Autonomous sensing vehicle pedals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018079426-A1
Application number	US-201615270226-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 20, 2016
Priority date	Sep 20, 2016
Publication date	Mar 22, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a controller in a vehicle in communication with sensors supported on pedals of the vehicle. The controller includes instructions for determining a user intention based on a detected movement of a foot of the user. Upon determination that the user intention is to take over control the vehicle, the controller sets a control mode of the vehicle to a manual control mode.

First claim

1 . A controller in a vehicle, the controller comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions comprising instructions for:
determining a user intention based on a detected movement of a foot of a user; and upon determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle, setting the vehicle to a manual control mode.

2 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle is made in response to the controller receiving a plurality signals from a plurality of sensors, the signals being coherent, permanent and stable.

3 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
upon determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle, moving a pedal of the vehicle to an extended position.

4 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle is determined by the controller as a normal takeover; and
the instructions further comprise instructions to, upon determination that the user intends the normal takeover, receive a manual control request before setting the vehicle to the manual control mode.

5 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to determine that the user intends the normal takeover based on a rate of increase in a signal value that is below a predetermined threshold amount.

6 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein the manual control request is generated in response to the user interacting with a user input device in communication with the controller.

7 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein the manual control request is generated by the controller when an opt out instruction is not received by the controller.

8 . The controller of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to determine that the user intends a priority takeover based on a rate of increase in a signal value that is above a predetermined threshold amount.

9 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
determining if the foot of the user is proximate a pedal of the vehicle before determining the user intention based on the detected movement of the foot of the user; and upon determining that the foot of the user is not proximate the pedal, retracting the pedal to a retracted position.

10 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions for:
determining if the foot of the user is behind a pedal; and upon determination that the foot is behind the pedal, refraining from retracting the pedal to a retracted position.

11 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle is determined by the controller as a priority takeover; and
the instructions further comprise instructions to, upon determination that the user intends the priority takeover, set the vehicle to the manual control mode without waiting to receive a manual control request.

12 . The controller of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to, upon determination that the foot movement is ambiguous movement, actuate a light disposed in a foot well of the vehicle.

13 . A system for a vehicle comprising:
a pedal positioning device including a pedal supporting a proximity sensor, the pedal moveable between an extended and a retracted position; and a controller programmed to determine a user intention based on information received from the proximity sensor; and wherein the controller is programmed to, upon determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle, set a control mode of the vehicle to a manual control mode.

14 . The system of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of sensors supported on the pedal.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein one of the plurality of sensors is located proximate a left side edge of the pedal, and one of the plurality of sensors is located proximate a right side edge of the pedal.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein one of the plurality of sensors is located proximate a top edge of the pedal, and one of the plurality of sensors is located proximate a bottom edge of the pedal.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein one of the plurality of sensors is located on a back surface of the pedal.

18 . A method of controlling a vehicle comprising:
detecting movement of a foot of a user of the vehicle; determining a user intention based on the detected movement of the foot of the user; and setting, upon determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle, a control mode of the vehicle to a manual control mode.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
moving, upon determination that the user intention is to take over control of the vehicle, a pedal of the vehicle to an extended position.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining if the foot of the user is proximate a pedal of the vehicle before determining the user intention based on the detected movement of the foot of the user; and retracting, upon determining that the foot of the user is not proximate the pedal, the pedal to a retracted position.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Buttolo Pietro
• Surman James J

Classifications

• B60W2540/10

  Accelerator pedal position · CPC title

• B60W30/182 Primary

  Selecting between different operative modes, e.g. comfort and performance modes · CPC title

• B60W50/082 Primary

  Selecting or switching between different modes of propelling · CPC title

• B60W2540/12

  Brake pedal position · CPC title

• G06F3/011

  Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality (blind teaching G09B21/00) · CPC title