYING THE CONFIGURATION OF A DRIVING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20140309816A1
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Published: 10/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: STEFAN, Frederic, GUSSEN, Uwe, RAMBOW, Thomas, ARNDT, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 9,483,882 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/2
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modifying the configuration of a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle includes, during operation in an autopilot mode, detecting that a vehicle driver makes a control input counter to vehicle control directed by the driving assistance system. Data relating to driving conditions existing when the driver made the control input is logged onboard the vehicle and transmitted to an off-board central communications platform. The central communications platform creates a modified configuration for the driving assistance system based on the data and re-transmits it back to the vehicle where it is loaded into the driving assistance system. The modified configuration causes the driving assistance system to automatically control the vehicle in a manner consistent with the control input if the driving conditions reoccur. The modified configuration may also be transmitted to a driving assistance system of one or more other motor vehicles.

Claims

1. A method for updating a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

operating a central communications platform to receive data transmitted wirelessly from the vehicle, the data logged onboard the vehicle during operation of the driving assistance system and relating to driving conditions existing when a driver of the vehicle makes a control input that is counter to vehicle control directed by the driving assistance system;

determining a modified configuration for the driving assistance system based on the data; and

transmitting the modified configuration from the central communications platform to the driving assistance system, the modified configuration being used to update decision logic of the driving assistance system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified configuration causes the driving assistance system to automatically controls the vehicle in a manner consistent with the control input when the driving conditions reoccur.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified configuration is further transmitted from the central communications platform to a driving assistance system of a second motor vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second motor vehicle is selected based on vehicle model and/or fitted equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving conditions relate to at least one of a physical condition of the driver, an activity of the driver, an external environment of the vehicle, an operating status of the vehicle, and a response of the driving assistance system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data received by the central communications platform includes data logged over a time interval beginning before the control input and ending after the control input.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising operating the central communications platform to receive information entered by the driver.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the control input made by the driver is a steering input.

9. A method for operating a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

during operation of the driving assistance system, detecting that a driver of the vehicle makes a control input that is counter to vehicle control directed by the driving assistance system;

logging data relating to driving conditions existing when the driver makes the control input;

transmitting the data to a central communications platform;

receiving from the central communications platform a modified configuration for the driving assistance system, the modified configuration created by the central communications platform based on the data; and

loading the modified configuration into the driving assistance system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the modified configuration causes the driving assistance system to automatically controls the vehicle in a manner consistent with the control input when the driving conditions reoccur.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the modified configuration is further transmitted from the central communications platform to a driving assistance system of a second motor vehicle.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the driving conditions relate to at least one of a physical condition of the driver, an activity of the driver, an external environment of the vehicle, an operating status of the vehicle, and a response of the driving assistance system.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the data transmitted to the central communications platform includes data logged over a time interval beginning before the control input and ending after the control input.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting information entered by the driver to the central communications platform.

15. Apparatus for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a driving assistance system operable to automatically control the vehicle;

an acquisition system collecting data from at least one vehicle system, the data relating to driving conditions existing when a driver of the vehicle makes a control input counter to automatic vehicle control directed by the driving assistance system; and

a wireless communication unit transmitting the data to a central communications platform and receiving from the central communications platform a modified configuration for the driving assistance system, the modified configuration created by the central communications platform based upon the data and loaded into the driving assistance system.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the modified configuration causes the driving assistance system to automatically controls the vehicle in a manner consistent with the control input when the driving conditions reoccur.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driving conditions relate to at least one of a physical condition of the driver, an activity of the driver, an external environment of the vehicle, an operating status of the vehicle, and a response of the driving assistance system.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the data transmitted to the central communications platform includes data logged over a time interval beginning before the control input and ending after the control input.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communications unit further transmits information entered by the driver to the central communications platform.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the driving assistance system is operable to control the vehicle in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction.