Autonomous vehicle travel control systems and methods
First Claim
1. A method for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel, comprising:
- arranging communication systems in each vehicle to wirelessly receive instructions pertaining to travel of the vehicle;
creating restricted travel lanes for vehicle travel in which vehicles equipped with the communication systems are permitted to travel;
determining the location of vehicles in the restricted travel lanes using a vehicle-location determining system;
deriving instructions using a processor for the vehicles to travel in the restricted travel lanes based on the location of vehicles in the restricted travel lanes as determined by the location determining system; and
providing the derived instructions to the vehicles in the restricted travel lanes via the communication systems in the vehicles to enable the vehicles to travel in the restricted lanes in a manner which maximizes speed and to enable a plurality of vehicles to travel in the same restricted travel lane with a minimum separation distance therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel includes creating dedicated travel lanes for vehicle travel, determining the location of vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes, and providing instructions to the vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes to enable them to travel in a manner which maximizes speed. To determine the location of the vehicles, a vehicle travel management system may be arranged in each vehicle to determine the location of that vehicle, e.g., using a GPS-based positioning system or similar system, and which also optionally receives travel instructions which can be implemented by a vehicle control system to control the direction and speed of the vehicle. The vehicle control system can be designed to assume control of vehicle travel without requiring driving by an occupant of the vehicle and control vehicle travel based on the provided instructions.
427 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel, comprising:
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arranging communication systems in each vehicle to wirelessly receive instructions pertaining to travel of the vehicle; creating restricted travel lanes for vehicle travel in which vehicles equipped with the communication systems are permitted to travel; determining the location of vehicles in the restricted travel lanes using a vehicle-location determining system; deriving instructions using a processor for the vehicles to travel in the restricted travel lanes based on the location of vehicles in the restricted travel lanes as determined by the location determining system; and providing the derived instructions to the vehicles in the restricted travel lanes via the communication systems in the vehicles to enable the vehicles to travel in the restricted lanes in a manner which maximizes speed and to enable a plurality of vehicles to travel in the same restricted travel lane with a minimum separation distance therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel of vehicles in restricted travel lanes, comprising:
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a position determining system that determines the location of the vehicles in the restricted travel lanes; a processor that derives instructions for the vehicles to travel in the restricted travel lanes based on the location of vehicles in the restricted travel lanes as determined by the position determining system in order to enable a plurality of vehicles to travel in the same restricted travel lane with a minimum separation distance therebetween; and communications systems arranged in each vehicle to wirelessly receive the derived instructions to enable the vehicles to travel in the restricted travel lanes in a manner which maximizes speed based on the determined location of the vehicles and to enable the vehicles to travel in the same restricted travel lane with a minimum separation distance therebetween, whereby vehicles equipped with the communications systems are permitted to travel in the restricted travel lanes. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel, comprising:
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arranging communication systems in each vehicle to wirelessly receive instructions pertaining to travel of the vehicle; creating restricted travel lanes for vehicle travel in which vehicles equipped with the communication systems are permitted to travel; determining the location of vehicles in the restricted travel lanes using a vehicle-location determining system; arranging a map database in each vehicle which includes data about travel lanes; and deriving instructions using a processor for the vehicles to travel in the restricted travel lanes based on the location of vehicles in the restricted travel lanes as determined by the location determining system; providing the derived instructions to the vehicles in the restricted travel lanes via the communication systems in the vehicles to enable the vehicles to travel in the restricted lanes; and automatically controlling movement of the vehicle via a vehicle control system based on the data about the travel lanes in the map database and the provided instructions.
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18. A system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel of vehicles in restricted travel lanes, comprising:
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a position determining system that determines the location of the vehicles in the restricted travel lanes; means for providing instructions to the vehicles in the restricted travel lanes to enable the vehicles to travel in the restricted travel lanes in a manner which maximizes speed based on the determined location of the vehicles; and a map database arranged in each vehicle and including data about travel lanes, said means comprising a vehicle control system arranged in each vehicle, coupled to said map database and being arranged to control the travel of the vehicle based on data about travel lanes in the map database. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification