Peloton Technology, Inc.

Leland Stanford Junior University

Nissan Motor Company Limited

Joseph Christian Gerdes

Joshua P Switkes

Eugene Michael Berdichevsky

David Frederick Lyons

Yoshitaka Deguchi

Shinichiro Joe

Shad Mitchell Laws

David M Bevly

Stephen Norris Boyd

Yung-Hsiang Judy Hsu

Systems and methods for coordinating and controlling vehicles, for example heavy trucks, to follow closely behind each other, or linking, in a convenient, safe manner and thus to save significant amounts of fuel while increasing safety. In an embodiment, on-board controllers in each vehicle interact with vehicular sensors to monitor and control, for example, relative distance, relative acceleration/deceleration, and speed. Additional safety features in at least some embodiments include providing each driver with one or more visual displays of forward and rearward looking cameras. Long-range communications are provided for coordinating vehicles for linking, and for communicating analytics to fleet managers or others.

Vehicle platooning systems and methods

The present invention relates to systems and methods for vehicles to closely follow one another safely through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective.

Methods and systems for semi-autonomous vehicular convoys

The present invention relates to a method and system for enabling vehicles to closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle can have significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. By directly commanding the engine torque and braking of the following vehicle while controlling the gap between vehicles using a sensor system, and additionally using a communication link between vehicles that allows information about vehicle actions, such as braking events, to be anticipated by the following vehicle, a Semi-Autonomous Vehicular Convoying System that enables vehicles to follow closely together in a safe, efficient and convenient manner may be achieved.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for vehicles to safely closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective.

Systems and methods for semi-autonomous vehicular convoys

The present invention relates to a method and system for enabling vehicles to closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle an have significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. By directly commanding the engine torque and braking of the following vehicle while controlling the gap between vehicles using a sensor system, and additionally using a communication link between vehicles that allows information about vehicle actions, such as braking events, to be anticipated by the following vehicle, a Semi-Autonomous Vehicular Convoying System that enables vehicles to follow closely together in a safe, efficient and convenient manner may be achieved.

The present invention relates to systems and methods for facilitating participants of vehicular convoys to closely follow one another through partial automation. Following closely behind another vehicle has significant fuel savings benefits, but is unsafe when done manually by the driver. On the opposite end of the spectrum, fully autonomous solutions require inordinate amounts of technology, and a level of robustness that is currently not cost effective.

Systems and methods for semi-autonomous convoying of vehicles

A tire state estimator includes a lateral force upper limit estimating section, a lateral force estimating section, and a tire slip angle estimating section. The lateral force upper limit estimating section calculates an estimated tire lateral force upper limit, on a basis of an estimated tire slip angle and a measured tire self aligning torque. The lateral force estimating section calculates an estimated tire lateral force, on a basis of the estimated tire lateral force upper limit calculated by the lateral force upper limit estimating section and the estimated tire slip angle. The tire slip angle estimating section calculates the estimated tire slip angle, on a basis of the estimated tire lateral force calculated by the lateral force estimating section and a measured vehicle state.

Tire state estimator and tire state estimation method

A method for determining a sideslip angle of a terrestrial vehicle that moves on wheels by using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The GPS receiver is mounted in the vehicle and measures the horizontal velocity of the vehicle as well as its attitude. The sideslip angle of the vehicle at the GPS receiver is obtained from these measurements. The body sideslip angle and tire sideslip angles are derived by translating the sideslip angle at the GPS receiver to the center of gravity and to the wheels. Alternatively, an on-board gyroscope is provided for measuring vehicle attitude while the horizontal velocity is obtained from the GPS receiver. The method is extended to derive wheel slip and tire cornering stiffness. The vehicle states derived by the method can be used in a stability control system for stabilizing the motion of the vehicle.

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Joseph Christian Gerdes