Method for operating a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

• US 8,620,526 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Lassrich, Ingobert, Khanafer, Ali, Schepp, Oliver, Wagner, Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US13/301,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20120136538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 701/41, 701/43, 180/65.7, 180/65.8, 180/446, 446/429, 446/440, 446/498, 410/9, 410/16, 410/18, 318/139, 318/539, 297/216.1, 297/216.13, 310/115, 292/201, 292/216
• US Class Current: 701/41
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/50 Magnetic or electromagnetic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/54 Audio sensitive means, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/05 Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/10 Number of lanes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4041 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/804 Relative longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1047 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a motor vehicle traveling on a roadway. The method includes, but is not limited to determining data of the roadway in the area, which includes determining a number n of lanes. If it is determined that n≧2, it is determined whether a lane in which the vehicle is located with data of an optical camera of the motor vehicle. In addition, it is determined whether a second motor vehicle is traveling in the lane, in which the motor vehicle is located, in a direction of travel opposite a first direction of travel with a determination apparatus of the motor vehicle. If a second motor vehicle is determined, a warning message and/or automatic actuation is generated from an apparatus of the motor vehicle (e.g, a braking apparatus, a drive apparatus, or a steering apparatus).

Claims

1. A method for operating a first motor vehicle traveling on a roadway in a first direction of travel, comprising:

determining, by a processor, data of the roadway in an area of the first motor vehicle, the determining comprises determining a number of lanes of the roadway;

determining, by a processor, a lane of the roadway in which the first motor vehicle is located with a least one optical camera of the first motor vehicle if the number of lanes is ≧

2;

determining, by a processor, whether a second motor vehicle is traveling in the lane in which the first motor vehicle is located in a direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel with a first determination apparatus of the first motor vehicle; and

performing an action if the second motor vehicle is traveling in the lane in which the first motor vehicle is located in the direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the action comprises generating a warning message.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the action comprises an automatic actuation of an apparatus of the first motor vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is a braking apparatus.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is a drive apparatus.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the apparatus is a steering apparatus.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the number of lanes of the roadway in the first direction of travel.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining data of the roadway in the area of the first motor vehicle is made with data of an optical camera.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining data of the roadway in the area of the first motor vehicle is made with data of map data stored in a storage apparatus.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first determination apparatus includes a sensor.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the sensor is an electromagnetic sensor.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining with a second determination apparatus of the first motor vehicle whether the second motor vehicle is traveling in a second direction of travel in the lane in which the first motor vehicle is located,

wherein the performing the action is conducted if the second motor vehicle is determined with the first determination apparatus and the second determination apparatus.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the second determination apparatus comprises an acoustic sensor.

14. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a third determination apparatus configured to determine data of a roadway in an area of the motor vehicle that comprises a number of lanes of the roadway;

a determination unit comprising an optical camera configured to determine a lane of the roadway in which the motor vehicle is located with data of optical camera if the number of lanes is ≧

2;

a first determination apparatus configured to determine whether a second motor vehicle is traveling in the lane in which the motor vehicle is located in a second direction of travel opposite a first direction of travel of the motor vehicle; and

an apparatus configured to perform an action if the second motor vehicle is traveling is traveling in the lane in which a first motor vehicle is located in a direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is a warning apparatus that is configured to generate a warning message.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is an actuating apparatus that is configured to automatically actuate a braking apparatus.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the apparatus is an actuating apparatus that is configured to automatically actuate a steering apparatus.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the third determination apparatus is configured to determine the number of lanes of the roadway in the first direction of travel.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program product, said computer program product comprising:

an operating program for operating a first motor vehicle traveling on a roadway in a first direction of travel, the operating program configured to;

determine data of the roadway in an area of the first motor vehicle, the determining comprises determining a number of lanes of the roadway;

determine a lane of the roadway in which the first motor vehicle is located with a least one optical camera of the first motor vehicle if the number of lanes is ≧

2;

determine whether a second motor vehicle is traveling in the lane in which the first motor vehicle is located in a direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel with a first determination apparatus of the first motor vehicle; and

perform an action if the second motor vehicle is traveling is traveling in the lane in which the first motor vehicle is located in the direction of travel opposite the first direction of travel.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the action comprises generating a warning message.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium embodying the computer program product according to claim 19, wherein the action comprises an automatic actuation of an apparatus of the first motor vehicle.