Splash condition detection for vehicles

• US 9,676,387 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2016
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Prokhorov, Danil V., Watanabe, Junya
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US15/186,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20160297442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0095 Automatic control mode change
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/0215 Sensor drifts or sensor failures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/00 Input parameters relating to infrastructure
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/801 Lateral distance
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18009 related to particular drive situations
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/06 Road conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/064 Degree of grip
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0053 from vehicle to occupant

Abstract

Arrangements relate to the operation of a vehicle, which can be an autonomous vehicle. A splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle can be detected. An object near the vehicle can be detected. Further, it can be determined whether the detected object is passing the vehicle. Responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining that the object is passing the vehicle, a warning can be presented to an occupant of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of operating a vehicle operating in an autonomous mode, comprising:

detecting a splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle;

detecting whether a forward object or a rearward object is located in the same travel lane as the vehicle;

detecting an object traveling in a travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located;

determining whether the object is passing the vehicle; and

responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining the object is passing the vehicle, adjusting at least one of;

a distance between the vehicle and the forward object or the rearward object, and

a distance between the vehicle and the object passing the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the distance includes selectively increasing or decreasing a speed of a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the splash condition includes rain, snow, slush, sand or dust.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the splash condition is a pool of fluid located in at least the travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located.

5. A system for operating a vehicle operating in an autonomous mode, comprising:

a processor, the processor being programmed to initiate executable operations comprising;

detecting a splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle;

detecting a forward object or a rearward object in the same travel lane as the vehicle;

detecting an object traveling in a travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located;

determining whether the object is passing the vehicle; and

responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining the object is passing the vehicle, adjusting at least one of;

a distance between the vehicle and the forward object or the rearward object, and

a distance between the vehicle and the object passing the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein adjusting the distance includes selectively increasing or decreasing a speed of a vehicle.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the splash condition includes rain, snow, slush, sand or dust.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the splash condition is a pool of fluid located in at least a travel lane that is adjacent to a travel lane of the vehicle, and wherein the detected object is located in at least the travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located.