Autonomous vehicle identification

• US 9,552,735 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 01/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Pilutti, Thomas Edward, Rupp, Matt Y., Trombley, Roger Arnold, Waldis, Andrew, Yopp, Wilford Trent
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, JELANI A
• Application Number:
  US14/088,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20150149019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,159 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/508 specific to vehicles driving in fleets or convoys
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/543 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle indicating taxis' state of hire or fare G07B13/045
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/55 using telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/22 Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles

Abstract

A computer in a first vehicle is configured to receive data relating to a second vehicle. The computer may use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously. Further, the computer may cause the first vehicle to take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a first vehicle computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:

collect first data from two or more first vehicle data collectors to measure one or more of a second vehicle'"'"'s speed acceleration, braking, turning and distance from other vehicles, wherein the first vehicle data collectors include one or more of a radar, a lidar, sonar, and an image capture device;

use the first collected data to determine whether the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously and, if not fully autonomously, partially autonomously;

determine to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;

collect second data from the first vehicle sensors relating to the second vehicle; and

autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on the second collected data by controlling at least first vehicle speed and steering.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first collected data further includes a signal that includes at least one of visible light and a radio wave from the second vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to compare the first collected data relating to the second vehicle to a stored parameter to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated under an emergency status.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to use the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated manually.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein autonomously operating the first vehicle includes maintaining a predetermined distance from the second vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to collect third data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer is further configured to:

use the third collected data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and

take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

10. A method, comprising:

collecting first data from two or more first vehicle data collectors to measure one or more of a second vehicle'"'"'s speed acceleration, braking, turning and distance from other vehicles, wherein the first vehicle data collectors include one or more of a radar, a lidar, sonar, and an image capture device;

using the first collected data to determine whether the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously and, if not fully autonomously, partially autonomously;

determining to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;

collecting second data from the first vehicle sensors relating to the second vehicle; and

autonomously operating the first vehicle based at least in part on the second collected data by controlling at least first vehicle speed and steering.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first collected data further includes a signal that includes at least one of visible light and a radio wave from the second vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising comparing the first collected data relating to the second vehicle to a stored parameter to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated under an emergency status.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated manually.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein autonomously operating the first vehicle includes maintaining a predetermined distance from the second vehicle.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising collecting third data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising

using the third collected data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;

and

taking an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

19. A computer-readable medium having tangibly embodied thereon instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions including instructions to:

collect first data from two or more first vehicle data collectors to measure one or more of a second vehicle'"'"'s speed acceleration, braking, turning and distance from other vehicles, wherein the first vehicle data collectors include one or more of a radar, a lidar, sonar, and an image capture device;

use the first collected data to determine whether the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously and, if not fully autonomously, partially autonomously;

determine to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;

collect second data from the first vehicle sensors relating to the second vehicle; and

autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on the second collected data by controlling at least first vehicle speed and steering.

20. The medium of claim 19, the instructions further including instructions to:

collect third data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian;

use the third collected data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and

take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.