CONTROL OF SEMI-AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising a semi-autonomous vehicle (SAV) which is controlled by one of a plurality of control sources, said apparatus, in combination:
- (a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing SAV information to, and for receiving an additional vehicle control signal from, at least one additional control station; and
for receiving a hierarchy setting signal from at least one command station;
(b) a vehicle management device for controlling said SAV in response to a management device signal applied thereto;
(c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit input for inputting SAV information representing a state of said SAV, and having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal in response to said inputted SAV information; and
a first processor, coupled to each of said first sensor circuit output, said first T/R device, and said vehicle management device,for(1) generating at least one first SAV information signal representing said inputted SAV information;
(2) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating an internal vehicle control signal;
(3) receiving said hierarchy setting signal; and
(4) generating said management device signal based on the information represented by (A) said hierarchy setting signal, and (B) a selected one of said internal and received additional vehicle control signals;
wherein in response to said hierarchy setting signal said first processor is operative to assign a unique priority level to each of said internal and additional vehicle control signals, wherein the values of said assigned priority levels indicate a control hierarchy among all such vehicle control signals and among the respective control signal sources; and
wherein a vehicle management device signal represented by a control signal assigned a given priority level overrides a management device signal represented by a control signal assigned a lower priority level;
wherein based on said assignment, said first processor is operative to generate said management device signal in response to the control signal with the highest assigned priority level from among said internal and received additional vehicle control signals;
whereby the analysis of the SAV information by the highest priority control source determines the performance of said SAV.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Semi-autonomous vehicle apparatus which is controlled by a plurality of control sources includes a vehicle which may function autonomously and apparatus for control of the vehicle by either an onboard driver or a driver not situated onboard. The vehicle may also be controlled by an off-vehicle computational device. Hierarchy setting apparatus determines which of the possible control entities take priority. Persons using the apparatus are identified by either a password or, preferably by providing identification based on a biologic feature. Management of impaired vehicle operators is provided for.
5 Citations
35 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising a semi-autonomous vehicle (SAV) which is controlled by one of a plurality of control sources, said apparatus, in combination:
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(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing SAV information to, and for receiving an additional vehicle control signal from, at least one additional control station; and
for receiving a hierarchy setting signal from at least one command station;(b) a vehicle management device for controlling said SAV in response to a management device signal applied thereto; (c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit input for inputting SAV information representing a state of said SAV, and having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal in response to said inputted SAV information; and a first processor, coupled to each of said first sensor circuit output, said first T/R device, and said vehicle management device, for (1) generating at least one first SAV information signal representing said inputted SAV information; (2) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating an internal vehicle control signal; (3) receiving said hierarchy setting signal; and (4) generating said management device signal based on the information represented by (A) said hierarchy setting signal, and (B) a selected one of said internal and received additional vehicle control signals; wherein in response to said hierarchy setting signal said first processor is operative to assign a unique priority level to each of said internal and additional vehicle control signals, wherein the values of said assigned priority levels indicate a control hierarchy among all such vehicle control signals and among the respective control signal sources; and wherein a vehicle management device signal represented by a control signal assigned a given priority level overrides a management device signal represented by a control signal assigned a lower priority level; wherein based on said assignment, said first processor is operative to generate said management device signal in response to the control signal with the highest assigned priority level from among said internal and received additional vehicle control signals; whereby the analysis of the SAV information by the highest priority control source determines the performance of said SAV. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Apparatus comprising a semi-autonomous vehicle (SAV) which is alternatively internally controlled and controlled by at least one additional control source, said SAV comprising, in combination:
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(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing a state of a SAV to, and for receiving a first additional vehicle control signal from a first additional control source; (b) a vehicle management device for controlling said vehicle in response to vehicle management signals applied thereto; (c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit input for inputting SAV information representing a state of said SAV, and having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal in response to said inputted SAV information; and (d) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said vehicle management device, for (A) generating at least one first SAV information signal representing said inputted SAV information; (B) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating an internal vehicle control signal; (C) generating at least one vehicle management signal; and (D) selecting one of at least three operating states in response to a received state control signal;
wherein;(i) in a first operating state, a vehicle management choice indicated by said internal vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over a vehicle management choice indicated by said first additional vehicle control signal, if any; (ii) in a second operating state, the a vehicle management choice indicated by said first additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over a vehicle management choice indicated by said internal vehicle control signal, if any; (iii) in a third operating state, both (I) a vehicle management choice indicated by said first additional vehicle control signal and (II) a vehicle management choice indicated by said internal vehicle control signal determine the treatment; whereby said first processor selects the source of control of said SAV from among; (i) said internal vehicle control signal only; (ii) said first additional vehicle control signal only; and (iii) both of (I) said internal vehicle control signal and (II) said first addition vehicle control signal. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. Apparatus comprising a semi-autonomous vehicle (SAV) which is alternatively internally controlled and controlled by at least one additional control source, said SAV comprising, in combination:
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(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting a signal representing a state of a SAV to, and for receiving an additional vehicle control signal and a state control signal; (b) a vehicle management device for controlling said SAV in response to vehicle management signals applied thereto; (c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit input for inputting SAV information representing a state of said SAV; and
having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal in response to said inputted SAV information; and(d) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said vehicle management device, for (A) generating at least one SAV information signal representing said inputted SAV information; (B) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating an internal vehicle control signal; (C) generating at least one vehicle management signal; and (D) selecting one of four operating states, in response to receipt of said state control signal; wherein; (i) in a first operating state, said vehicle management device signals are produced only in response to said internal vehicle control signal; (ii) in a second operating state, said vehicle management device control signals are produced only in response to said additional vehicle control signal; (iii) in a third operating state, said internal vehicle control signal, if any, controls said vehicle management device, unless an additional vehicle control signal is received; and
if said additional vehicle control signal is received, it takes priority over said internal vehicle control signal for determining the choice of vehicle management, if any, administered by said vehicle management device;(iv) in a fourth operating state, said additional vehicle control signal, if any, controls said vehicle management device, unless an internal vehicle control signal is produced; and
if said internal vehicle control signal is produced, it takes priority over said additional vehicle control signal, if any, for determining the choice of treatment administered by said vehicle management device; and(v) said first processor selects one of said four operating states in response to receipt of said first state control signal; whereby; (i) in said first operating state, only said internal vehicle control signal controls said SAV; (ii) in said second operating state, only said additional vehicle control signal controls said SAV; (iii) in said third operating state, said additional vehicle control signal takes priority over said internal vehicle control signal; and (iv) in said fourth operating state, said internal vehicle control signal takes priority over said additional vehicle; thereby to cause said first processor to select the source of control of said SAV from among (I) said internal vehicle control signal; and (II) said additional vehicle control signal. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. Apparatus comprising a semi-autonomous vehicle (SAV) which is alternatively internally controlled and controlled by one of two additional control sources, said apparatus comprising, in combination:
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(a) a first transmitting/receiving (T/R) device for transmitting at least one signal representing SAV information to each of a first additional control source and a second additional control source;
for receiving a first additional vehicle control signal specifying an instruction controlling said SAV from said first additional control source; and
for receiving a second additional vehicle control signal specifying an instruction controlling said SAV from said second additional control source;(b) a vehicle management device for controlling said vehicle in response to vehicle management signals applied thereto; (c) a first sensor circuit, having a first sensor circuit input for inputting SAV information representing a state of said SAV, and having a first sensor circuit output, for producing at least one first sensor circuit output signal in response to said inputted SAV information; and (d) a first processor, coupled to each of (1) said first sensor circuit output, (2) said first T/R device, and (3) said vehicle management device, for (1) generating at least one first SAV information signal representing said inputted SAV information; (2) analyzing said at least one first sensor circuit output signal, and, based on the analysis, generating an internal vehicle control signal; (3) selecting an operating state, in response to a state control signal indicating a unique priority level of each of said vehicle control signals, wherein said state control signal specifies a hierarchy among the three sources of SAV control; and (4) generating at least one vehicle management signal selected from the group consisting of (a) said internal vehicle control signal, (b) said first additional vehicle control signal and (c) said second additional vehicle control signal; wherein said operating state selected from the group consisting of; (i) a first operating state, in which (I) said internal vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said first additional vehicle control signal, if any, and (II) said first additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said second additional vehicle control signal, if any; (ii) a second operating state, in which (I) said internal vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said second additional vehicle control signal, if any, and (II) said second additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said first additional vehicle control signal, if any; (iii) a third operating state, in which (I) said first additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal vehicle control signal, if any, and (II) said internal vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said second additional vehicle control signal, if any; (iv) a fourth operating state, in which (I) said first additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said second additional vehicle control signal, if any, and (II) said second additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal vehicle control signal, if any; (v) a fifth operating state, in which (I) said second additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal vehicle control signal, if any, and (II) said internal vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said first additional vehicle control signal, if any; (vi) a sixth operating state, in which (I) said second additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said first additional vehicle control signal, if any, and (II) said first additional vehicle control signal, if any, takes priority over said internal vehicle control signal, if any; and (vii) said first processor is operative to select the vehicle control signal with the highest priority among all such vehicle control signals to generate said at least one vehicle management signal, in accordance with the selected operating state; whereby said first processor selects the source of control of said IMD from among; (A) said internal control signal; (B) said first additional control signal; and (C) said second additional control signal. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
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Specification