Method and control system for utilizing an autonomous vehicle as shield against meteorological phenomena

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11378976-B2
Application number	US-201916375009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2019
Priority date	Nov 27, 2018
Publication date	Jul 5, 2022
Grant date	Jul 5, 2022

Abstract

A method and control system for utilizing an autonomous vehicle as shield against meteorological phenomena above a drivable surface area are provided. The method includes determining if the drivable surface area is to be shielded against the meteorological phenomenon and autonomously driving the vehicle over the drivable surface area to at least partially cover the drivable surface area from the meteorological phenomenon. Additionally, the method includes determining if the drivable surface area is to be uncovered and autonomously driving the vehicle away from the drivable surface area to uncover the drivable surface area.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for utilizing an autonomous vehicle as a shield from meteorological phenomena above a drivable surface area, comprising:
determining, by a controller of the vehicle, if the drivable surface area is to be shielded from a meteorological phenomenon;
autonomously driving, by the controller, the vehicle over the drivable surface area to at least partially cover the drivable surface area against the meteorological phenomenon;
determining, by the controller, if the drivable surface area is to be uncovered;
autonomously driving, by the controller, the vehicle away from the drivable surface area to uncover the drivable surface area;
determining, by the controller, if the meteorological phenomenon is occurring within the drivable surface area and if the meteorological phenomenon is imminent within the drivable surface area;
determining, by the controller, if the meteorological phenomenon has stopped in the drivable surface area; and
determining, by the controller, if at least one of another vehicle and a traffic participant approaches the drivable surface area or communicates an intention to cross the drivable surface area,
wherein the determination unit utilizes at least one of:
a sensor system configured to detect at least one of a meteorological phenomenon, other vehicles, and traffic participants;
meteorological data;
environmental data;
vehicle-to-vehicle communication; and
environment-to-vehicle communication,

wherein the sensor system is configured to detect curb heights within the drivable surface area, and
wherein the sensor system is maintained snow free by at least one of the following:
heating the sensor system using a heating system of the vehicle; and
cleaning the sensor system using a cleaning device of the vehicle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to consider prioritization information of the vehicle including at least one selected from the group consisting of: tire quality, tire type, type of drive, fuel level, battery level, and coverage area.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the drivable surface area includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: a sidewalk, a building entrance/exit area, a parking area, and a garage/carport entrance/exit area.

4. A control system for utilizing an autonomous vehicle as a shield from meteorological phenomena, above a drivable surface area, comprising:
an autonomous driving unit configured to autonomously drive the vehicle;
a controller configured to determine if the drivable surface area is to be shielded from a meteorological phenomenon and prompt the autonomous driving unit to drive the vehicle over the drivable surface area to at least partially cover the drivable surface area against the meteorological phenomenon; and configured to determine if the drivable surface area is to be uncovered and prompt the autonomous driving unit to drive the vehicle away from the drivable surface area to uncover the drivable surface area; and
a determination unit configured to determine if the meteorological phenomenon is occurring within the drivable surface area and if the meteorological phenomenon is imminent within the drivable surface area,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine if at least one of another vehicle and a traffic participant approaches the drivable surface area or communicates an intention to cross the drivable surface area,
wherein the determination unit is configured to utilize at least one of:
a sensor system configured to detect at least one of a meteorological phenomenon, other vehicles and traffic participants;
meteorological data;
environmental data;
vehicle-to-vehicle communication; and
environment-to-vehicle communication, and

wherein the sensor system is maintained snow free by at least one of the following:
heating the sensor system using a heating system of the vehicle; and
cleaning the sensor system using a cleaning device of the vehicle.

5. The control system according to claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to consider prioritization information of the vehicle including at least one selected from the group consisting of: tire quality, tire type, type of drive, fuel level, battery level, and coverage area.

6. The control system according to claim 5 , wherein the drivable surface area includes at least one selected from the group consisting of: a sidewalk, a building entrance/exit area, a parking area, and a garage/carport entrance/exit area.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Langer Ingmar
• Schreiber Michael
• Yaya Claudia Escobar
• Krause Margaux

Classifications

• B60W30/14

  {Adaptive} cruise control · CPC title

• B60W2050/0043

  Signal treatments, identification of variables or parameters, parameter estimation or state estimation · CPC title

• B60W50/00 Primary

  Details of control systems for road vehicle drive control not related to the control of a particular sub-unit {, e.g. process diagnostic or vehicle driver interfaces} · CPC title

• B60W2555/20

  Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain · CPC title

• B60W2556/45

  External transmission of data to or from the vehicle · CPC title