Presenting travel settings for selection of nearby vehicle to follow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9994221-B2
Application number	US-201615209339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2016
Priority date	Jul 13, 2016
Publication date	Jun 12, 2018
Grant date	Jun 12, 2018

Abstract

Arrangements described herein provide adaptive cruise control systems that present travel settings for one or more nearby vehicles. Location information for one or more nearby vehicles can be acquired. Travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles can be acquired. The travel settings can include a set speed and a set distance for each of the one or more nearby vehicles. Arrangements described herein can present within the vehicle the travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles. A vehicle to follow from the one or more nearby vehicles can be selected based on the displayed travel settings.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An adaptive cruise control system for presenting travel settings of nearby vehicles for a selection of a vehicle to follow, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing:
a vehicle identification module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to acquire location information about one or more nearby vehicles within an external environment of a vehicle, and to acquire travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles;
an adaptive cruise control module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to present, using a vehicle output system, the travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles, the travel settings including set distance information, the set distance information including a numerical range below a first distance value, a numerical range above the first distance value, or a range between the first distance value and a second distance value; and
an autonomous driving module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to receive input from the vehicle operator, through an input system of the vehicle, regarding a selected vehicle of the one or more nearby vehicles to follow.

2. The adaptive cruise control system of claim 1 , wherein the travel settings further include a set speed.

3. The adaptive cruise control system of claim 1 , wherein the travel settings are estimated using a vehicle type, weather conditions, road conditions, operator characteristics, or combinations thereof.

4. The adaptive cruise control system of claim 1 , wherein the travel settings further include a set distance.

5. The adaptive cruise control system of claim 1 , wherein the autonomous driving module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to present, using the vehicle output system, the selected vehicle to follow.

6. The adaptive cruise control system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle identification module further includes instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to acquire the location information directly from the one or more nearby vehicles.

7. The adaptive cruise control system of claim 1 , wherein the travel settings are acquired via a dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) network.

8. The adaptive cruise control system of claim 1 , wherein acquiring travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles includes estimating a future travel of the one or more nearby vehicles.

9. An adaptive cruise control system for presenting travel settings of nearby vehicles for a selection of a vehicle to follow, comprising:
one or more processors; and
a memory communicably coupled to the one or more processors and storing:
a vehicle identification module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to acquire location information about one or more nearby vehicles within an external environment of a vehicle, and to acquire travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles;
an adaptive cruise control module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to present, using a vehicle output system, the travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles; and
an autonomous driving module including instructions that when executed by the one or more processors cause the one or more processors to receive, using an input device of the vehicle, one or more driver travel settings, and to select a selected vehicle of the one or more nearby vehicles to follow, wherein the driver travel settings include set distance information, the set distance information including a numerical range below a first distance value, a numerical range above the first distance value, or a range between the first distance value and a second distance value.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for presenting travel settings of nearby vehicles for a selection of a vehicle to follow and storing instructions that when executed by one or more processors cause the one or more processors to:
acquire location information about one or more nearby vehicles within an external environment of a vehicle;
acquire travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles;
present, using a vehicle output system, the travel settings for the one or more nearby vehicles, the travel settings including set distance information, the set distance information including a numerical range below a first distance value, a numerical range above the first distance value, or a range between the first distance value and a second distance value; and
receive input from the vehicle operator, through an input system of the vehicle, regarding a selected vehicle of the one or more nearby vehicles to follow.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the travel settings including set speed information.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Mcnew John-Michael

Classifications

• B60W2720/10

  Longitudinal speed · CPC title

• B60W2554/801

  Lateral distance · CPC title

• B60W10/04

  including control of propulsion units · CPC title

• B60W10/20

  including control of steering systems · CPC title

• B60W40/04

  Traffic conditions · CPC title