Partially Autonomous Vehicle Passenger Control in Difficult Scenario

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018348751-A1
Application number	US-201715609157-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 31, 2017
Priority date	May 31, 2017
Publication date	Dec 6, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for autonomous driving of a vehicle having a steering system and a braking system is disclosed. The system comprises a sensor capable of gathering data relating to a driving environment, a control system programmed to control the steering system and the braking system to drive the vehicle without unrequested user intervention, in response to data gathered by the sensor, a user output device capable of presenting human readable text or speech to a user when an aspect of the driving environment detected by the sensor renders the control system unable to determine a next driving action; and, a user input device coupled to the control system. The user input device is capable of receiving user input to instruct the control system to take a user-preferred driving action. The control system is capable of instructing the steering system and the braking system to execute the user-preferred driving action.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for autonomous driving of a vehicle having a steering system and a braking system, the system comprising:
a sensor capable of gathering data relating to a driving environment; a control system programmed to control the steering system and the braking system to drive the vehicle without unrequested user intervention, in response to data gathered by the sensor; a user output device capable of presenting human readable text or speech to a user when an aspect of the driving environment detected by the sensor renders the control system unable to determine a next driving action; and a user input device coupled to the control system, the user input device capable of receiving user input to instruct the control system to take a user-preferred driving action, wheren the control system is capable of instructing the steering system and the braking system to execute the user-preferred driving action.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a camera.

3 . The system of 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a biometric sensor capable of obtaining biometric data from the user.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the driving environment comprises biometric data indicating that the user perceives an emergency.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the biometric data relates to heart rate.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the biometric data relates to brain activity.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the user output device is a speaker.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the user output device is a screen.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a touch screen is both the user input device and the user output device, and wherein the user input is a response to a multiple choice question displayed on the touch screen.

10 . A method of autonomous driving of a vehicle having a steering system and a braking system, the method comprising:
gathering data relating to a driving environment via a sensor; controling the steering system and the braking system, via a control system, to drive the vehicle without unrequested user intervention, in response to data gathered by the sensor; presenting human readable text or speech to a user when an aspect of the driving environment detected by the sensor renders the control system unable to determine a next driving action; and receiving user input to instruct the control system to take a user-preferred driving action, instructing the steering system and the braking system to execute the user-preferred driving action.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the sensor comprises a camera.

12 . The method of 10 , further comprising obtaining biometric data from the user.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the driving environment comprises biometric data indicating that the user perceives an emergency.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the biometric data relates to heart rate.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the biometric data relates to brain activity.

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the user output is presented via a screen.

17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein human readable text is a multiple choice question displayed on a touch screen, and wherein the user input is a response to the multiple choice question input via the touch screen.

Assignees

• Nio Usa Inc

Inventors

• Newman Austin L

Classifications

• B60W60/0018

  by employing degraded modes, e.g. reducing speed, in response to suboptimal conditions · CPC title

• B60W2540/221

  Physiology, e.g. weight, heartbeat, health or special needs · CPC title

• B60W50/14

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

• B60W2540/215

  Selection or confirmation of options · CPC title

• B60W10/184

  with wheel brakes · CPC title