AUTONOMOUS DRIVING SENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20150241226A1
• Filed: 01/19/2015
• Published: 08/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Engelman, Gerald H., Miller, Alex Maurice, Stephenson, Richard Lee, Tellis, Levasseur, Zwicky, Timothy D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,422,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/105 Longitudinal acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/00 Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0011 involving control alternatives for a single driving scenario, e.g. planning several paths to avoid obstacles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00

Abstract

First and second sets of data are collected in a vehicle from respective data sources. Each of the first and second sets of data are provided for determinations respectively selected from first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations. A determination is made to take an autonomous action selected from the first category of autonomous vehicle operations. Data is used from each of the first and second data sets relating respectively to the first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations to determine the autonomous action.

Claims

1. A method implemented in a computer in a vehicle, the method comprising:

collecting first and second sets of data from respective data sources, each of the first and second sets of data provided for determinations respectively selected from first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations;

determining to take an autonomous action selected from the first category of autonomous vehicle operations; and

using data from each of the first and second data sets relating respectively to the first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations to determine the autonomous action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective data sources include sensors in the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the sensors include at least one of radar, lidar, sonar, and a camera.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data is collected from sensors in the vehicle and the second set of data is derived from data collected from sensors in the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of data includes at least one of global positioning system (GPS) data and map data, and the second set of data includes at least one of data relating to vehicle speed and acceleration collected form at least one vehicle sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous action relates to one of a vehicle roadway, an object proximate to the vehicle, and a second vehicle.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the autonomous action is one of determining a route for the vehicle, determining whether the vehicle should change lanes, and determining whether to adjust a speed of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the two or more sources include a sensor in the vehicle and a remote server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing the data using at least one of a timestamp and geo-coordinates.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first category in the second category are selected from the group consisting of strategic determinations, tactical determinations, and operational determinations.

11. A system, comprising a computer configured to be installed in a vehicle, the computer including a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor such that the computer is programmed to:

collect first and second sets of data from respective data sources, each of the first and second sets of data provided for determinations respectively selected from first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations;

determine to take an autonomous action selected from the first category of autonomous vehicle operations; and

use data from each of the first and second data sets relating respectively to the first and second categories of autonomous vehicle operations to determine the autonomous action.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the respective data sources include sensors in the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the sensors include at least one of radar, lidar, sonar, and a camera.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first set of data is collected from sensors in the vehicle and the second set of data is derived from data collected from sensors in the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first set of data includes at least one of global positioning system (GPS) data and map data, and the second set of data includes at least one of data relating to vehicle speed and acceleration collected form at least one vehicle sensor.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the autonomous action relates to one of a vehicle roadway, an object proximate to the vehicle, and a second vehicle.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the autonomous action is one of determining a route for the vehicle, determining whether the vehicle should change lanes, and determining whether to adjust a speed of the vehicle.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the two or more sources include a sensor in the vehicle and a remote server.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the computer is further program to synchronize the data using at least one of a timestamp and geo-coordinates.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the first category in the second category are selected from the group consisting of strategic determinations, tactical determinations, and operational determinations.