ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL PROFILES

• US 20170021830A1
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Published: 01/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: DOBOS, STEVE K., NASSER, MOHAMED M., GREEN, JERRY D., FELDMAN, DMITRIY
• Application Number:
  US14/806,030
• Publication Number:
  US 20170021830A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0075 Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/01 Occupants other than the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/043 Identity of occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/10 Historical data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/106 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/14 Adaptive cruise control
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/16 Control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling an adaptive cruise control feature of a vehicle are provided. In accordance with one embodiment, a system includes a sensing unit and a processor. The sensing unit is configured to detect passengers, other than a driver, in a vehicle. The processor is coupled to the sensing unit. The processor is configured to at least facilitate controlling an adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle using a first profile if no passengers are detected in the vehicle, and a second profile, different from the first profile, if one or more passengers are detected in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

detecting passengers, other than a driver, in a vehicle; and

controlling an adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle using;

a first profile if no passengers are detected in the vehicle; and

a second profile, different from the first profile, if one or more passengers are detected in the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile provides more conservative braking as compared with the first profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile provides more conservative acceleration as compared with the first profile.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second profile provides more conservative spacing between the vehicle and nearby objects as compared with the first profile.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying the driver of the vehicle;

wherein the step of controlling the adaptive cruise control further comprises controlling the adaptive cruise control also using a driving history for the driver.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the first profile is based on a first prior driving history for the driver, the first prior driving history occurring while the driver was driving with no other passengers in the vehicle; and

the second profile is based on a second prior driving history for the driver, the second prior driving history occurring while the driver was driving with one or more other passengers in the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving history for the driver comprises one or more of the following:

a vehicle speed history, a brake pedal history, a vehicle acceleration history, a vehicle deceleration history, a steering angle history, and a history of spacing between the vehicle and nearby objects while the driver has been driving the vehicle.

8. A method comprising:

identifying a driver of a vehicle;

obtaining a driving history for the driver; and

controlling an adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle using the driving history for the driver.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving history for the driver comprises a vehicle speed history for the vehicle while the driver has been driving the vehicle.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving history for the driver comprises a vehicle acceleration history for the vehicle while the driver has been driving the vehicle.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving history for the driver comprises a vehicle deceleration history for the vehicle while the driver has been driving the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving history for the driver comprises a steering angle history for the vehicle while the driver has been driving the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the driving history for the driver comprises a history of spacing between the vehicle and nearby objects while the driver has been driving the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

detecting passengers, other than a driver, in a vehicle;

wherein the step of controlling the adaptive cruise control feature further comprises controlling the adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle using;

a first profile if no passengers are detected in the vehicle; and

a second profile, different from the first profile, if one or more passengers are detected in the vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first profile is based on a first prior driving history for the driver, the first prior driving history occurring while the driver was driving with no other passengers in the vehicle; and

the second profile is based on a second prior driving history for the driver, the second prior driving history occurring while the driver was driving with one or more other passengers in the vehicle.

16. A system comprising:

a sensing unit configured to detect passengers, other than a driver, in a vehicle; and

a processor coupled to the sensing unit and configured to at least facilitate controlling an adaptive cruise control feature of the vehicle using;

a first profile if no passengers are detected in the vehicle; and

a second profile, different from the first profile, if one or more passengers are detected in the vehicle.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second profile provides more conservative braking as compared with the first profile.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the second profile provides more conservative acceleration as compared with the first profile.

19. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

a second sensing unit configured to identify the driver of the vehicle;

wherein the processor is further configured to control the adaptive cruise control also using a driving history for the driver.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein:

the first profile is based on a first prior driving history for the driver, the first prior driving history occurring while the driver was driving with no other passengers in the vehicle; and

the second profile is based on a second prior driving history for the driver, the second prior driving history occurring while the driver was driving with one or more other passengers in the vehicle.