VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM THAT LEARNS DIFFERENT DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS

• US 20180113461A1
• Filed: 10/19/2017
• Published: 04/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Magna Electronics Incorporated (Magna International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Potnis, Anuj S., Koravadi, Krishna, Chundrlik, JR., William J.
• Granted Patent: US 11,119,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0818 Inactivity or incapacity of driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2040/0881 Seat occupation; Driver or passenger presence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2420/403 Image sensing, e.g. optical camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/01 Occupants other than the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/22 Psychological state; Stress level or workload
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/223 Posture, e.g. hand, foot, or seat position, turned or inclined
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/225 Direction of gaze
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/229 Attention level, e.g. attentive to driving, reading or sleeping
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/30 Driving style
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2552/05 Type of road, e.g. motorways, local streets, paved or unpaved roads
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2554/4029 Pedestrians
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2555/20 Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/182 Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/09 Driving style or behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/00 Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit , e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 60/0051 from occupants to vehicle
• 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: G05D 1/0221 involving a learning process

Abstract

A driving assistance system for a vehicle includes a control operable to control the vehicle in an autonomous or semi-autonomous mode. When operating in the autonomous mode, driving of the vehicle is controlled by the control without human intervention and, when operating in the semi-autonomous mode, an occupant of the vehicle at least partially drives the vehicle. The control learns a driving style of a particular occupant when the vehicle is being driven by that particular occupant and when the control is operating in the semi-autonomous mode. The control, when operating in the autonomous mode, controls the vehicle in accordance with the learned driving style of the particular occupant of the vehicle. Responsive to a determination of a characteristic of an occupant in the vehicle, the control, when operating in the autonomous, may adjust control of the vehicle irrespective of the learned driving style of the particular occupant.

Claims

1. A driving assistance system for a vehicle, said driving assistance system comprising:

a control operable to control a vehicle equipped with said driving assistance system in an autonomous mode or in a semi-autonomous mode;

wherein, when operating in the autonomous mode, driving of the equipped vehicle is controlled by said control without human intervention;

wherein, when operating in the semi-autonomous mode, an occupant of the equipped vehicle at least partially drives the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control learns a driving style of a particular occupant when the equipped vehicle is being driven by that particular occupant and when said control is operating in the semi-autonomous mode;

wherein said control, when operating in the autonomous mode, controls the equipped vehicle in accordance with the learned driving style of the particular occupant of the equipped vehicle that drove the equipped vehicle when said control was in the semi-autonomous mode and that is determined to be present in the equipped vehicle; and

wherein, responsive to a determination of a characteristic of an occupant in the equipped vehicle, said control, when operating in the autonomous mode, adjusts control of the equipped vehicle irrespective of the learned driving style of the particular occupant.

2. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein, responsive to determination that a child or baby or elderly person is an occupant in the equipped vehicle, said control adjusts control of the equipped vehicle to a non-aggressive driving style.

3. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the occupant is determined via a user input.

4. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the occupant is determined via an interior monitoring system of the equipped vehicle.

5. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the occupant is determined based on at least one of (i) a size of the occupant, (ii) an age of the occupant, and (iii) a determination that the occupant is consuming food or a beverage.

6. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein said control learns the driving style associated with the particular occupant responsive to learning the driving characteristics of that particular occupant when that particular occupant is driving the equipped vehicle and said control is operating in the semi-autonomous mode.

7. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein said control learns the driving style of the particular occupant responsive at least in part to a driver profile.

8. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein said control learns the driving style of the particular occupant responsive at least in part to one of (i) time of day, (ii) current geographical location of the equipped vehicle and (iii) weather conditions.

9. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein said control switches to a non-learning mode responsive to a user input.

10. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein said control switches to a non-learning mode responsive to determination that the particular occupant is driving the equipped vehicle erratically or performing illegal driving maneuvers.

11. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein said control restricts learning of the driving style of the particular occupant of the equipped vehicle responsive to another driving assistance system of the equipped vehicle being active.

12. The driving assistance system of claim 1, wherein said control, when operating in the autonomous mode, adjusts control of the equipped vehicle responsive to determination that the particular occupant is distracted or consuming a beverage or food.

13. A driving assistance system for a vehicle, said driving assistance system comprising:

a control operable to control a vehicle equipped with said driving assistance system in an autonomous mode or in a semi-autonomous mode;

wherein, when operating in the autonomous mode, driving of the equipped vehicle is controlled by said control without human intervention;

wherein, when operating in the semi-autonomous mode, an occupant of the equipped vehicle at least partially drives the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control learns a driving style of a particular occupant responsive to learning the driving characteristics of that particular occupant when that particular driver is driving the equipped vehicle and said control is operating in the semi-autonomous mode; and

wherein said control, when operating in the autonomous mode, controls the equipped vehicle in accordance with the learned driving style of the particular occupant of the equipped vehicle that previously drove the equipped vehicle when said control was in the semi-autonomous mode and that is determined to be present in the equipped vehicle.

14. The driving assistance system of claim 13, wherein said control switches to a non-learning mode responsive to a user input.

15. The driving assistance system of claim 13, wherein said control switches to a non-learning mode responsive to determination that the particular occupant is driving the equipped vehicle erratically or performing illegal driving maneuvers.

16. The driving assistance system of claim 13, wherein said control restricts learning of the driving style of the particular occupant of the equipped vehicle responsive to another driving assistance system being active.

17. The driving assistance system of claim 13, wherein said control, when operating in the autonomous mode, adjusts control of the equipped vehicle responsive to determination that the particular occupant is distracted or consuming a beverage or food.

18. A driving assistance system for a vehicle, said driving assistance system comprising:

a control operable to control a vehicle equipped with said driving assistance system in an autonomous mode or in a semi-autonomous mode;

wherein, when operating in the autonomous mode, driving of the equipped vehicle is controlled by said control without human intervention;

wherein, when operating in the semi-autonomous mode, an occupant of the equipped vehicle at least partially drives the equipped vehicle;

wherein said control, when operating in the autonomous mode, controls the equipped vehicle in accordance with a selected driving style;

wherein, responsive to a determination of a characteristic of an occupant in the equipped vehicle, said control, when operating in the autonomous mode, adjusts control of the equipped vehicle irrespective of the selected driving style; and

wherein the characteristic of the occupant is determined via a user input or via an interior monitoring system of the equipped vehicle.

19. The driving assistance system of claim 18, wherein, responsive to determination that a child or baby or elderly person is an occupant in the equipped vehicle, said control adjusts control of the equipped vehicle to a non-aggressive driving style.

20. The driving assistance system of claim 18, wherein the characteristic of the occupant is determined based on at least one of (i) a size of the occupant, (ii) an age of the occupant, and (iii) a determination that the occupant is consuming food or a beverage.