Method and device for modifying the configuration of a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle

• US 9,483,882 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2014
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Stefan, Frederic, Gussen, Uwe, Rambow, Thomas, Arndt, Christoph
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nga X
• Application Number:
  US14/254,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20140309816A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 701 1- 2, 701/29.3, 701/33.1, 701/34.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/20 Steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/08 Interaction between the driver and the control system
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modifying the configuration of a driving assistance system of a motor vehicle includes, during operation in an autopilot mode, detecting that a vehicle driver makes a control input counter to vehicle control directed by the driving assistance system. Data relating to driving conditions existing when the driver made the control input is logged onboard the vehicle and transmitted to an off-board central communications platform. The central communications platform creates a modified configuration for the driving assistance system based on the data and re-transmits it back to the vehicle where it is loaded into the driving assistance system. The modified configuration causes the driving assistance system to automatically control the vehicle in a manner consistent with the control input if the driving conditions reoccur. The modified configuration may also be transmitted to a driving assistance system of one or more other motor vehicles.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting to a central communications platform (CCP) data relating to driving conditions existing when a vehicle driver makes control inputs counter to decision logic of a driving assistance system (DAS);

receiving a modified decision logic for the DAS created by the CCP, the modified logic causing the DAS to control the vehicle consistently with the control inputs when the driving conditions reoccur; and

loading the modified logic into the DAS.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified decision logic is further transmitted from the CCP to a DAS of a second motor vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the driving conditions relate to at least one of a physical condition of the driver, an activity of the driver, an external environment of the vehicle, an operating status of the vehicle, and a response of the driving assistance system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transmitted to the CCP includes data logged over a time interval beginning before the control inputs and ending after the control inputs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting information entered by the driver to the CCP.

6. Apparatus comprising:

a driving assistance system (DAS) operable to automatically control a motor vehicle; and

a wireless communication unit transmitting data to a central communications platform (CCP), the data related to driving conditions existing when a driver makes a control input counter to automatic control directed by the DAS, and receiving from the CCP a modified vehicle control decision logic for the DAS created by the CCP based upon the data.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the modified decision logic causes the DAS to automatically control the vehicle in a manner consistent with the control input when the driving conditions reoccur.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the driving conditions relate to at least one of a physical condition of the driver, an activity of the driver, an external environment of the vehicle, an operating status of the vehicle, and a response of the DAS.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the data transmitted to the CCP includes data logged over a time interval beginning before the control input and ending after the control input.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the communications unit further transmits information entered by the driver to the CCP.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the DAS is operable to control the vehicle in a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction.