AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION

• US 20150149019A1
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Published: 05/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pilutti, Thomas Edward, Rupp, Matt Y., Trombley, Roger Arnold, Waldis, Andrew, Yopp, Wilford Trent
• Granted Patent: US 9,552,735 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/508 specific to vehicles driving in fleets or convoys
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

A computer in a first vehicle is configured to receive data relating to a second vehicle. The computer may use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously. Further, the computer may cause the first vehicle to take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer in a first vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

receive data relating to a second vehicle;

use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and

take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data includes a signal that includes at least one of one of visible light and a radio wave from the second vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to compare the data relating to the second vehicle to a stored parameter to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated under an emergency status.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated manually.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the action includes maintaining a predetermined distance from the second vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to receive data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer is further configured to:

use the data to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and

take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a computer in a first vehicle, data relating to a second vehicle;

using the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and

taking an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the data includes a signal that includes at least one of one of visible light and a radio wave from the second vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to compare the data relating to the second vehicle to a stored parameter to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated under an emergency status.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the computer is further configured to use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated manually.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the action includes maintaining a predetermined distance from the second vehicle.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising

using the data to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;

and

taking an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

19. A computer-readable medium having tangibly embodies thereon instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions including instructions to:

receive data relating to a second vehicle;

use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and

take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

20. The medium of claim 19, the instructions further including instructions to:

receive data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian;

use the data to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and

take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.