Facilitating Lane-Splitting By Motorcycles

• US 20180275650A1
• Filed: 10/20/2015
• Published: 09/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nelson, Zachary David
• Granted Patent: US 10,698,404 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/381 with several light sources activated in sequence, e.g. to create a sweep effect
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/46 for giving flashing caution signals during drive, other than signalling change of direction, e.g. flashing the headlights or hazard lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/507 specific to autonomous vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/525 automatically indicating risk of collision between vehicles in traffic or with pedestrians, e.g. after risk assessment using the vehicle sensor data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/40 Several lamps activated in sequence, e.g. sweep effect, progressive activation
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 50/25 intended to provide information to other road users, e.g. signs or flags
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 6/26 warning or informing other road users, e.g. police flash lights
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0055 with safety arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0276 using signals provided by a source external to the vehicle involving a plurality of vehicles G05D1/0287; automatically controlling vehicle speed responsive to externally generated signals B60K31/0058
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

A controller of a motorcycle determines that the motorcycle is lane-splitting. The controller transmits a notification to vehicles in proximity to the motorcycle. In response to the notifications, the vehicles facilitate lane-splitting by the motorcycle. In particular the vehicles may flash lights to communicate that the vehicle has received the notification and will facilitate lane-splitting. The vehicles may facilitate lane-splitting by refraining from performing lane changes. The vehicles may further notify the motorcycle if lane changes are needed and the motorcycle controller may provide an alert to a rider.

Claims

1. A controller for an autonomous vehicle comprising:

one or more processing devices programmed to—

receive a notification from a first vehicle, the notification indicating that the first vehicle is lane-splitting;

transmit acknowledgment to the first vehicle of the notification; and

in response to the notification, limit movement of the autonomous vehicle into an inter-lane region adjacent a lane in which the autonomous vehicle is traveling.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to transmit acknowledgment to the first vehicle by transmitting a wireless signal to the first vehicle.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to transmit acknowledgment to the first vehicle by flashing lights located on a side of the autonomous vehicle facing the inter-lane region.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to forward the notification to one or more other vehicles adjacent the vehicle and located on either side of the inter-lane region.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to coordinate flashing the lights with the one or more other vehicles to define a lane-splitting zone along the inter-lane region.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to limit movement of the autonomous vehicle into the inter-lane region by refraining from performing lane-changes.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to limit movement of the autonomous vehicle into the inter-lane region by moving the autonomous vehicle away from the inter-lane region.

8. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to:

detect a lane change across the inter-lane region invoked by one of a driver of the autonomous vehicle and the controller;

in response to detecting the lane change, transmit a second notification to the first vehicle over a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication protocol, the second notification indicating that the autonomous vehicle is going to perform the lane change.

9. The controller of claim 1, wherein the one or more processing devices are coupled to at least one of a steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator;

and

wherein the one or more processors are further programmed to limit movement of the autonomous vehicle into the inter-lane region by activating one or more of the steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator to limit movement into the inter-lane region.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the one or more processing devices are further coupled to one or more sensing devices;

and

wherein the one or more processing devices are further programmed to;

receive one or more outputs from the one or more sensing devices;

identify a set of potential obstacles from the outputs of the one or more sensing devices;

evaluate possible collisions between the autonomous vehicle and the set of potential obstacles; and

activate at least one of the steering actuator, the accelerator actuator, and the brake actuator of the autonomous vehicle effective to avoid collisions with the set of potential obstacles and the first vehicle.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a controller of an autonomous vehicle, a notification from a first vehicle, the notification indicating that the first vehicle is lane-splitting, the controller including one or more processing devices;

transmitting, by the controller, acknowledgment to the first vehicle of the notification; and

in response to the notification, limiting, by the controller, movement of the autonomous vehicle into an inter-lane region adjacent a lane in which the autonomous vehicle is traveling.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the acknowledgment to the first vehicle by transmitting a wireless signal to the first vehicle.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein transmitting acknowledgment to the first vehicle comprises activating, by the controller, flashing lights located on a side of the autonomous vehicle facing the inter-lane region.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising forwarding the notification to one or more other vehicles adjacent the vehicle and located on either side of the inter-lane region.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising coordinating, by the controller, flashing the lights with the one or more other vehicles to define a lane-splitting zone along the inter-lane region.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein limiting movement of the autonomous vehicle into the inter-lane region further comprises refraining from performing lane-changes.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein limiting movement of the autonomous vehicle into the inter-lane region further comprises performing lane-changes at a slower rate.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting, by the controller, a lane change across the inter-lane region invoked by one of a driver of the autonomous vehicle and the controller;

in response to detecting the lane change, transmitting, by the controller, a second notification to the first vehicle over a vehicle-to-vehicle wireless communication protocol, the second notification indicating that the autonomous vehicle is going to perform the lane change.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the controller is coupled to at least one of a steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator, the method further comprising:

limiting movement of the autonomous vehicle into the inter-lane region by activating one or more of the steering actuator, accelerator actuator, and brake actuator to limit movement into the inter-lane region.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving, by the controller, one or more outputs from the one or more sensing devices;

identifying, by the controller, a set of potential obstacles from the outputs of the one or more sensing devices;

evaluating, by the controller, possible collisions between the autonomous vehicle and the set of potential obstacles; and

activating, by the controller, at least one of the steering actuator, the accelerator actuator, and the brake actuator of the autonomous vehicle effective to avoid collisions with the set of potential obstacles and the first vehicle.