Vehicle-to-vehicle intersection navigation control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9818299-B1
Application number	US-201615294825-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Oct 17, 2016
Priority date	Oct 17, 2016
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

A host vehicle computer is programmed to receive intersection arrival data via vehicle-to-vehicle communications from one or more secondary vehicles. The computer assigns priority to each of the secondary vehicles based on the intersection arrival data and identifies one of the secondary vehicles as an immediately preceding vehicle. Upon receiving a ready signal clearance from the immediately preceding vehicle, the computer actuates a powertrain of the host vehicle, causing the host vehicle to proceed into, and through, the intersection.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A computer comprising programming for:
determining a host vehicle arrival time at an intersection;
receiving intersection arrival data via vehicle-to-vehicle communications from one or more secondary vehicles;
based on the intersection arrival data, determining a priority list for the one or more secondary vehicles;
based on the priority list, identifying one of the secondary vehicles as an immediately preceding vehicle; and
upon receiving a ready signal clearance from the immediately preceding vehicle, actuating a powertrain system of the host vehicle.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the programming further comprises:
receiving intersection arrival data directly from the one or more secondary vehicles, the intersection arrival data including a unique vehicle identification and an arrival time for each of the one or more secondary vehicles.

3. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the programming further comprises:
sending an intersection arrival data request before receiving the intersection arrival data.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle initially stops in a queue waiting to proceed through the intersection.

5. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle stops at a first position of the intersection.

6. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle stops within a predetermined distance from the intersection.

7. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle stops within a predetermined distance of the intersection with no vehicle detected within a predetermined distance in front of the host vehicle.

8. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the programming further comprises:
determining when the host vehicle has cleared the intersection; and
sending a ready signal clearance after the host vehicle has cleared the intersection.

9. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the programming further comprises:
sending a ready signal clearance when the host vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance after actuating the powertrain system.

10. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the programming further comprises:
receiving an intersection arrival data request; and
sending intersection arrival data in response to receiving the intersection arrival data request.

11. A method comprising:
determining a host vehicle arrival time at an intersection;
receiving intersection arrival data via vehicle-to-vehicle communications from one or more secondary vehicles;
based on the intersection arrival data, determining a priority list for the one or more secondary vehicles;
based on the priority, identifying one of the secondary vehicles as an immediately preceding vehicle;
upon receiving a ready signal clearance from the immediately preceding vehicle, actuating a powertrain system of the host vehicle.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
sending an intersection arrival data request before receiving the intersection arrival data.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle initially stops in a queue waiting to proceed through the intersection.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle stops at a first position of the intersection.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle stops within a predetermined distance from the intersection.

16. The method of claim 11 , Wherein the arrival time is when the host vehicle stops within a predetermined distance of the intersection with no vehicle detected within a predetermined distance in front of the host vehicle.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining when the host vehicle has cleared the intersection; and
sending a ready signal clearance after the host vehicle has cleared the intersection.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
sending a ready signal clearance when the host vehicle has traveled a predetermined distance after actuating the powertrain system.

19. A system comprising:
a powertrain system;
a navigation device; and
a controller in communication with the powertrain system and the navigation system, the controller comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including instructions for:
determining an arrival time of a host vehicle at an intersection;
receiving intersection arrival data via vehicle-to-vehicle communications from one or more secondary vehicles;
based on the intersection arrival data, determining a priority list for the one or more secondary vehicles;
based on the priority list, identifying one of the secondary vehicles as an immediately preceding vehicle; and
upon receiving a ready signal clearance from the immediately preceding vehicle, actuating a powertrain of the host vehicle.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the instructions further including instructions for:
sending an intersection arrival data request before receiving the intersection arrival data;
receiving an intersection arrival data request;
sending intersection arrival data in response to receiving the intersection arrival data request;
determining when the host vehicle has cleared the intersection; and
sending a ready signal clearance after the host vehicle has cleared the intersection.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Jammoussi Hassene
• Kumar Pankaj

Classifications

• B60W2554/802

  Longitudinal distance · CPC title

• B60W60/00276

  for two or more other traffic participants · CPC title

• B60W60/0015

  specially adapted for safety · CPC title

• B60W2554/00

  Input parameters relating to objects · CPC title

• B60W2552/00

  Input parameters relating to infrastructure · CPC title