Automated self-control traveling system for expressways and method for controlling the same

• US 6,934,613 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2003
• Issued: 08/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Yun, Jung-Rak
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, CUONG H
• Application Number:
  US10/716,741
• Publication Number:
  US 20040215377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: G06/F01.7/00, 701/28, 701/19, 701/20, 701 22- 25, 701 51- 93, 701/96, 701/206, 701120-121, 701/207, 701/223, 701/41, 701/201, 180/6.2, 180/204, 180/337
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/10 including control of change-speed gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/18 including control of braking systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/10 Number of lanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/20 Static objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/30 Map- or contour-matching

Abstract

A self-control traveling system for an expressway and a method for controlling the same is disclosed. A plurality of road signs are consecutively installed at left and right sides of the expressway. An imaging device images the road signs arranged along the expressway. An image processor analyzes at least one image, discriminates the roadside signs and reads sign contents contained in the roadside signs. A navigation database stores map information of the expressway. An artificial intelligence-electronic control unit determines a current position and a road state on the basis of the map information stored in the navigation database and the sign contents read by the image processor. An integrated ECU controls a steering operation, a speed decrement/increment operation and others associated with the self-control traveling operation according to a result of the determination.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a self-control traveling system for an expressway, comprising:

(a) determining whether at least one image received from an imaging device contains information indicating a starting point for enabling a self-control traveling operation;

(b) determining whether a self-control traveling command is inputted according to a result of the determination at the step (a), switching a driving mode from a manual driving mode to an automatic driving mode, requesting that destination information be inputted, and starting the self-control traveling operation;

(c) searching for corresponding map information associated with the inputted destination information when the self-control traveling operation is started, determining whether a turning point is indicated in the searched man information, and performing the self-control traveling operation according to a result of the determination;

(d) determining whether turning-point information is inputted among input image information during the self-control traveling operation;

(e) controlling an automatic turning operation or determining whether an automobile has arrived at an end point according to a result of the determination at the step (d); and

(f) switching the driving mode from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode according to a result of the determination at the step (e), and terminating the self-control traveling operation, wherein step (e) comprises;

(e-1) changing a traveling route to the turning point when the automobile arrives at the turning point;

(e-2) notifying the driver that a section of the self-control traveling operation will end soon when the automobile gets near to the destination during searching for the map information after step (e-1) is completed; and

(e-3) determining whether a sign image indicating the end point is contained in the input image information after step (e-2) is completely performed.

2. A method for controlling a self-control traveling system for an expressway, comprising:

(a) determining whether at least one image received from an imaging device contains information indicating a starting point for enabling a self-control traveling operation;

(b) determining whether a self-control traveling command is inputted according to a result of the determination at the step (a), switching a driving mode from a manual driving mode to an automatic driving mode, requesting that destination information be inputted, and starting the self-control traveling operation;

(c) searching for corresponding map information associated with the inputted destination information when the self-control traveling operation is started, determining whether a turning point is indicated in the searched man information, and performing the self-control traveling operation according to a result of the determination;

(d) determining whether turning-point information is inputted among input image information during the self-control traveling operation;

(e) controlling an automatic turning operation or determining whether an automobile has arrived at an end point according to a result of the determination at the step (d); and

(f) switching the driving mode from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode according to a result of the determination at the step (e), and terminating the self-control traveling operation, wherein step (f) is carried out by switching the driving mode from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode when the automobile arrives at a site located at the end point and the automobile is stopped.