Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A robotically operable vehicle comprising:
- a mechanical vehicle control system capable of receiving manual inputs and capable of causing the vehicle to operate in a manual mode in accordance with the manual inputs, the mechanical vehicle control system comprising;
a steering system capable of controlling a direction of movement of the vehicle;
a braking system capable of controlling braking of the vehicle;
a throttle system capable of controlling a speed of the vehicle;
a transmission system capable of selecting a gear for the vehicle;
at least one electrically actuated clutch capable of causing the mechanical vehicle control system to operate in an autonomous mode in response to a command for the vehicle to operate in the autonomous mode and capable of causing the mechanical vehicle system to operate in the manual mode in response to a command for the vehicle to operate in the manual mode; and
at least one actuator capable of, in accordance with autonomous control signals received from a controller and as allowed by the at least one electrically actuated clutch, operating the steering system, the braking system, the throttle system, and the transmission system; and
the controller capable of generating the autonomous control signals in response to the command for the vehicle to operate in the autonomous mode.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle are described. A mechanical control system can receive manual inputs from a mechanical operation member to operate the vehicle in manual mode. An actuator can receive autonomous control signals generated by a controller. When the actuator is engaged, it operates the vehicle in an autonomous mode, and when disengaged, the vehicle is operated in manual mode. Operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode can include automatically controlling steering, braking, throttle, and transmission. A system may also allow the vehicle to be operated via remote command.
418 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A robotically operable vehicle comprising:
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a mechanical vehicle control system capable of receiving manual inputs and capable of causing the vehicle to operate in a manual mode in accordance with the manual inputs, the mechanical vehicle control system comprising; a steering system capable of controlling a direction of movement of the vehicle; a braking system capable of controlling braking of the vehicle; a throttle system capable of controlling a speed of the vehicle; a transmission system capable of selecting a gear for the vehicle; at least one electrically actuated clutch capable of causing the mechanical vehicle control system to operate in an autonomous mode in response to a command for the vehicle to operate in the autonomous mode and capable of causing the mechanical vehicle system to operate in the manual mode in response to a command for the vehicle to operate in the manual mode; and at least one actuator capable of, in accordance with autonomous control signals received from a controller and as allowed by the at least one electrically actuated clutch, operating the steering system, the braking system, the throttle system, and the transmission system; and the controller capable of generating the autonomous control signals in response to the command for the vehicle to operate in the autonomous mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A robotically operated vehicle, comprising:
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at least one electrically actuated clutch that is normally disengaged, the at least one electrically actuated clutch being capable of causing a mechanical vehicle control system to operate in an autonomous mode by allowing the mechanical vehicle control system to receive control signals from an autonomous control system, the mechanical vehicle control system being capable of receiving manual inputs to operate the vehicle in a manual mode when the at least one electrically actuated clutch is disengaged; the mechanical vehicle control system comprising; a steering system capable of controlling a direction of movement of the vehicle; a braking system capable of controlling braking of the vehicle; a throttle system capable of controlling a speed of the vehicle; a transmission system capable of selecting a gear for the vehicle; and at least one actuator capable of, in accordance with the control signals and as allowed by the at least one electrically actuated clutch, operating the steering system, the braking system, the throttle system, and the transmission system; the autonomous control system configured to operate the mechanical vehicle control system in an autonomous mode when the at least one electrically actuated clutch is engaged by generating the control signals for the steering system, the braking system, the throttle system, and the transmission system; and an E-Stop system configured to remove power from the at least one electrically actuated clutch, while leaving power in the autonomous control system. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for changing operation of a vehicle from manual mode to autonomous, the method comprising:
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in response to manual inputs received at a mechanical vehicle control system, operating the vehicle in the manual mode in accordance with the manual inputs, the mechanical vehicle control system comprising a steering system, a braking system, a throttle system, and a transmission system, wherein operating the vehicle in the manual mode comprises; allowing the steering system to control a direction of movement of the vehicle in accordance with the manual inputs; allowing the braking system to control braking of the vehicle in accordance with the manual inputs; allowing the throttle system to control a speed of the vehicle in accordance with the manual inputs; and allowing the transmission system to select a gear for the vehicle in accordance with the manual inputs; in response to a mode switch signal from a controller, preventing, by an electric clutch, operation of the mechanical vehicle control system in the manual mode; and causing the mechanical vehicle control system to operate in the autonomous mode via at least one actuator, comprising; receiving control signals from the controller; allowing the steering system to control the direction of movement of the vehicle in accordance with the control signals; allowing the braking system to control braking of the vehicle in accordance with the control signals; allowing the throttle system to control a speed of the vehicle in accordance with the control signals; and allowing the transmission system to select a gear for the vehicle in accordance with the control signals. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification