DYNAMIC LANE SHIFT
First Claim
1. A machine-implemented method of controlling vehicle positioning within a traffic lane occupied by a vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining side boundaries or a longitudinal center of a traffic lane currently occupied by the vehicle;
determining a currently requested or commanded offset from either one of the side boundaries or the longitudinal center of the traffic lane;
determining if the vehicle is currently at least in substantial compliance with the requested or commanded offset; and
if the vehicle is not currently at least substantially complying with the offset, adjusting a steering control of the vehicle to thereby bring the vehicle into compliance with the currently requested or commanded offset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A machine-implemented method is provided for controlling a fully automated or partially automated road vehicle so as to accurately position the vehicle within a traffic lane occupied by the vehicle. The method includes: determining locations of or distances to side boundaries or a longitudinal center of a traffic lane currently occupied by the vehicle; determining a currently requested or commanded offset from either one of the side boundaries or the longitudinal center of the traffic lane; determining if the vehicle is currently at least substantially complying with the requested or commanded offset; and if the vehicle is not currently substantially complying with the offset, adjusting a steering control of the vehicle to thereby bring the vehicle into compliance with the currently requested or commanded offset. By requesting or commanding different offsets on different days, road wear is more evenly distributed and concentrate break down due to accurate lane centering is avoided.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A machine-implemented method of controlling vehicle positioning within a traffic lane occupied by a vehicle, the method comprising:
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determining side boundaries or a longitudinal center of a traffic lane currently occupied by the vehicle; determining a currently requested or commanded offset from either one of the side boundaries or the longitudinal center of the traffic lane; determining if the vehicle is currently at least in substantial compliance with the requested or commanded offset; and if the vehicle is not currently at least substantially complying with the offset, adjusting a steering control of the vehicle to thereby bring the vehicle into compliance with the currently requested or commanded offset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A road vehicle comprising:
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one or more sensors configured to respectively sense at least one of location and distance for use in determining side boundaries or a longitudinal center of a traffic lane currently occupied by the vehicle or distance of a respective portion of the vehicle from at least one of the side boundaries and the longitudinal center; an offset signal receiver configured to receive an offset requesting or commanding signal for thereby determining a currently requested or commanded offset from either one of the side boundaries or the longitudinal center of the traffic lane; a vehicle offset compliance determining unit configured for automatically determining if the vehicle is currently substantially in compliance with the requested or commanded offset; and an automatically controllable vehicle steering system operatively coupled to the vehicle offset compliance determining unit and configured such that, if the vehicle is not currently substantially complying with the requested or commanded offset, the vehicle steering system is operable to automatically bring the vehicle into compliance with the currently requested or commanded offset. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A data processing system configured to automatically control positioning of a vehicle within a lane occupied by the vehicle, the system comprising:
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a sensor interface operatively coupled to one or more sensors including sensors configured to respectively sense at least one of location and distance for use in determining location of or distance of a vehicle portion from side boundaries or a longitudinal center of a traffic lane currently occupied by the vehicle; a communications interface operatively coupled to one or more signal receivers/transmitters including to an offset signal receiver configured for receiving a signal that indicates or determines a currently requested or commanded offset from at least one of the side boundaries and the longitudinal center of the traffic lane; a navigations interface operatively coupled to one or more navigation units including a vehicle position locator configured for sensing vehicle location and thus determining if the vehicle is currently at least substantially complying with the requested or commanded offset; and a vehicle controls interface operatively coupled to one or more vehicle control units including an automatically controllable vehicle steering system configured such that, if the vehicle is not currently complying with the offset, the vehicle steering system can be actuated to bring the vehicle into compliance with the currently requested or commanded offset. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification