Autonomous vehicle control system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10082791-B2
Application number	US-201615006750-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 26, 2016
Priority date	Jan 26, 2016
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle including an autonomic vehicle control system is described. A method for operating the vehicle includes, during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, determining vehicle and environmental operating conditions and extra-vehicle conditions when the autonomic vehicle control system is activated. A confidence level associated with operation of the autonomic vehicle control system is determined based upon the vehicle operating conditions, the environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions. The confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system is transmitted via an operator interface device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for operating a vehicle including with an autonomic vehicle control system, comprising:
during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system:
determining vehicle and environmental operating conditions,
determining extra-vehicle conditions,
determining a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle operating conditions, the environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions,
transmitting, via an operator interface device, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, including visually displaying the confidence level via a controllable multi-color light bar that is disposed on a steering wheel, wherein transmitting the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system includes displaying a green color via the light bar when the confidence level is high, and displaying a red color via the light bar when the confidence level indicates a need for an immediate intervention by a vehicle operator;
monitoring the confidence level, and
transmitting the confidence level via a second operator interface device in response to a change in the confidence level.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the confidence level has a numerical value that is continuously variable over a range between 0% and 100%.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises visually displaying the confidence level via an electronic visual display module.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises visually displaying the confidence level via a heads-up display.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises conveying the confidence level via an audio feedback device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises conveying the confidence level via a haptic seat.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises conveying the confidence level via a wearable device.

8. A method for operating a vehicle including with an autonomic vehicle control system, comprising:
during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system:
determining vehicle and environmental operating conditions,
determining extra-vehicle conditions,
determining a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle operating conditions, the environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions,
transmitting, via an operator interface device, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system;
monitoring the confidence level,
monitoring biometric data associated with a vehicle operator,
determining a need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator based upon the biometric data;
transmitting the confidence level via a second operator interface device in response to a change in the confidence level; and
transmitting the confidence level via the second operator interface device when the need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator is determined based upon the biometric data.

9. A vehicle, comprising:
a steering wheel;
an autonomic vehicle control system;
a human-machine interface (HMI) controller;
a plurality of operator interface devices, wherein the operator interface devices are capable of transmitting a message associated with operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, wherein one of the operator interface devices comprises a controllable multi-color light bar that is disposed on the steering wheel, including the light bar being configured to display a first color when the confidence level is high, and the light bar being configured to display a second color when the confidence level indicates a need for an immediate intervention by the vehicle operator;
a controller including an instruction set, the instruction set executable to:
determine vehicle and environmental operating conditions and extra-vehicle conditions during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system,
determine a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle and environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions, and
display, via the multi-color light bar, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the confidence level has a numerical value that is continuously variable over a range between 0% and 100%.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise an electronic visual display module.

12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise a heads-up display.

13. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise an audio feedback device.

14. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise a haptic seat.

15. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise a wearable device.

16. A vehicle, comprising:
an autonomic vehicle control system;
a human-machine interface (HMI) controller;
a plurality of operator interface devices, wherein the operator interface devices are capable of transmitting a message associated with operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, wherein the operator interface devices includes a multi-color light bar;
a controller including an instruction set, the instruction set executable to:
determine vehicle and environmental operating conditions and extra-vehicle conditions during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system,
determine a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle and environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions,
transmit, via the multi-color light bar, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system,
monitor the confidence level,
transmit the confidence level via a second of the operator interface devices in response to a change in the confidence level,
monitor biometric data associated with a vehicle operator,
determine a need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator based upon the biometric data; and
transmit the confidence level via the second of the operator interface devices when the need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator is determined based upon the biometric data.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Bertollini Gary P
• Szczerba Joseph F
• Mathieu Roy J

Classifications

• B60W30/00 Primary

  Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub-unit, e.g. of systems using conjoint control of vehicle sub-units · CPC title

• G05D1/021 Primary

  specially adapted to land vehicles · CPC title

• G05D1/0276

  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 title

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B60W50/14 Primary

  Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention · CPC title