Autonomous vehicle modes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9517771-B2
Application number	US-201314087288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2013
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Dec 13, 2016
Grant date	Dec 13, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle operator is identified. Based at least in part on the operator's identity, one or more parameters are determined specifying a mode for autonomously operating the vehicle. The vehicle is autonomously operated at least in part according to the one or more parameters.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising a computer in a vehicle, the computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is programmed to:
identify an operator of the vehicle;
determine, based at least in part on the operator's identity, a plurality of parameters, wherein each parameter provides a rule for a respective vehicle operation that includes at least one of controlling vehicle speed and controlling vehicle steering;
use the parameters to select one of at least three possible modes of autonomously operating the vehicle; and
autonomously operate the vehicle by controlling each of vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle deceleration, vehicle braking, at least one of a vehicle distance and a vehicle time to other vehicles, vehicle steering, and also one or more of lane change minimum gap between vehicles, left turn across path minimum, time to arrival at intersection, and turn clearance, the autonomous operation being performed at least in part according to the selected mode, wherein the selected mode sets a value for each of the parameters.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the parameters is based on data collected during vehicle operations.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the parameters is based on data received from a remote server.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the parameters is generated according to a weather condition, a type of road, a time of day, and a day of year.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
collect data during vehicle operations;
calculate one or more second parameters based at least in part on the collected data; and
autonomously operate the vehicle at least in part according to the one or more second parameters.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more second parameters is determined by retrieving the at least one second parameter from a remote server.

7. A method, comprising:
identifying an operator of the vehicle;
determining, based at least in part on the operator's identity, a plurality of parameters, wherein each parameter provides a rule for a respective vehicle operation that includes at least one of controlling vehicle speed and controlling vehicle steering;
using the parameters to select one of at least three possible modes of autonomously operating the vehicle; and
autonomously operating the vehicle by controlling each of vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle deceleration, vehicle braking, at least one of a vehicle distance and a vehicle time to other vehicles, vehicle steering, and also one or more of lane change minimum gap between vehicles, left turn across path minimum, time to arrival at intersection, and turn clearance, the autonomous operation being performed at least in part according to the selected mode, wherein the selected mode sets a value for each of the parameters.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the parameters is based on data collected during vehicle operations.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the parameters is based on data received from a remote server.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the parameters is generated according to a weather condition, a type of road, a time of day, and a day of year.

11. The method of claim 7 , further comprising:
collecting data during vehicle operations;
calculating one or more second parameters based at least in part on the collected data; and
autonomously operating the vehicle at least in part according to the one or more second parameters.

12. The method of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the one or more second parameters is determined by retrieving the at least one second parameter from a remote server.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium tangibly embodying computer-executable instructions, the instructions including instructions to:
identify an operator of the vehicle;
determine, based at least in part on the operator's identity, a plurality of parameters, wherein each parameter provides a rule for a respective vehicle operation that includes at least one of controlling vehicle speed and controlling vehicle steering;
use the parameters to select one of at least three possible modes of autonomously operating the vehicle; and
autonomously operate the vehicle by controlling each of vehicle speed, vehicle acceleration, vehicle deceleration, vehicle braking, at least one of a vehicle distance and a vehicle time to other vehicles, vehicle steering, and also one or more of lane change minimum gap between vehicles, left turn across path minimum, time to arrival at intersection, and turn clearance, the autonomous operation being performed at least in part according to the selected mode, wherein the selected mode sets a value for each of the parameters.

14. The medium of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the parameters is based on at least one of data collected during vehicle operations and data received from a remote server.

15. The medium of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the parameters is generated according to a weather condition, a type of road, a time of day, and a day of year.

16. The medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to:
collect data during vehicle operations;
calculate one or more second parameters based at least in part on the collected data; and
autonomously operate the vehicle at least in part according to the one or more second parameters.

17. The medium of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the one or more second parameters is determined by retrieving the at least one second parameter from a remote server.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Attard Christopher
• Elwart Shane
• Greenberg Jeff Allen
• Johri Rajit
• Joyce John P
• Kochhar Devinder Singh
• Rhode Douglas Scott
• Shutko John
• Tijerina Louis
• Tseng Eric Hongtei
• Yopp Wilford Trent

Classifications

• B60W2540/043

  Identity of occupants · CPC title

• B60W30/18163

  Lane change; Overtaking manoeuvres · CPC title

• B60W30/182 Primary

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

• B60W40/06

  Road conditions · CPC title

• B60W40/00

  Estimation or calculation of {non-directly measurable} driving parameters for road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control of a particular sub unit, {e.g. by using mathematical models} · CPC title