Autonomous vehicle identification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9552735-B2
Application number	US-201314088232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2013
Priority date	Nov 22, 2013
Publication date	Jan 24, 2017
Grant date	Jan 24, 2017

Abstract

A computer in a first vehicle is configured to receive data relating to a second vehicle. The computer may use the data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously. Further, the computer may cause the first vehicle to take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising a first vehicle computer comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the computer is configured to:
collect first data from two or more first vehicle data collectors to measure one or more of a second vehicle's speed acceleration, braking, turning and distance from other vehicles, wherein the first vehicle data collectors include one or more of a radar, a lidar, sonar, and an image capture device;
use the first collected data to determine whether the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously and, if not fully autonomously, partially autonomously;
determine to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;
collect second data from the first vehicle sensors relating to the second vehicle; and
autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on the second collected data by controlling at least first vehicle speed and steering.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first collected data further includes a signal that includes at least one of visible light and a radio wave from the second vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to compare the first collected data relating to the second vehicle to a stored parameter to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to use the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated under an emergency status.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to use the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated manually.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein autonomously operating the first vehicle includes maintaining a predetermined distance from the second vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further configured to collect third data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the computer is further configured to:
use the third collected data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and
take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

10. A method, comprising:
collecting first data from two or more first vehicle data collectors to measure one or more of a second vehicle's speed acceleration, braking, turning and distance from other vehicles, wherein the first vehicle data collectors include one or more of a radar, a lidar, sonar, and an image capture device;
using the first collected data to determine whether the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously and, if not fully autonomously, partially autonomously;
determining to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;
collecting second data from the first vehicle sensors relating to the second vehicle; and
autonomously operating the first vehicle based at least in part on the second collected data by controlling at least first vehicle speed and steering.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first collected data further includes a signal that includes at least one of visible light and a radio wave from the second vehicle.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising comparing the first collected data relating to the second vehicle to a stored parameter to determine that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

14. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated under an emergency status.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using the first collected data to determine that the second vehicle is being operated manually.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein autonomously operating the first vehicle includes maintaining a predetermined distance from the second vehicle.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising collecting third data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising
using the third collected data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and
taking an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

19. A computer-readable medium having tangibly embodied thereon instructions executable by a computer processor, the instructions including instructions to:
collect first data from two or more first vehicle data collectors to measure one or more of a second vehicle's speed acceleration, braking, turning and distance from other vehicles, wherein the first vehicle data collectors include one or more of a radar, a lidar, sonar, and an image capture device;
use the first collected data to determine whether the second vehicle is being operated fully autonomously and, if not fully autonomously, partially autonomously;
determine to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the second vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously;
collect second data from the first vehicle sensors relating to the second vehicle; and autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on the second collected data by controlling at least first vehicle speed and steering.

20. The medium of claim 19 , the instructions further including instructions to:
collect third data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle, the at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle including at least one of a third vehicle and a pedestrian;
use the third collected data relating to at least one road user in addition to the second vehicle to determine that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously; and
take an action to autonomously operate the first vehicle based at least in part on determining that the third vehicle is being operated at least partially autonomously.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Pilutti Thomas Edward
• Rupp Matt Y
• Trombley Roger Arnold
• Waldis Andrew
• Yopp Wilford Trent

Classifications

• B60W2556/55

  using telemetry · CPC title

• B60W2756/10

  Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle · CPC title

• B60W30/095

  Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision · CPC title

• G08G1/096741

  where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

  where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title