Splash condition detection for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9676387-B2
Application number	US-201615186368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 17, 2016
Priority date	Dec 11, 2014
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

Arrangements relate to the operation of a vehicle, which can be an autonomous vehicle. A splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle can be detected. An object near the vehicle can be detected. Further, it can be determined whether the detected object is passing the vehicle. Responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining that the object is passing the vehicle, a warning can be presented to an occupant of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of operating a vehicle operating in an autonomous mode, comprising:
detecting a splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle;
detecting whether a forward object or a rearward object is located in the same travel lane as the vehicle;
detecting an object traveling in a travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located;
determining whether the object is passing the vehicle; and
responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining the object is passing the vehicle, adjusting at least one of:
a distance between the vehicle and the forward object or the rearward object, and
a distance between the vehicle and the object passing the vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the distance includes selectively increasing or decreasing a speed of a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the splash condition includes rain, snow, slush, sand or dust.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the splash condition is a pool of fluid located in at least the travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located.

5. A system for operating a vehicle operating in an autonomous mode, comprising:
a processor, the processor being programmed to initiate executable operations comprising:
detecting a splash condition in a surrounding environment of the vehicle;
detecting a forward object or a rearward object in the same travel lane as the vehicle;
detecting an object traveling in a travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located;
determining whether the object is passing the vehicle; and
responsive to detecting a splash condition and determining the object is passing the vehicle, adjusting at least one of:
a distance between the vehicle and the forward object or the rearward object, and
a distance between the vehicle and the object passing the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein adjusting the distance includes selectively increasing or decreasing a speed of a vehicle.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the splash condition includes rain, snow, slush, sand or dust.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the splash condition is a pool of fluid located in at least a travel lane that is adjacent to a travel lane of the vehicle, and wherein the detected object is located in at least the travel lane that is adjacent to the travel lane in which the vehicle is located.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Eng & Mfg North America Inc

Inventors

• Prokhorov Danil V
• Watanabe Junya

Classifications

• B60W2555/20

  Ambient conditions, e.g. wind or rain · CPC title

• B60W2554/801

  Lateral distance · CPC title

• B60W2552/00

  Input parameters relating to infrastructure · CPC title

• B60W30/18009 Primary

  related to particular drive situations · CPC title

• B60W40/064

  Degree of grip · CPC title