Modifying autonomous vehicle driving by recognizing vehicle characteristics
First Claim
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1. A system for controlling an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- one or more cameras for obtaining image data of neighboring vehicles in a proximity of the autonomous vehicle;
a processor and a non-transitory data storage on which is stored computer code which, when executed on the processor, causes the autonomous driving system to identify, based on comparing the obtained image data with stored sample image data for a plurality of vehicles of particular makes and models, physical characteristics of the neighboring vehicles, wherein the physical characteristics include;
classes, makes, models, and trims of the neighboring vehicles;
colors of the neighboring vehicles; and
exposed cargo being carried by the neighboring vehicles;
means for mapping the identified physical characteristics into predicted potential on-road events in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle;
means for determining driving decisions based on the predicted potential on-road events; and
vehicle controls that implement the determined driving decisions, wherein the means for mapping the identified physical characteristics into predictions includes a database that;
associates classes, makes, models, and trims of vehicles with respective expected driving patterns for vehicles of those makes, models, and trims;
associates colors of vehicles with respective expected driving patterns for vehicles of those colors; and
associates certain vehicle makes and models with aggressive driving patterns;
wherein the respective expected driving patterns are further defined by road type and road condition;
wherein the means for determining driving decisions includes software that adopts a defensive driving profile upon a determination that a vehicle having an aggressive driving pattern is in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle;
wherein the defensive driving profile is a driving profile that accounts for neighboring vehicles that will distract other drivers and a prediction of how the other drivers will drive in response to the distraction.
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Abstract
A system for controlling an autonomous vehicle having cameras for obtaining image data of neighboring vehicles in a proximity of the autonomous vehicle and for identifying physical characteristics of the neighboring vehicles, including makes, models, and trims of neighboring vehicles, colors of the neighboring vehicles, and exposed cargo being carried by the neighboring vehicles. The system maps the identified physical characteristics into predicted potential on-road events in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle, and makes driving decisions based on the predicted potential on-road event.
54 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system for controlling an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- one or more cameras for obtaining image data of neighboring vehicles in a proximity of the autonomous vehicle;
a processor and a non-transitory data storage on which is stored computer code which, when executed on the processor, causes the autonomous driving system to identify, based on comparing the obtained image data with stored sample image data for a plurality of vehicles of particular makes and models, physical characteristics of the neighboring vehicles, wherein the physical characteristics include;
classes, makes, models, and trims of the neighboring vehicles;
colors of the neighboring vehicles; and
exposed cargo being carried by the neighboring vehicles;
means for mapping the identified physical characteristics into predicted potential on-road events in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle;
means for determining driving decisions based on the predicted potential on-road events; and
vehicle controls that implement the determined driving decisions, wherein the means for mapping the identified physical characteristics into predictions includes a database that;
associates classes, makes, models, and trims of vehicles with respective expected driving patterns for vehicles of those makes, models, and trims;
associates colors of vehicles with respective expected driving patterns for vehicles of those colors; and
associates certain vehicle makes and models with aggressive driving patterns;
wherein the respective expected driving patterns are further defined by road type and road condition;
wherein the means for determining driving decisions includes software that adopts a defensive driving profile upon a determination that a vehicle having an aggressive driving pattern is in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle;
wherein the defensive driving profile is a driving profile that accounts for neighboring vehicles that will distract other drivers and a prediction of how the other drivers will drive in response to the distraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
- one or more cameras for obtaining image data of neighboring vehicles in a proximity of the autonomous vehicle;
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5. A system for automatically driving an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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one or more sensors for obtaining data about at least one neighboring vehicle in a proximity of the autonomous vehicle; a processor and a non-transitory data storage on which is stored computer code which, when executed on the processor, causes the autonomous driving system to; identify, based on the obtained data, physical characteristics of the neighboring vehicle; map the identified physical characteristics into predicted potential on-road events in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle; and determine driving decisions based on the predicted potential on-road events; and vehicle controls that implement the driving decisions, wherein the computer code causes the autonomous driving system to; predict, using the obtained data, neighboring vehicles that will distract other drivers by associating the obtained data with distraction, and adopt a defensive driving profile in response to the identification of the vehicles that will distract other drivers, wherein the defensive driving profile is a driving profile that accounts for neighboring vehicles that will distract other drivers and a prediction of how the other drivers will drive in response to the distraction. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of autonomously driving an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
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obtaining data regarding neighboring vehicles in a proximity of the autonomous vehicle; identifying physical characteristics of the neighboring vehicles; mapping the identified physical characteristics into predicted potential on-road events in the proximity of the autonomous vehicle; determining driving decisions based on the predicted potential on-road events; and controlling the vehicle based on the driving decisions, identifying vehicle makes and vehicle models for the neighboring vehicles; and mapping the identified vehicle makes into predictions of expected driving behaviors for the neighboring vehicles and vehicle models into predictions of expected driving behaviors for the neighboring vehicles; determining present weather conditions; and identifying neighboring vehicles that are not suited for present weather conditions; wherein one or more vehicles are identified as not suited in response to a determination of a likelihood that the vehicles will slip, skid, or be unable to accelerate in the determined present weather conditions. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification