Non-autonomous steering modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10081387-B2
Application number	US-201715426154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2017
Priority date	Feb 7, 2017
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A computer is programmed to detect a request to steer a host vehicle. The computer is further programmed to determine a steering angle of the host vehicle. The computer is further programmed to send a notification to select one of a first non-autonomous steering mode and a second non-autonomous steering mode. The computer is further programmed to detect a selection of one of the first and second non-autonomous steering modes. The computer is further programmed to steer the host vehicle according to the selected mode and signals received from a user device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer comprising programming to:
detect a request to steer a host vehicle in a non-autonomous mode;
send a first notification upon determining that a current steering angle is unavailable;
steer the host vehicle in one of an autonomous mode and semi-autonomous mode upon determining that the current steering angle is unavailable;
determine the current steering angle of the host vehicle has become available; and
as a result of determining that the current steering angle is available:
send a second notification to select one of a first and second non-autonomous steering modes,
detect a selection of one of the first and second non-autonomous steering modes, and
steer the host vehicle according to the selected mode and signals received from a user device.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to:
send a third notification upon determining the current steering angle, the third notification including instructions to calibrate the user device and a steering angle of the host vehicle according to the selected mode.

3. The computer of claim 2 , wherein the selected mode includes moving the user device to steer the host vehicle.

4. The computer of claim 3 , wherein the instructions to calibrate the user device and the steering angle of the host vehicle include instructions to position the user device at a desired zero-degree steering angle position.

5. The computer of claim 4 , wherein the computer is further programmed to:
detect a signal that the user device is positioned at the desired zero-angle steering angle position;
move a steered road wheel of the host vehicle to a zero-degree steering angle; and
begin operating in the selected mode upon determining that the steered road wheel is at the zero-degree steering angle.

6. The computer of claim 2 , wherein the selected mode includes moving a virtual steering wheel on a display of the user device to steer the host vehicle.

7. The computer of claim 6 , wherein the instructions to calibrate the user device and the steering angle include instructing the user device to align the virtual steering wheel at a position representative of the current steering angle.

8. The computer of claim 7 , wherein the computer is further programmed to:
detect a signal that the virtual steering wheel is aligned at the position representative of the current steering angle; and
begin operating in the selected mode.

9. A method comprising:
detecting a request to steer a host vehicle in a non-autonomous mode;
sending a first notification upon determining that a current steering angle is unavailable;
steering the host vehicle in one of an autonomous and semi-autonomous mode upon determining that the current steering angle is unavailable;
determining the current steering angle of the host vehicle has become available; and
as a result of determining that the current steering angle is available:
sending a second notification to select one of a first and second non-autonomous steering modes,
detecting a selection for one of the first and second non-autonomous steering modes, and
steering the host vehicle according to the selected mode and signals received from a user device.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising sending a third notification upon determining the current steering angle, the third notification including instructions to calibrate the user device and a steering angle of the host vehicle according to the selected mode.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected mode includes moving the user device to steer the host vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the instructions to calibrate the user device and the steering angle include instructions to position the user device at a desired zero-degree steering angle position.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
detecting a signal that the user device is positioned at the desired zero-angle steering angle position;
moving a steered road wheel of the host vehicle to a zero-degree steering angle; and
beginning to operate in the selected mode upon determining that the steered road wheel is at the zero-degree steering angle.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the selected mode includes moving a virtual steering wheel on a screen of the user device to steer the host vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the instructions to calibrate the user device and the steering angle include:
instructing the user device to align the virtual steering wheel at a position representative of the current steering angle; and
detecting a signal from the user device that the virtual steering wheel is aligned at the position representative of the current steering angle.

16. A computer comprising programming to:
detect a request to steer a host vehicle in a non-autonomous mode;
determine a current steering angle of the host vehicle;
send a first notification upon determining the current steering angle, the first notification including instructions to calibrate a user device and a steering angle of the host vehicle according to the selected mode;
send a second notification to select one of a first and second non-autonomous steering modes;
detect a selection of one of the first and second non-autonomous steering modes; and
steer the host vehicle according to the selected mode and signals received from the user device.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• El Aile Steven R

Classifications

• B60W30/18

  Propelling the vehicle · CPC title

• B62D6/007 Primary

  adjustable by the driver, e.g. sport mode · CPC title

• B62D15/0245

  Means or methods for determination of the central position of the steering system, e.g. straight ahead position · CPC title

• B62D1/02

  vehicle-mounted · CPC title

• B62D5/0457

  characterised by control features of the drive means as such · CPC title