Active steering safety system
First Claim
1. An active steering system for controlling a vehicle, the system comprising:
- at least one sensor configured to detect a leading obstacle; and
a control module configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor, to determine a steering profile, and to execute a lane change maneuver based on the steering profile;
wherein;
the steering profile includes a plurality of steering angles and corresponding vehicle positions for maneuvering the vehicle from a current lane to an adjacent lane, the steering angles being calculated to not increase the acceleration of the vehicle above an occupant comfort threshold value and to not cause the vehicle to cross an outer boundary of the adjacent lane;
the control module is configured to compare an available deceleration rate of the vehicle with a required deceleration rate of the vehicle that is required to avoid the leading obstacle;
if the available deceleration rate of the vehicle is greater than the required deceleration rate of the vehicle, the control module determines that no lane change maneuver is required to avoid the leading obstacle;
if the available deceleration rate of the vehicle is less than the required deceleration rate of the vehicle, the control module determines that the lane change maneuver is required to avoid the leading obstacle;
the lane change maneuver includes determining the following by the controller;
a first lateral distance to the outer boundary of the adjacent lane;
a maximum steering rate for the current lane, the maximum steering rate includes a maximum rate at which a steering angle of the wheels can be changed without losing traction;
a second lateral distance, within the maximum steering rate, that the vehicle must move to avoid the leading obstacle;
an adequate front distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle for changing lanes based on the determined second lateral distance and the maximum steering rate;
a lane change to avoid the leading obstacle is available if actual distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle is not less than the adequate distance because there is adequate room between the vehicle and the leading obstacle and the first lateral distance to the outer boundary of the adjacent lane is adequate to accommodate the vehicle; and
a lane change to avoid the leading vehicle is not available if actual distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle is less than the adequate distance because there is inadequate room between the vehicle and the leading obstacle for changing lanes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present teachings provide for an active steering system for controlling a vehicle. The system can include at least one sensor and a control module. The at least one sensor can be configured to detect a leading obstacle. The control module can be configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor, to determine a steering profile, and to execute a lane change maneuver based on the steering profile. The steering profile can include a plurality of steering angles and corresponding vehicle positions for maneuvering the vehicle from a current lane to an adjacent lane. The steering angles can be calculated to not increase the acceleration of the vehicle above an occupant comfort threshold value and to not cause the vehicle to cross an outer boundary of the adjacent lane.
33 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An active steering system for controlling a vehicle, the system comprising:
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at least one sensor configured to detect a leading obstacle; and a control module configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor, to determine a steering profile, and to execute a lane change maneuver based on the steering profile; wherein; the steering profile includes a plurality of steering angles and corresponding vehicle positions for maneuvering the vehicle from a current lane to an adjacent lane, the steering angles being calculated to not increase the acceleration of the vehicle above an occupant comfort threshold value and to not cause the vehicle to cross an outer boundary of the adjacent lane; the control module is configured to compare an available deceleration rate of the vehicle with a required deceleration rate of the vehicle that is required to avoid the leading obstacle; if the available deceleration rate of the vehicle is greater than the required deceleration rate of the vehicle, the control module determines that no lane change maneuver is required to avoid the leading obstacle; if the available deceleration rate of the vehicle is less than the required deceleration rate of the vehicle, the control module determines that the lane change maneuver is required to avoid the leading obstacle; the lane change maneuver includes determining the following by the controller; a first lateral distance to the outer boundary of the adjacent lane; a maximum steering rate for the current lane, the maximum steering rate includes a maximum rate at which a steering angle of the wheels can be changed without losing traction; a second lateral distance, within the maximum steering rate, that the vehicle must move to avoid the leading obstacle; an adequate front distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle for changing lanes based on the determined second lateral distance and the maximum steering rate; a lane change to avoid the leading obstacle is available if actual distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle is not less than the adequate distance because there is adequate room between the vehicle and the leading obstacle and the first lateral distance to the outer boundary of the adjacent lane is adequate to accommodate the vehicle; and a lane change to avoid the leading vehicle is not available if actual distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle is less than the adequate distance because there is inadequate room between the vehicle and the leading obstacle for changing lanes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An active steering system for controlling a vehicle, the system comprising:
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at least one sensor configured to detect a leading obstacle and an adjacent obstacle; and a control module configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor, to calculate a steering profile, and to execute a lane change maneuver based on the steering profile; wherein; the steering profile includes a plurality of steering angles and corresponding vehicle positions for maneuvering the vehicle from a current lane to an adjacent lane, the steering angles being calculated by the control module to not increase the acceleration of the vehicle above an occupant comfort threshold value and to not cause the vehicle to cross an outer boundary of the adjacent lane; the steering profile is calculated based on at least one of;
a relative distance and velocity of the vehicle and the leading obstacle; and
a relative distance and velocity of the vehicle and the adjacent obstacle;the control module is configured to compare an available deceleration rate of the vehicle with a required deceleration rate of the vehicle that is required to avoid the leading obstacle; if the available deceleration rate of the vehicle is greater than the required deceleration rate of the vehicle, the control module determines that no lane change maneuver is required to avoid the leading obstacle; if the available deceleration rate of the vehicle is less than the required deceleration rate of the vehicle, the control module determines that the lane change maneuver is required to avoid the leading obstacle; the lane change maneuver includes determining the following by the controller; a first lateral distance to the outer boundary of the adjacent lane; a maximum steering rate for the current lane, the maximum steering rate includes a maximum rate at which a steering angle of the wheels can be changed without losing traction; a second lateral distance, within the maximum steering rate, that the vehicle must move to avoid the leading obstacle; an adequate front distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle for changing lanes based on the determined second lateral distance and the maximum steering rate; a lane change to avoid the leading obstacle is available if actual distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle is not less than the adequate distance because there is adequate room between the vehicle and the leading obstacle and the first lateral distance to the outer boundary of the adjacent lane is adequate to accommodate the vehicle; and a lane change to avoid the leading vehicle is not available if actual distance between the vehicle and the leading obstacle is less than the adequate distance because there is inadequate room between the vehicle and the leading obstacle for changing lanes. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification