METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR DETERMINING THE SPEED BEHAVIOUR OF A LEADING VEHICLE

• US 20150314790A1
• Filed: 12/19/2012
• Published: 11/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Truck Corporation (AB Volvo)
• Inventors: DERAGARDEN, Hans, SANDBLOM, Fredrik
• Granted Patent: US 10,501,087 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/143 Alarm means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/30 Road curve radius
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/04 Traffic conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/0097 Predicting future conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/0093 using models to estimate the state of the controlled object
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M

Abstract

An arrangement for determining a vehicle speed behaviour model for a leading vehicle, where the leading vehicle drives along a path in front of a trailing host vehicle and where the determination is done by a control unit in the host vehicle, where the host vehicle includes an arrangement for measuring the time gap to the leading vehicle, an arrangement for measuring the speed of the host vehicle, an arrangement for obtaining external information regarding an upcoming change in a road condition, where the control unit is adapted for monitoring the change in vehicle speed of the leading vehicle, and for determining a vehicle speed behaviour model for the leading vehicle based on the monitored change in vehicle speed of the leading vehicle. The vehicle speed behaviour of a leading vehicle can be used by the host vehicle to optimize the fuel consumption, the comfort and the safety of the host vehicle.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a host vehicle for determining a vehicle speed behaviour model for a leading vehicle, where the leading vehicle drives along a path in front of the trailing host vehicle where the arrangement comprises a control unit in the host vehicle, means for measuring the time gap to the leading vehicle means for measuring the speed of the host vehicle, means for obtaining external information regarding an upcoming change In a road condition, wherein

the control unit Is adapted for monitoring the change in vehicle speed of the leading vehicle, and for determining a vehicle speed behaviour model for the leading vehicle based on the monitored change in vehicle speed of the leading vehicle and on the upcoming change in a road condition.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means for measuring, the lime gap to the leading vehicle is a radar.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is connected to a cruise control system of the host vehicle.

4. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the cruise control system is an adaptive cruise control system.

5. Arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the cruise control system is a dynamic cruise control system.

6. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is connected to a forward collision warning system of the host vehicle.

7. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein that the arrangement further comprises a camera adapted to monitor road signs.

8. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the means for obtaining external information regarding an upcoming change In a road condition uses a map database.

9. Arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement is adapted to determine different vehicle speed behaviour models in dependency of the change in road condition.

10. Vehicle comprising an arrangement according to claim 1.

11. A method for determining a vehicle speed behaviour model for a leading vehicle, where the leading vehicle drives along a path in front of a trailing host vehicle and where the determination is done in the host vehicle, comprising

tracking the time gap to the leading vehicle,

tracking the speed of the host vehicle,

obtaining external information regarding an upcoming change in a road condition, which may alter the speed of the host vehicle,

monitoring the change in vehicle speed of the leading vehicle,

determining a vehicle speed behaviour model for the leading vehicle based on the monitored changes in vehicle speed of the leading vehicle and on the upcoming change In a road condition.

12. Method according to claim 11, where the change in vehicle speed for the leading vehicle is determined by monitoring the change in the time gap to the leading vehicle.

13. Method according to claim 11, where the change in vehicle speed for the leading vehicle is determined by measuring the relative speed change with a radar.

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle speed behaviour model is used as an input to control a cruise control system of the host vehicle.

15. Method according to claim 14, where the cruise control system is an adaptive cruise control system.

16. Method according to claim 11, where the external information is a road speed limit.

17. Method according to claim 11, where the external information is received from a map database.

18. Method according to claim 11, where the external information is stored in a memory by a vehicle that has travelled the same path earlier.

19. Method according to claim 11, where the method can determine several vehicle, speed behaviour models in dependency of the change in road condition.

20. A computer comprising a program for performing all the steps of claim 11.

21. A computer program product comprising a program stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium for performing all the steps of claim 11 when the program product is run on a computer.