Control strategy for unoccupied autonomous vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9969396-B2
Application number	US-201615267163-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 16, 2016
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

An automotive vehicle includes traction wheels, a powertrain configured to transmit drive power to the traction wheels, a sensor configured to detect a presence of an occupant, an actuator configured to control vehicle steering, acceleration, braking, or shifting, and at least one controller configured to automatically control the actuator based on an automated driving system algorithm. The powertrain is selectively operable in a first mode having a first operating characteristic and a second mode having a second operating characteristic. The controller is further configured to control the powertrain in the first mode in response to the sensor detecting an occupant being present and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm, and in the second mode in response to the sensor detecting no occupant being present and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An automotive vehicle comprising:
traction wheels;
a powertrain configured to transmit drive power to the traction wheels, the powertrain being selectively operable in a first mode having a first operating characteristic and a second mode having a second operating characteristic;
an actuator configured to control vehicle steering, acceleration, braking, or shifting;
a sensor configured to detect a presence of an occupant; and
at least one controller configured to automatically control the actuator based on an automated driving system algorithm, to control the powertrain in the first mode in response to the sensor detecting an occupant being present and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm with the vehicle in motion, and to control the powertrain in the second mode in response to the sensor detecting no occupant being present and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm with the vehicle in motion.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first operating characteristic includes a first energy consumption rate and the second operating characteristic includes a second energy consumption rate, distinct from the first energy consumption rate.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the powertrain includes an engine, and wherein the first mode includes controlling the engine at a first operating point and the second mode includes controlling the engine at a second operating point, distinct from the first operating point.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the powertrain includes a torque converter having a clutch, and wherein the first mode includes controlling the clutch to a first pressure and the second mode includes controlling the clutch to a second pressure, distinct from the first pressure.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the powertrain includes a transmission, and wherein the first mode includes controlling the transmission according to a first shift schedule and the second mode includes controlling the transmission according to a second shift schedule, distinct from the first shift schedule.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an accessory system, wherein the at least one controller is additionally configured to, in response to the sensor detecting no occupant being present and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm, reduce a power consumption rate of the accessory system.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one controller includes a first microprocessor for controlling the actuator and a second microprocessor for controlling the powertrain.

8. A method of controlling a vehicle, comprising:
providing the vehicle with a powertrain configured to provide power to vehicle wheels;
providing the vehicle with at least one actuator configured to control vehicle steering, acceleration braking, or shifting;
providing the vehicle with a controller configured to control the actuator based on an automated driving system algorithm;
in response to an occupant being present in the vehicle, the vehicle being in motion, and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm, automatically controlling the powertrain in a first mode having a first energy consumption rate; and
in response to no occupant being present in the vehicle, the vehicle being in motion, and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm, automatically controlling the powertrain in a second mode having a second energy consumption rate, the second energy consumption rate being distinct from the first energy consumption rate.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the powertrain includes an internal combustion engine operable according to distinct first and second calibrations, controlling the powertrain in the first mode includes controlling the internal combustion engine according to the first calibration, and controlling the powertrain in the second mode includes controlling the internal combustion engine according to the second calibration.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the powertrain includes a torque converter having a clutch, controlling the powertrain in the first mode includes controlling the clutch to a first pressure, and controlling the powertrain in the second mode includes controlling the clutch to a second pressure, distinct from the first pressure.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein controlling the powertrain in the second mode includes reducing a maximum allowable acceleration, deceleration, or velocity of the vehicle relative to the first mode.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
providing the vehicle with an accessory system; and
in response to no occupant being present in the vehicle and the actuator being controlled based on the automated driving system algorithm, automatically reducing a power consumption rate of the accessory system.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, in response to a determination that the vehicle is subject to an externally-dictated operating requirement, controlling the powertrain to satisfy the externally-dictated operating requirement independent of occupant presence.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the controlling the powertrain in the second mode is in further response to a determination that an electric-only operation mode is desired for a subsequent trip, and controlling the powertrain in the second mode includes controlling the powertrain to increase a high-voltage battery state of charge.

15. The method of claim 8 , wherein the controlling the powertrain in the second mode is in further response to a determination that an electric-only operation mode is not desired for a subsequent trip, and controlling the powertrain in the second mode includes controlling the powertrain to increase energy efficiency.

16. A system for controlling a vehicle comprising:
a first controller configured to automatically control at least one actuator of a vehicle steering actuator, an acceleration actuator, a braking actuator, and a shifting actuator based on an automated driving system algorithm; and
a second controller configured to selectively control a powertrain of the vehicle in a first mode in response to the first controller automatically controlling the actuator based on the automated driving system algorithm and a vehicle occupant being detected, and in a second mode in response to the first controller automatically controlling the actuator based on the automated driving system algorithm and no vehicle occupant being detected, the first mode having a first operating characteristic and the second mode having a second operating characteristic.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the first operating characteristic includes a first energy consumption rate and the second operating characteristic includes a second energy consumption rate, distinct from the first energy consumption rate.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second controller is further configured to, in response to a determination that the vehicle is subject to an externally-dictated operating requirement, control the powertrain to satisfy the externally-dictated operating requirement independent of occupant presence.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the second controller is configured to control the powertrain in the second mode in further response to a determination that an electric-only operation mode is desired for a subsequent trip, and wherein controlling the powertrain in the second mode includes controlling the powertr

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Damman Scott W
• Mcguire Michael E
• Theis Nicholas D
• Barra Nicholas A

Classifications

• F16H2061/0227

  Shift map selection, i.e. methods for controlling selection between different shift maps, e.g. to initiate switch to a map for up-hill driving · CPC title

• G05D1/0088

  characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00) · CPC title

• B60W2720/106

  Longitudinal acceleration · CPC title

• B60W30/18009 Primary

  related to particular drive situations · CPC title

• B60W10/20

  including control of steering systems · CPC title