Automated vehicle control system

• US 10,234,858 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2017
• Issued: 03/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
• Original Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cashler, Robert J., Chia, Michael I.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Tuan C
• Application Number:
  US15/490,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20180299887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 701 26
• 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 2540/215 Selection or confirmation of options
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/53 Road markings, e.g. lane marker or crosswalk
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/143 Speed control B60W30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/18163 Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/10 Interpretation of driver requests or demands
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/001 Planning or execution of driving tasks
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0018 by employing degraded modes, e.g. reducing speed, in response to suboptimal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0234 using optical markers or beacons optical beacons per se G01S1/70
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A vehicle-control system suitable for use on an automated vehicle includes a human-machine-interface and a controller. The human-machine-interface accepts an input from an operator of a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the human-machine-interface. The operator inputs a notification to the human-machine-interface. The notification indicates that the operator detects a circumstance that suggests a presence of the emergency-vehicle on the roadway that has not been detected by the system. The controller drives the host-vehicle in accordance with rules governing an operation of vehicles proximate to an emergency-vehicle stopped alongside a roadway.

Claims

1. A vehicle-control system suitable for use on an automated vehicle, said system comprising:

a human-machine-interface that accepts an input from an operator of a host-vehicle; and

a controller in communication with the human-machine-interface, wherein the controller drives the host-vehicle in accordance with rules governing an operation of vehicles proximate to an emergency-vehicle stopped alongside a roadway traveled by the host-vehicle when the operator inputs a notification to the human-machine-interface indicating that the operator detects a circumstance that suggests a presence of the emergency-vehicle on the roadway ahead of the host-vehicle that has not been detected by the system, wherein the controller determines when a lane-change is allowed, wherein when the host-vehicle is in a travel-lane adjacent to the emergency-vehicle the controller drives the host-vehicle into an adjacent-lane while the lane-change is allowed, and when the lane-change is not allowed the controller reduces a host-vehicle-speed in accordance with the rules governing the operation of vehicles proximate to the emergency-vehicle stopped alongside the roadway.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1, wherein after the controller drives the host-vehicle into the adjacent-lane, and wherein after the host-vehicle passes the emergency-vehicle, and wherein when the lane-change is allowed the controller drives the host-vehicle back into the travel-lane traveled by the host-vehicle prior to the notification.

3. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the system further includes a ranging-sensor in communication with the controller, said ranging-sensor detects a vehicle proximate to the host-vehicle, wherein the controller further determines when the lane-change is allowed based on the ranging-sensor.

4. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the system further includes a camera in communication with the controller, said camera detects a lane-marking of the travel-lane, wherein the controller further determines when the lane-change is allowed based on the lane-marking.

5. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the system further includes a digital-map in communication with the controller, said digital-map defines a travel-route of the host-vehicle traveling to a destination, wherein the controller further determines when the lane-change is allowed based on the digital-map.

6. The system in accordance with claim 2, wherein the system further includes a ranging-sensor, a camera, and a digital-map in communication with the controller, said ranging-sensor detects a vehicle proximate to the host-vehicle, said camera detects a lane-marking of the travel-lane, said digital-map defines a travel-route of the host-vehicle traveling to a destination, wherein the controller further determines when the lane-change is allowed based on the ranging-sensor, the lane-marking, and the digital-map.