Optimal warning distance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10043393-B2
Application number	US-201615352251-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2016
Priority date	Aug 19, 2014
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses are provided for determining an optimal warning distance for a vehicle. For example, the geographic location of the vehicle is received along with a reaction profile of the operator of the vehicle. Based on the geographic location, a roadway condition is determined. An optimal warning distance is then determined based on a braking distance of the vehicle and the reaction profile of the operator of the vehicle. The operator of the vehicle, or a navigation system of the vehicle itself, is alerted to the roadway condition when the vehicle is located at the optimal warning distance.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
receiving a geographic location of a vehicle or associated device;
receiving a roadway traffic condition based on the geographic location, the roadway traffic condition associated with a traffic build-up downstream of the geographic location based on traffic data;
identifying a braking distance for the vehicle;
identifying a personalized braking distance for a user associated with the vehicle;
calculating an optimal warning distance based on the roadway traffic condition downstream of the geographic location, the braking distance of the vehicle, and the personalized braking distance of the user; and
providing a message for autonomous or assisted driving to the vehicle for operation of the vehicle in response to the optimal warning distance.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is a driving command configured to steer the vehicle, shift a gear of the vehicle, adjust a throttle of the vehicle, or apply a brake of the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is an auxiliary command for controlling a headlight of the vehicle, a turn signal of the vehicle, a windshield wiper of the vehicle, a defrost of the vehicle, or other device auxiliary to movement of the vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message includes an alert for the roadway traffic condition based on the geographic location of the vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
accessing a profile, including the personalized braking distance, for the user in response to the user entering the vehicle.

6. A method comprising:
receiving a geographic location of an autonomous vehicle;
identifying a personalized braking distance for a passenger of the autonomous vehicle;
calculating an optimal warning distance based on the geographic location and the personalized braking distance of the passenger; and
providing a message for the autonomous vehicle in response to the optimal warning distance,
wherein the message includes a command for the autonomous vehicle,
wherein the command is an auxiliary command for controlling a headlight, a turn signal, a windshield wiper, a defrost, or other device auxiliary to movement of the autonomous vehicle.

7. An apparatus comprising:
position circuitry configured to determine a geographic position associated with a vehicle;
a memory configured to store braking distance values and personalized braking distance values;
a map database configured to store roadway traffic conditions associated with a traffic build-up; and
a controller configured to access a braking distance value for the vehicle, a personalized braking distance value for a user, and a roadway traffic condition for the geographic position and calculate an optimal warning distance based on the braking distance value of the vehicle, the personalized braking distance of the user, and the roadway traffic condition associated with the traffic build-up,
wherein the controller provides an automated driving command to control the vehicle in response to the optimal warning distance.

8. An apparatus comprising:
a memory configured to store a braking distance value and sensor data for a roadway traffic condition associated with a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is upstream of the roadway traffic condition, wherein the braking distance value is determined based on historical data for a build-up for the roadway traffic condition; and
a controller configured to calculate an optimal warning distance based on the roadway condition, the braking distance value, and a personalized braking distance value for a user,
wherein the controller provides a message for the vehicle in response to the optimal warning distance.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle and the message for the vehicle includes a command for the autonomous vehicle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the command is a driving command configured to steer the autonomous vehicle, shift a gear of the autonomous vehicle, adjust a throttle of the autonomous vehicle, or apply a brake of the autonomous vehicle.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to perform a method comprising:
receiving a geographic location of a vehicle or associated device;
identifying a braking distance for the vehicle;
identifying a personalized braking distance for a user associated with the vehicle;
calculating an optimal warning distance based on the geographic location, the braking distance of the vehicle, and the personalized braking distance of the user; and
providing a message to the vehicle or the associated device in response to the optimal warning distance,
wherein the command is an auxiliary command for controlling a headlight of the vehicle, a turn signal of the vehicle, a windshield wiper of the vehicle, a defrost of the vehicle, or other device auxiliary to movement of the vehicle.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions to perform a method comprising:
receiving a geographic location of a vehicle or associated device;
receiving a roadway traffic condition based on the geographic location, the roadway traffic condition associated with a traffic build-up downstream of the geographic location based on traffic data;
identifying a braking distance for the vehicle;
identifying a personalized braking distance for a user associated with the vehicle;
calculating an optimal warning distance based on the roadway traffic condition downstream of the geographic location, the braking distance of the vehicle, and the personalized braking distance of the user; and
providing a message to the vehicle for operation of the vehicle in response to the optimal warning distance.

Assignees

• Here Global Bv

Inventors

• Linder Eric
• Giurgiu Gavril
• Stenneth Leon

Classifications

• B60W2540/221

  Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• H04W4/44

  for communication between vehicles and infrastructures, e.g. vehicle-to-cloud [V2C] or vehicle-to-home [V2H] · CPC title

• G01C21/3697 Primary

  Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60W2554/4041

  Position · CPC title