Method and a control unit for stopping a vehicle when stopping at different types of stop positions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11618449-B2
Application number	US-201917425196-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2019
Priority date	Jan 30, 2019
Publication date	Apr 4, 2023
Grant date	Apr 4, 2023

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for a control unit (10) for stopping a vehicle (1) when stopping at different types of stop positions (2, 3, 4), the method comprising the following steps: —(S1) the control unit receiving input about a specific stop position for the vehicle, associated with when the vehicle is about to stop during a stopping sequence, the input being indicative of whether the specific stop position requires a high-precision stop or if a stop with a lower precision can be used; and —(S2) when the stop position requires a high-precision stop, the control unit controlling the stopping sequence such that the vehicle stops with a first stopping precision level with respect to the specific stop position, and when a lower precision can be used for the stop, the control unit controlling the stopping sequence such that the vehicle stops with a second stopping precision level which is lower than the first precision level. The invention further relates to a control unit and to a vehicle comprising the control unit.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for a control unit for stopping a vehicle when stopping at different types of stop positions, the method comprising the following steps:
the control unit receiving input about a specific stop position for the vehicle, associated with when the vehicle is about to stop during a stopping sequence, the input being indicative of whether the specific stop position requires a high-precision stop or if a stop with a lower precision can be used; and
when the stop position requires a high-precision stop, the control unit controlling the stopping sequence such that the vehicle stops with a first stopping precision level with respect to the specific stop position, and when a lower precision can be used for the stop, the control unit controlling the stopping sequence such that the vehicle stops with a second stopping precision level which is lower than the first precision level.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein whether a high-precision stop is required or if a stop with a lower precision can be used is determined by mapping the specific stop position with one of two or more predetermined stop positions from a list of pre-known stop positions, wherein each one of the predetermined stop positions relates to a high precision stop or to a stop where a lower precision can be used.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein each one of the two or more predetermined stop positions is anyone of the following: a traffic light, a road intersection, another vehicle, a fixed object, such as a loading dock or a garage, a specific area, such as a parking lot for the vehicle.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the received input comprises information from a sensor on the vehicle which identifies the specific stop position and/or the received input comprises information from an auxiliary unit, such as a traffic situation manager or site control.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the sensor is any one of the following: a camera, a LIDAR and a RADAR.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the received input comprises geographical position information of the vehicle, such as information from a global navigation satellite system, and/or vehicle route information.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second precision level comprises at least one compensating parameter, which at least one compensating parameter is compensating for at least one of the following: a weather condition, a road condition, time and/or date and a characteristics of the vehicle.

8. A control unit for a vehicle, preferably an autonomous vehicle, configured to perform the steps of the method of claim 1 .

9. A vehicle comprising the control unit according to claim 8 .

10. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

11. The vehicle according to claim 9 , wherein the vehicle is a commercial vehicle, such as a truck, a construction equipment vehicle or a bus.

12. A computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of claim 1 , when said program is run on a computer.

13. A computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of claim 1 , when said program product is run on a computer.

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp

Inventors

• Fries Johan
• Bora Teodoro

Classifications

• B60W2300/12

  Trucks; Load vehicles · CPC title

• B60W30/17 Primary

  with provision for special action when the preceding vehicle comes to a halt, e.g. stop and go · CPC title

• B60W30/181 Primary

  Preparing for stopping · CPC title

• B60W2050/0075

  Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means · CPC title

• B60W30/18109

  Braking · CPC title