Automated vehicle control-rule selection based on operator state-of-awareness

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9618936-B2
Application number	US-201514730586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 4, 2015
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes a sensor, a data-source, and a controller. The sensor is installed in a host-vehicle. The sensor is operable to determine a state-of-awareness of an operator of the host-vehicle. The data-source provides route-data used for automated operation of the host-vehicle. The route-data includes a map and a control-rule for navigating the map. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the data-source. The controller is configured to operate the host-vehicle during automated operation of the host-vehicle in accordance with the route-data. The controller is also configured to modify the control-rule based on the state-of-awareness of the operator.

First claim

We claim:

1. A system for changing from automated operation of a host-vehicle to manual control of the host-vehicle by an operator, said system comprising:
a sensor installed in a host-vehicle, said sensor operable to determine a state-of-awareness of an operator of the host-vehicle, said state-of-awareness indicative of how much time is needed for the operator to become prepared to take manual control of the host-vehicle;
a data-source that provides route-data used for automated operation of the host-vehicle, wherein said route-data includes a map and a control-rule for automated operation of the host-vehicle while navigating the map when state-of-awareness of the operator is attentive; and
a controller in communication with the sensor and the data-source, said controller configured to operate the host-vehicle during automated operation of the host-vehicle in accordance with the route-data, wherein the controller is configured to modify the control-rule when the state-of-awareness of the operator is not attentive.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the control-rule specifies a minimum-following-distance between the host-vehicle and an other-vehicle forward of the host-vehicle, and the controller follows the other-vehicle at a following-distance greater than the minimum-following-distance when the state-of-awareness is not attentive.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the control-rule specifies a recommended-speed when the state-of-awareness is attentive, and the controller operates the host-vehicle at a vehicle-speed less than the recommended-speed when the state-of-awareness is not attentive.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the control-rule specifies an acceleration-rate when the state-of-awareness is attentive, and the controller accelerates the host-vehicle at less than the acceleration-rate when the state-of-awareness is not attentive.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the control-rule specifies that all available lanes may be used when the state-of-awareness is attentive, and the controller steers the host-vehicle into preferred-lanes when the state-of-awareness is not attentive.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the control-rule specifies a preferred-route when the state-of-awareness is attentive, and an alternate-route when the state-of-awareness is not attentive.

Assignees

• Delphi Tech Inc

Inventors

• Laur Michael H
• Vijayan Indu
• Lambermont Serge
• Sun Ludong
• Middleton Ryan S

Classifications

• G05D1/0055 Primary

  with safety arrangements · CPC title

• B60K28/06

  responsive to incapacity of driver · CPC title

• G05D1/0212

  with means for defining a desired trajectory (involving a plurality of land vehicles G05D1/0287) · CPC title

• B60W50/0098 Primary

  Details of control systems ensuring comfort, safety or stability not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B60W2050/0083

  Setting, resetting, calibration · CPC title