Cognitive driver assist with variable assistance for automated vehicles

• US 9,637,120 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laur, Michael H., Lambermont, Serge, Absmeier, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, John R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ziaeianmehdizadeh, Navid
• Application Number:
  US14/748,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20160375900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 2201/022 Collision avoidance systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/12 for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/22 initiated by contact of vehicle, e.g. bumper, with an external object, e.g. another vehicle , or by means of contactless obstacle detectors mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/04 including control of propulsion units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/184 with wheel brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/20 including control of steering systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/00 Input parameters relating to occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/045 Occupant permissions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/225 Direction of gaze
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/00 Input parameters relating to objects
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4029 Pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18154 Approaching an intersection
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/12 Limiting control by the driver depending on vehicle state, e.g. interlocking means for the control input for preventing unsafe operation
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/025 Active steering aids, e.g. helping the driver by actively influencing the steering system after environment evaluation B62D1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0265 Automatic obstacle avoidance by steering
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 11/105 characterised by the function converting demand to actuation, e.g. a map indicating relations between an accelerator pedal position and throttle valve opening or target engine torque
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/701 Information about vehicle position, e.g. from navigation system or GPS signal
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/702 : Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/10 : for acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/12 : for deceleration F02D41/0005, F02D41/107 take precedence

Abstract

A cognitive-driver-assist system includes an object-detection device, an operator-detection device, a control-override device, and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect when an object is proximate to a host-vehicle. The operator-detection device is operable to determine when an operator of the host-vehicle is aware of the object. The control-override device is operable to limit operator-authority of the operator while the operator is driving the host-vehicle. The controller is configured to operate the control-override device in accordance with the operator-authority to override the operator and avoid interference with the object when the operator is not aware of the object.

Claims

1. A cognitive-driver-assist system, said system comprising:

an object-detection device configured to detect when an object is proximate to a host-vehicle;

an operator-detection device configured to determine when an operator of the host-vehicle is not aware of the object;

a control-override device configured to limit operator-authority of the operator while the operator is driving the host-vehicle; and

a controller configured to operate the control-override device in accordance with the operator-authority to override the operator and avoid interference with the object when the operator is not aware of the object, wherein the object is a train approaching a rail-road crossing, the control-override device includes a brake-override device, and the controller operates the brake-override device to prevent the operator from stopping on the rail-road crossing when the operator is not aware of the train.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control-override device includes one or more of a steering-override device, an accelerator-override device, and a brake-override device.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object is an other-vehicle present beside the host-vehicle, the control-override device includes a steering-override device, and the controller operates the steering-override device to prevent the operator from changing lanes when the operator is not aware of the other-vehicle.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object is an other-vehicle approaching an intersection via a crossing-lane of the intersection, the control-override device includes an accelerator-override device, and the controller operates the accelerator-override device to prevent the operator from entering the intersection when the operator is not aware of the other-vehicle.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object is stationary at a location in a travel-path of the host-vehicle, the control-override device includes a steering-override device, and the controller operates the steering-override device to avoid the object when the operator is not aware of the object.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the object is a pedestrian or animal approaching a travel-path of the host-vehicle, the control-override device includes a brake-override device and an accelerator-override device, and the controller operates the brake-override device and the accelerator-override device to stop the host-vehicle when the operator is not aware of the pedestrian or animal.