Systems and methods for semi-autonomous vehicular convoys
First Claim
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1. A computerized vehicular convoying control system, useful in association with a lead vehicle, at least one follower vehicle and a central server, the control system comprising:
- at least one computerized controller configured to monitor and control acceleration and deceleration of one of a lead vehicle and at least one follower vehicle, thereby maintaining a safe vehicular spacing between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle while moving;
a user interface configured to receive an input from the at least one computerized controller and to provide vehicular data to a driver;
an inter-vehicular transceiver configured to communicate between the computerized controller associated with at least the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle;
a long-range vehicular transceiver configured to communicate between a central server and the computerized controller of at least one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle;
a vehicular separation sensor configured to detect a distance between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle, and further configured to detect a relative speed between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle, and to provide such distance and relative speed to the at least one computerized controller;
a braking actuation sensor configured to measure brake actuation and to provide such brake actuation measurements to the computerized controller;
a supplemental braking actuator responsive to inputs from the computerized controller to vary braking of one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle;
an acceleration actuation sensor for measuring acceleration actuation and providing such measured acceleration to the computerized controller;
a supplemental acceleration actuator responsive to the computerized controller to vary acceleration of one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; and
a forward-facing camera configured to substantially capture a substantially frontal image as viewed from one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle and to provide such frontal image to the computerized controller.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to systems and methods for vehicles to safely closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A computerized vehicular convoying control system, useful in association with a lead vehicle, at least one follower vehicle and a central server, the control system comprising:
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at least one computerized controller configured to monitor and control acceleration and deceleration of one of a lead vehicle and at least one follower vehicle, thereby maintaining a safe vehicular spacing between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle while moving; a user interface configured to receive an input from the at least one computerized controller and to provide vehicular data to a driver; an inter-vehicular transceiver configured to communicate between the computerized controller associated with at least the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; a long-range vehicular transceiver configured to communicate between a central server and the computerized controller of at least one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; a vehicular separation sensor configured to detect a distance between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle, and further configured to detect a relative speed between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle, and to provide such distance and relative speed to the at least one computerized controller; a braking actuation sensor configured to measure brake actuation and to provide such brake actuation measurements to the computerized controller; a supplemental braking actuator responsive to inputs from the computerized controller to vary braking of one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; an acceleration actuation sensor for measuring acceleration actuation and providing such measured acceleration to the computerized controller; a supplemental acceleration actuator responsive to the computerized controller to vary acceleration of one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; and a forward-facing camera configured to substantially capture a substantially frontal image as viewed from one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle and to provide such frontal image to the computerized controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a computerized vehicular convoying control system, a vehicular convoying method for controlling a lead vehicle and at least one follower vehicle, the convoying method comprising:
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in a computerized controller, monitoring and controlling acceleration and deceleration of one of a lead vehicle and at least one follower vehicle, thereby dynamically and semi-autonomously maintaining a safe vehicular spacing between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; providing vehicular data to a driver; communicating between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; communicating between a central server and one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; detecting a distance between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle, and detecting a relative speed between the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; measuring brake actuation; providing supplemental braking to one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; measuring acceleration actuation; providing supplemental acceleration of one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle; and capturing a substantially frontal image as viewed from one of the lead vehicle and the at least one follower vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification