Autonomous pulse and glide system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9766629-B1
Application number	US-201615262281-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 12, 2016
Priority date	Sep 12, 2016
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

An autonomous pulse and glide system and method are disclosed. Pulse and glide is a fuel savings strategy that pulses a host vehicle to a maximum target speed and glides to a minimum target speed. Where the host vehicle detects that a lead vehicle is within a minimum distance the pulse and glide strategy is modified. The system may interrupt a pulse or may instruct the host vehicle to pass the lead vehicle. The host vehicle may also include an inter-vehicle communication module which facilitates a master/slave interaction with a lead or trailing vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A host vehicle system comprising:
a strategy control module in communication with an autonomous-mode controller and a powertrain control module; and
a radar control module in communication with the autonomous-mode controller, the radar control module configured to send a first signal indicating a threshold distance to a lead vehicle;
wherein the strategy control module operates the host vehicle in a pulse and glide mode which is modified in response to the first signal
a steering control module in communication with the strategy control module; the steering control module receiving a signal to move from a first lane to a second lane in response to the first signal, and
an inter-vehicle communication module configured to communicate with the lead vehicle and the processing device configured to determine if the lead vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode wherein the inter-vehicle communication module signals the lead vehicle to slow down and wherein the steering control module receives a signal to move from the second lane into the first lane after the lead vehicle has been passed by a safe distance.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the strategy control module interrupts a vehicle pulse with a glide in response to the first signal.

3. The system as in claim 2 wherein the radar control module is configured to send a second signal indicating a threshold over the minimum distance has been reached and the strategy control module generates a pulse signal.

4. The system as in claim 3 further comprising an inter-vehicle communication module configured to communicate with the lead vehicle.

5. The system as in claim 4 wherein the strategy control module modifies the pulse and glide mode to match a lead vehicle pulse and glide.

6. The system as in claim 1 wherein the strategy control module generates a glide signal.

7. A method of operating a host vehicle in an autonomous pulse and glide mode comprising:
communicating a first signal from a radar control module to a strategy control module and an autonomous-mode controller, the first signal corresponding to a threshold distance to a lead vehicle;
modifying the pulse and glide mode in response to the first signal

wherein the host vehicle communicates with the lead vehicle via an inter-vehicle communication module and the lead vehicle operates as a master and the host vehicle operates as a slave and wherein the strategy control module instructs the autonomous-mode controller to pass the lead vehicle by initially moving from a first lane to a second lane, via a steering control module in communication with the strategy control module, in response to the first signal; wherein the inter-vehicle communication module is configured to determine if the lead vehicle is operating in an autonomous mode and wherein the inter-vehicle communication module signals the lead vehicle to slow down and wherein the steering control module receives a signal to move from the second lane into the first lane after the lead vehicle has been passed by a safe distance.

8. A method as in claim 7 wherein the host vehicle communicates with a trailing vehicle via the inter-vehicle communication module and the trailing vehicle operates as a slave.

9. The method as in claim 7 wherein the inter-vehicle communication module signals a blocking vehicle to decrease speed prior to the autonomous-mode controller signaling a pass.

10. The method as in claim 7 where the host vehicle communicates with a trailing vehicle via an inter-vehicle communication module.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein the host vehicle initiates a pulse.

12. The method as in claim 7 wherein the strategy control module interrupts a vehicle pulse.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Konchan Zachary
• Gangwar Hans
• Crombez Dale Scott

Classifications

• B62D15/0285

  Parking performed automatically · CPC title

• G01S2013/9321

  Velocity regulation, e.g. cruise control · CPC title

• G08G1/096725

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

• G08G1/0965

  responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle · CPC title

• G08G1/096791

  where the origin of the information is another vehicle · CPC title