Method and apparatus for determining vehicle location based on motor feedback
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vehicle comprising:
- an acceleration system;
a steering system;
a braking system;
a speedometer;
a power train including an electric motor, the electric motor including a first rotor disposed with a first stator;
a displacement measuring device coupled to the first rotor; and
one or more processors coupled to one or more of the steering system, the acceleration system, and the braking system, the processor being configured to;
when operating the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode, use the speedometer to control the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system;
receive, from the displacement measuring device, a signal that indicates an orientation of the first rotor relative to the first stator;
filter the received signal to remove noise;
determine at least one of displacement of the first rotor or a derivative of displacement of the first rotor based on the filtered received signal;
determine velocity of the vehicle based on the displacement of the first rotor or the derivative of displacement;
receive information from the speedometer identifying a speed of the vehicle;
compare the speed of the vehicle to the determined velocity to determine whether the speed of the vehicle matches the determined velocity; and
when the speed of the vehicle does not match the determined velocity, stop using the speedometer to control the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system and operating at least one of the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system using the determined velocity.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for determining the location of a vehicle. According to one aspect the method and apparatus the movements of motor rotors in a vehicle are monitored and used to determine speed, travel distance and/or travel path of a vehicle may be determined. Using various navigation techniques, the distance and travel path may then be used to determine the vehicle'"'"'s location. Furthermore, movements of the motor rotors may also be used to report the positions of the steering and drive systems for the purpose of informing the vehicle controller as a method of feedback.
32 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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an acceleration system; a steering system; a braking system; a speedometer; a power train including an electric motor, the electric motor including a first rotor disposed with a first stator; a displacement measuring device coupled to the first rotor; and one or more processors coupled to one or more of the steering system, the acceleration system, and the braking system, the processor being configured to; when operating the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode, use the speedometer to control the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system; receive, from the displacement measuring device, a signal that indicates an orientation of the first rotor relative to the first stator; filter the received signal to remove noise; determine at least one of displacement of the first rotor or a derivative of displacement of the first rotor based on the filtered received signal; determine velocity of the vehicle based on the displacement of the first rotor or the derivative of displacement; receive information from the speedometer identifying a speed of the vehicle; compare the speed of the vehicle to the determined velocity to determine whether the speed of the vehicle matches the determined velocity; and when the speed of the vehicle does not match the determined velocity, stop using the speedometer to control the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system and operating at least one of the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system using the determined velocity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for controlling the operation of a vehicle, the vehicle having a motor that is part of a power train of the vehicle, the motor having a first rotor and a first stator, the method comprising:
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when operating the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode, using, by one or more processors, the speedometer to control the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system; receiving, by the one or more processors, a first signal indicating a first value for the speed of the vehicle, the first signal being produced by a speedometer of the vehicle; receiving, by the one or more processors, a second signal indicating an orientation of the first rotor relative to the first stator, the second signal being produced by a second device that is coupled to the first rotor; determining, by the one or more processors, based on the at least one of the angular displacement of the first rotor and a derivative of the angular displacement of the first rotor, a derivative of the displacement of the vehicle; comparing, by the one or more processors, the first value with the second value to determine whether the first value matches the second value; and when the first value does not match the second value, stopping, by one or more processors, the use of the speedometer to control the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system and operating, by the one or more processors, at least one of the braking system, the steering system, and the acceleration system based on the received first signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising one or more processors, the one or more processors being configured to:
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when operating the vehicle in an autonomous driving mode, use speed information received from a speedometer to control the braking and acceleration of a vehicle; receive, from a measuring device, a signal that indicates a position of a first rotor of a motor of the vehicle; determine at least one of displacement of the first rotor or a derivative of displacement of the first rotor based on the received signal; determine velocity of the vehicle based on the displacement of the first rotor or the derivative of displacement; compare the speed information to the determined velocity to determine whether the speed of the vehicle matches the determined velocity; and when the speed of the vehicle does not match the determined velocity, stop using the speedometer to control the braking and the acceleration of the vehicle and control at least one of the braking and acceleration of the vehicle using the determined velocity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification