Detecting and responding to tailgaters
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- identifying, by one or more processors of a first vehicle, a second vehicle driving behind the first vehicle and in a same lane as the first vehicle;
detecting, by the one or more processors, a third vehicle driving in front of the first vehicle and in the same lane as the first vehicle;
determining, by the one or more processors, that the second vehicle is a possible tailgating vehicle based a current speed of the first vehicle and a distance between the second vehicle and the first vehicle; and
maneuvering, by the one or more processors, the first vehicle in order to adjust a distance between the first vehicle and the third vehicle based on the determination that the second vehicle is a possible tailgating vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An autonomous vehicle detects a tailgating vehicle and uses various response mechanisms. A vehicle is identified as a tailgater based on whether its characteristics meet a variable threshold. When the autonomous vehicle is traveling at slower speeds, the threshold is defined in distance. When the autonomous vehicle is traveling at faster speeds, the threshold is defined in time. The autonomous vehicle responds to the tailgater by modifying its driving behavior. In one example, the autonomous vehicle adjusts a headway buffer (defined in time) from another vehicle in front of the autonomous vehicle. In this regard, if the tailgater is T seconds too close to the autonomous vehicle, the autonomous vehicle increases the headway buffer to the vehicle in front of it by some amount relative to T.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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identifying, by one or more processors of a first vehicle, a second vehicle driving behind the first vehicle and in a same lane as the first vehicle; detecting, by the one or more processors, a third vehicle driving in front of the first vehicle and in the same lane as the first vehicle; determining, by the one or more processors, that the second vehicle is a possible tailgating vehicle based a current speed of the first vehicle and a distance between the second vehicle and the first vehicle; and maneuvering, by the one or more processors, the first vehicle in order to adjust a distance between the first vehicle and the third vehicle based on the determination that the second vehicle is a possible tailgating vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising one or more processors of a first vehicle, the one or more processors being configured to:
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identify a second vehicle driving behind the first vehicle and in a same lane as the first vehicle; detect a third vehicle driving in front of the first vehicle and in the same lane as the first vehicle; determine that the second vehicle is a possible tailgating vehicle based a current speed of the first vehicle and a distance between the second vehicle and the first vehicle; and maneuver the first vehicle in order to adjust a distance between the first vehicle and the third vehicle based on the determination that the second vehicle is a possible tailgating vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification