Automatic following travel system

• US 6,282,468 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2000
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Tamura, Kazuya
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/539,281
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 701/23, 701/24, 701/25, 701/26, 701/96, 701/93, 701/117, 701/301, 701/116, 340/425.5, 340/436, 340/439, 340/988, 340/903, 340/902, 340/904, 180/168, 180/169
• US Class Current: 701/23
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/024 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/027 comprising intertial navigation means, e.g. azimuth detector inertial navigation G01C21/16; inertial navigation combined with non-inertial navigation instruments G01C21/165
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0272 comprising means for registering the travel distance, e.g. revolutions of wheels measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, e.g. using odometers G01C22/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0295 by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet

Abstract

An automatic following travel system initiates travel in file of a group of vehicles on an inclined path while maintaining a constant distance between the vehicles. During the initiation of travel in file, a travel ECU in a leading vehicle sends a directive indicating that travel in file is to be conducted to the following vehicles. Based on this directive from the leading vehicle, the travel ECUs of each of the following vehicles makes a determination as to the possibility of travel of their own vehicle, and control the movement of their own vehicle so that an approximately constant distance is maintained between their own vehicle and another vehicle positioned in front, thereof. The results of the determination of the possibility of movement are communicated to the leading vehicle. The travel ECU of the leading vehicle sends a directive indicating the release of the parking lock to the following vehicles when determinations that travel is possible have been sent from all following vehicles. Based on the directive from the leading vehicle, the travel ECUs of the following vehicles release the parking lock, and initiate the forward progress of the following vehicles in response to the leading vehicle.

Claims

1. An automatic following travel system wherein, among a plurality of queued vehicles, a leading vehicle positioned at the front is driven by an operator, and following vehicles positioned behind said leading vehicle automatically follow said leading vehicle, and are made to travel in file;

wherein;

each of said vehicles has a vehicle position maintaining device for automatically maintaining a constant position during stoppage, a communicator for conducting communication with other said vehicles, and a controller for controlling operations of said vehicle position maintaining device and said communicator and for controlling travel of said vehicle;

during initiation of travel in file, said controller of said leading vehicle sends a directive to said following vehicles via said communicator indicating that travel in file is to be conducted;

said controllers of said following vehicles make a determination as to the possibility of travel of their own vehicles, based on said directive from said leading vehicle, control the operation of their own vehicles so as to maintain an approximately constant distance between their vehicle and another said vehicle positioned in front thereof, and communicate the results of the determination of the possibility of travel to said leading vehicle;

when a determination that travel is possible has been communicated from all said following vehicles, said controller of said leading vehicle sends a directive canceling the operation of said vehicle position maintaining device to all said following vehicles; and

said controllers of said following vehicles cancel the operation of said vehicle position maintaining devices thereof based on said operation canceling directive, and initiate forward progress of said following vehicles in response to the initiation of forward progress of said leading vehicle, and travel in file is conducted.

2. An automatic following travel system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

when said travel in file is halted, said controller of said leading vehicle sends a directive indicating operation of said vehicle position maintaining device to said following vehicles, and

said controllers of said following vehicles operate said vehicle position maintaining devices thereof based operation indicating on said directive from said leading vehicle, and terminate control which maintains a constant distance between their own vehicle and another said vehicle positioned in front thereof.

3. An automatic following travel system in accordance with claim 1, further including means for providing a driver of said leading vehicle with an indication of whether it is permissible to initiate travel in file.

4. An automatic following travel system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said vehicle position maintaining devices comprise vehicle transmission parking locks.