Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle
First Claim
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1. A robotic control system for operating a robotically operable vehicle comprising:
- a plurality of operation systems that is automatically controllable when the vehicle is operated in an autonomous mode, the plurality of operation systems including;
a steering system for controlling a direction of movement of the vehicle;
a braking system for controlling braking of the vehicle,a throttle system for controlling a speed of the vehicle; and
a transmission system for selecting a gear for the vehicle;
an electrically controlled actuator configured for, in accordance with control signals generated by an autonomous control system, operating an operation system of the plurality of operation systems;
a mechanical linkage configured for controlling an operation system of the plurality of operation systems corresponding to the mechanical linkage according to remote commands received from a remote operation member; and
a plurality of electrically actuated clutches configured for causing the vehicle to operate in the autonomous mode by powering on and allowing the plurality of operation systems to receive control signals from an autonomous control system, and for allowing the vehicle to operate in a manual mode by powering off, wherein the electrically controlled actuator is mated to at least one of the plurality of operation systems by at least one electrically actuated clutch, and wherein the robotic control system is configured to switch from the autonomous mode to the manual mode upon verifying that a human is controlling the robotically operable vehicle by;
(i) receiving, from a sensor, a sensor signal that indicates that the human is in a driver'"'"'s seat in the robotically operable vehicle, and (ii) detecting, using an algorithm executing on a processor, a pattern of controlling a plurality of controls of the robotically operable vehicle in a manner that is indicative of an exercise of human judgment.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for switching between autonomous and manual operation of a vehicle are described. A mechanical control system can receive manual inputs from a mechanical operation member to operate the vehicle in manual mode. An actuator can receive autonomous control signals generated by a controller. When the actuator is engaged, it operates the vehicle in an autonomous mode, and when disengaged, the vehicle is operated in manual mode. Operating the vehicle in an autonomous mode can include automatically controlling steering, braking, throttle, and transmission. A system may also allow the vehicle to be operated via remote command.
249 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A robotic control system for operating a robotically operable vehicle comprising:
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a plurality of operation systems that is automatically controllable when the vehicle is operated in an autonomous mode, the plurality of operation systems including; a steering system for controlling a direction of movement of the vehicle; a braking system for controlling braking of the vehicle, a throttle system for controlling a speed of the vehicle; and a transmission system for selecting a gear for the vehicle; an electrically controlled actuator configured for, in accordance with control signals generated by an autonomous control system, operating an operation system of the plurality of operation systems; a mechanical linkage configured for controlling an operation system of the plurality of operation systems corresponding to the mechanical linkage according to remote commands received from a remote operation member; and a plurality of electrically actuated clutches configured for causing the vehicle to operate in the autonomous mode by powering on and allowing the plurality of operation systems to receive control signals from an autonomous control system, and for allowing the vehicle to operate in a manual mode by powering off, wherein the electrically controlled actuator is mated to at least one of the plurality of operation systems by at least one electrically actuated clutch, and wherein the robotic control system is configured to switch from the autonomous mode to the manual mode upon verifying that a human is controlling the robotically operable vehicle by;
(i) receiving, from a sensor, a sensor signal that indicates that the human is in a driver'"'"'s seat in the robotically operable vehicle, and (ii) detecting, using an algorithm executing on a processor, a pattern of controlling a plurality of controls of the robotically operable vehicle in a manner that is indicative of an exercise of human judgment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification