Automated-vehicle safe-stop-zone mapping system

• US 9,927,810 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2016
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Laur, Michael H., Szabo, Ronald J., Hilnbrand, Brian R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US15/268,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20180081358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/06 responsive to incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 28/14 responsive to accident or emergency, e.g. deceleration, tilt of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2030/082 Vehicle operation after collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/408 Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/227 Position in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/229 Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/26 Incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18109 Braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/02 Ensuring safety in case of control system failures, e.g. by diagnosing, circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0016 of the vehicle or its occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0053 from vehicle to occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0059 Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/007 Emergency override Handing over between remote control and on-board control or handing over between remote control arrangements G05D1/227
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2302/05 Leading to automatic stopping of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0255 Automatic changing of lane, e.g. for passing another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 15/0285 Parking performed automatically
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3685 the POI's being parking facilities
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3807 characterised by the type of data
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3837 Data obtained from a single source
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/00 : Control of position, course, altitude or attitude of land, water, air or space vehicles, e.g. using automatic pilots drive control systems specially adapted for autonomous road vehicles B60W60/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 : with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 : using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0274 : using mapping information stored in a memory device navigation using map-matching G01C21/30
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/586 : of parking space
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 : Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 : where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control

Abstract

A safe-stop-zone mapping system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle includes a digital-map and a controller. The digital-map indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle. The digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path. The controller is in communication with the digital-map. The controller is configured to navigate the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs.

Claims

1. A safe-stop-zone mapping system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle, said system comprising:

a digital-map that indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle, wherein the digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path; and

a controller in communication with the digital-map, said controller configured to navigate the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs, wherein the system includes an image-device used by the controller to determine if the safe-stop-zone is available for use by the host-vehicle, and the controller is configured update the digital-map when the safe-stop-zone is not available for use.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the safe-stop-zone is not available for use when an object is present in the safe-stop-zone.

2. A safe-stop-zone mapping system suitable for use on an automated-vehicle, said system comprising:

a digital-map that indicates a travel-path suitable for travel by a host-vehicle, wherein the digital-map also indicates a safe-stop-zone proximate to the travel-path; and

a controller in communication with the digital-map, said controller configured to navigate the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when an emergency-situation occurs, wherein the controller is configured to navigate the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when manual-operation of the host-vehicle is recommended and a human-operator is unable to assume control of the host-vehicle.

4. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to operate the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when manual-operation of the host-vehicle is recommended and a human-operator is unable to assume control of the host-vehicle.

5. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to steer the host-vehicle into the safe-stop-zone when manual-operation of the host-vehicle is recommended and a human-operator is unable to assume control of the host-vehicle.