Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Carnegie Mellon University

Jin-Woo Lee

Bakhtiar Brian Litkouhi

Jihan Ryu

Kwang-Keun Shin

Nikolai K Moshchuk

Shih-Ken Chen

Chandra S Namuduri

Kenneth L Oblizajek

Chad T Zagorski

Stephen R Pastor

Aamrapali Chatterjee

Elizabeth S Nunning

Suresh Gopalakrishnan

Wende Zhang

Upali Priyantha Mudalige

Chen-Fang Chang

Youssef A Ghoneim

Michael Livshiz

Venkata Prasad Atluri

Pinaki Gupta

Jeremy A Salinger

John M Dolan

Tianyu Gu

Xingping Chen

Sai Rajagopalan

Patrick James O'Leary

Kevin J Robinet

Shilpa Prabhuswamy

Hsun-Hsuan Huang

Systems and method are provided for controlling a vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving, via a processor, image data of a surroundings of the vehicle. The method includes performing, via a processor, image analysis on the image data to identify road features. The method includes matching, via a processor, the identified road features to road features in a predetermined map to determine matched road features. The method includes determining, via a processor, global positioning data for the vehicle based on global positioning data in the predetermined map and the matched road features. The method also includes calibrating, via a processor, effective rolling radius of a wheel of the vehicle based at least on the global position data. The method further includes controlling, via a processor, a function of the vehicle based, in part, on the effective rolling radius.

Effective rolling radius

Vehicles and steering systems for vehicles are provided. An exemplary steering system is provided for an automotive vehicle that includes road wheels and a rack mechanically coupled to the road wheels and laterally displaceable to change an orientation of the road wheels. The steering system includes a steering wheel mounted on a steering column and rotatable by a driver for inputting a steering command. The steering system also includes a lower column coupled to the rack. In the steering system, lateral displacement of the rack causes a rotational torque on the lower column. The steering system further includes a magneto-rheological coupling interconnected between the steering column and the lower column. The magneto-rheological coupling selectively communicates a desired portion of the rotational torque on the lower column to the steering column to provide haptic feedback to the steering column.

Vehicles and steering systems for vehicles providing haptic feedback

System and methods are provided for path finding for autonomous driving systems. The systems and methods receive a set of way points defining path segments between adjacent way points, formulate a b-spline function as a function of the path segments, and determine path data based on the formulated b-spline function. Autonomous driving systems use the output path data for controlling a vehicle.

Path planning for autonomous driving

Methods and systems for generating haptic feel torque for a steering system for an automotive vehicle are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for generating haptic feel torque for a steering system for an automotive vehicle includes inputting a steering command signal by manipulating a steering wheel mounted to a steering column of the automotive vehicle. In response to the steering command, the method includes changing an orientation of road wheels of the automotive vehicle. Also, the method includes communicating condition data of the road wheels to a controller. Further, the method includes calculating with the controller a turning acceleration of the steering column in response to changing the orientation of the road wheels by modeling a virtual spring and a virtual damper interconnected between the steering column and the road wheels based on the condition data. The method also includes applying the turning acceleration to the steering column.

Steering systems and methods for generating haptic feel torque

A vehicle propulsion system includes a combustion engine configured to output a propulsion torque to satisfy a propulsion demand, and a traction electric machine to generate a supplemental torque to selectively supplement the propulsion torque. The propulsion system also includes a controller programmed to forecast an acceleration demand based on at least one estimation model. The controller is also programmed to issue a command indicative of a required axle torque corresponding to the acceleration demand. The controller is further programmed to engage at least one fuel conservation action in response to the required axle torque being within a first predetermined torque threshold range.

Hybrid vehicle propulsion systems and methods

A method for performing autonomous operation of a vehicle is provided. The method identifies, by at least one processor, an error condition of an electric power steering (EPS) device onboard the vehicle; obtains, by the at least one processor, input trajectory data for the autonomous operation of the vehicle; calculates, by the at least one processor, a feedforward rear steer angle, based on the input trajectory data; calculates, by the at least one processor, a feedback signal of the feedforward rear steer angle; calculates, by the at least one processor, a final steer angle command, using the feedforward rear steer angle and the feedback signal; and operates a steering mechanism of the vehicle using the final steer angle command, to autonomously maneuver the vehicle according to the final steer angle command.

Methods and apparatus for robust trajectory control of an autonomous vehicle

A system and method for determining whether a driver is holding a vehicle steering wheel. The vehicle will include an electric power steering system and may further include autonomous or semi-autonomous driving features, such as Lane Centering Control or Lane Keeping Assist. The system includes a passive detection technique which monitors steering torque and steering angle, determines a resonant frequency of oscillation of the steering system from the measured data, and compares the resonant frequency to a known steering system natural frequency to make a hands-on/off determination. If the passive technique results are below a confidence threshold, then an active technique is employed which provides a steering angle perturbation and measures the frequency response, where the perturbation signal has characteristics which are prescribed based on the results of the passive technique. A steering torque greater than a threshold value is also an indication of the driver holding the steering wheel.

Enhanced steering wheel hold detection by a hybrid method

A method for providing a warning that a trailer being towed by a vehicle will cross out of a travel lane when in a curve for the current vehicle path prior to the vehicle entering the curve. The method determines that the vehicle is approaching the curve, determines a radius of curvature of the curve, determines a lane width of the travel lane, and identifying a length of the trailer. The method also determines a predicted steering angle of the vehicle necessary to follow the radius of curvature of the curve, a turn radius of the vehicle for traveling through the curve using the predicted steering angle, and a turn radius of the trailer using the turn radius of the vehicle. The method then determines whether the trailer will cross out of the travel lane based on the curvature of the curve and the turn radius of the trailer.

Enhanced vehicle lateral control (lane following/lane keeping/lane changing control) for trailering vehicles

A method for providing vehicle steering control through a curve in an autonomously driven or semi-autonomously driven vehicle that is towing a trailer. The method determines that the trailer will cross out of the travel lane based on the curvature of the curve and the turn radius of the trailer. The method calculates a start turn radius of the vehicle for a start location of the curve, an end turn radius of the vehicle for an end location of the curve, and a turn end point proximate the end location or a turn start point proximate the start location. The method provides initial and boundary conditions for determining a desired path of the vehicle through the curve that prevents the trailer from crossing out of the lane and determines the desired path based on the initial and boundary conditions by solving a polynomial equation.

System and method for providing a corrected lane following path through a curve for trailering vehicles

A method and system that monitors the behavior of surrounding vehicles in order to predict and react to an upcoming hazard in the road, even in situations where the hazard has not been directly sensed. In an exemplary embodiment, the method monitors an area around the host vehicle and looks for the presence of one or more target vehicles. If target vehicles are detected, then the method evaluates their behavior, classifies their behavior into one of several categories, and assuming that their behavior suggests some type of upcoming hazard, develops an appropriate preemptive response for controlling the host vehicle. The preemptive response may include mimicking, copying and/or integrating with the behavior of the surrounding target vehicles according to so-called 'flocking' techniques in order to avoid the otherwise unseen hazard.

Method and system for controlling a host vehicle

A method for adjusting a vehicle's position in a roadway lane. A camera mounted on the vehicle generates a current image of the lane and the method identifies a current lane-center line in the current image. A reference image is generated and the method identifies a reference lane-center line in the reference image. The method then calculates an error between the current lane-center line and the reference lane-center line and provide steering commands to adjust the position of the vehicle so that the error is reduced.

Lane sensing through lane marker identification for lane centering/keeping

A method for providing a warning to a vehicle driver when a lane keeping and/or lane centering system will be unable to negotiate a tight curve at the present vehicle speed prior to the vehicle reaching the curve. The method obtains lane information at a predetermined number of sample times in the future and generates a desired path for the vehicle. The method also obtains vehicle motion information and determines steering angles for the vehicle for the vehicle to track the desired path based on the desired path and vehicle motion. The method determines the steering torque for each of the steering angles and determines whether any of the steering torques exceed the predetermine torque limit. The method issues an alert if any of the steering torques do exceed the predetermined torque limit prior to the lane keeping system being required to provide that torque to steer the vehicle.

Pre-alert of LCC's steering torque limit exceed

An anticipatory speed-control system and method for generating a speed profile in real time by iteratively calculating proposed reduced speeds associated with an electronically identified target curve until the proposed speed is compliant with a lateral-acceleration-based comfort metric and a steering-angle-based safety metric and implementing the speed profile in accordance with a longitudinal comfort metric and providing a user with override options.

Real-time anticipatory speed control

A method and system for determining whether a driver of a vehicle is in contact with a steering wheel of the vehicle is provided. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of generating a perturbation signal that causes vibration of the steering wheel and receiving a steering signal from a steering system sensor configured to provide an indication of at least one of a steering torque and a steering movement of a component of an electronic power steering system of the vehicle. The method further includes the steps of mixing the perturbation signal and the steering signal to produce a heterodyne signal and generating a driver contact signal indicative of whether the driver of the vehicle is in contact with the steering wheel of the vehicle, the value of the driver contact signal dependent on characteristics of the heterodyne signal relating to the perturbation signal.

Hands-off detection enhancement by means of a synthetic signal

A method for automated lane centering and/or lane changing purposes for a vehicle traveling on a roadway that employs roadway points from a map database to determine a reference vehicle path and sensors on the vehicle for detecting static and moving objects to adjust the reference path. The method includes reducing the curvature of the reference path to generate a reduced curvature reference path that reduces the turning requirements of the vehicle and setting the speed of the vehicle from posted roadway speeds from the map database. The method also includes providing multiple candidate vehicle paths and vehicle speeds to avoid the static and moving objects in front of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester Hills, MI, United States of America

Jin-Woo Lee