Enhanced collision avoidance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9988046-B2
Application number	US-201615219493-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2016
Priority date	Jul 26, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A driver input representing a steering maneuver associated with non-autonomous operation of a host vehicle is detected. A first target vehicle in an adjacent lane relative to the host vehicle is identified. The steering maneuver is allowed when a second target vehicle is detected in an original lane relative to the host vehicle. The steering maneuver is prevented when no second target vehicle is detected in the original lane of the host vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising a computer including a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including:
detecting a driver input representing a steering maneuver associated with non-autonomous operation of a host vehicle;
identifying a first target vehicle in an adjacent lane relative to the host vehicle;
determine a threat level associated with the first target vehicle based on a predicted path of the first target vehicle; and
allowing the steering maneuver when a second target vehicle is detected in an original lane relative to the host vehicle and preventing the steering maneuver when no second target vehicle is detected in the original lane of the host vehicle and the threat level exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include actuating a brake to prevent the steering maneuver.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further include releasing the brake when an accelerator pedal position angle exceeds a pedal position angle threshold for a predetermined period of time.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the instructions further include releasing the brake after the first target vehicle passes the host vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the driver input includes detecting a direction of rotation of a steering wheel toward the adjacent lane and wherein preventing the steering maneuver includes actuating the steering wheel in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the driver input.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include allowing the steering maneuver after the first target vehicle passes the host vehicle.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein allowing the steering maneuver includes releasing a brake.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein detecting the driver input includes detecting a direction of rotation of a steering wheel toward the adjacent lane and wherein preventing the steering maneuver includes actuating the steering wheel in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the driver input.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein preventing the steering maneuver includes limiting a powertrain output to prevent the steering maneuver.

10. A method, comprising:
detecting a driver input representing a steering maneuver associated with non-autonomous operation of a host vehicle;
identifying a first target vehicle in an adjacent lane relative to the host vehicle;
determining a threat level associated with the first target vehicle based on a predicted path of the first target vehicle; and
allowing the steering maneuver when a second target vehicle is detected in an original lane relative to the host vehicle and preventing the steering maneuver when no second target vehicle is detected in the original lane of the host vehicle and the threat level exceeds a predetermined threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising actuating a brake to prevent the steering maneuver.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising releasing the brake when an accelerator pedal position angle exceeds a pedal position angle threshold for a predetermined period of time.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising releasing the brake after the first target vehicle passes the host vehicle.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the driver input includes detecting a direction of rotation of a steering wheel toward the adjacent lane and wherein preventing the steering maneuver includes actuating the steering wheel in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the driver input.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising allowing the steering maneuver after the first target vehicle passes the host vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein allowing the steering maneuver includes releasing a brake.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein detecting the driver input includes detecting a direction of rotation of a steering wheel toward the adjacent lane and wherein preventing the steering maneuver includes actuating the steering wheel in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the driver input.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein preventing the steering maneuver includes limiting a powertrain output to prevent the steering maneuver.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Trombley Roger Arnold
• Lavoie Erick Michael

Classifications

• B60W2540/12

  Brake pedal position · CPC title

• B60W10/184

  with wheel brakes · CPC title

• B60W30/18009

  related to particular drive situations · CPC title

• B60W2540/18

  Steering angle · CPC title

• B60W30/095

  Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision · CPC title