Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Pinaki Gupta

Lawrence A Kaminsky

Anthony H Heap

Ali K Naqvi

Besim Demirovic

Jy-Jen F Sah

Sean W McGrogan

Sayyed Rouhollah Jafari Tafti

Robert L Morris

Syed B Mehdi

Upali Priyantha Mudalige

Jin-Woo Lee

Krunal P Patel

Brent N Bacchus

Nikhil L Hoskeri

Alexander K Rustoni

Gil J Mendoza

An autonomous vehicle, system and method of navigating the autonomous vehicle. The system includes one or more sensors for obtaining data with respect to a remote stationary vehicle, and a processor. The processor is configured to classify the remote stationary vehicle into an object hypothesis based on the data, determine an actionable behavior of the autonomous vehicle based on a probability for the object hypothesis, and navigate the autonomous vehicle with respect to the remote vehicle via the actionable behavior.

Approach to maneuver planning for navigating around parked vehicles for autonomous driving

A system or method implemented by an autonomous vehicle involves determining a path plan to reach a destination from an origin. The path plan includes two or more path steps indicating tasks to be completed to reach the destination. The method includes, during traversal of the path plan by the autonomous vehicle, evaluating one or more of the two or more path steps of a planning horizon to determine a behavior plan for the planning horizon. The planning horizon is based on a current position of the autonomous vehicle, the behavior plan includes a speed and a trajectory, and the evaluating includes performing a cost analysis using a parallelized tree-based decision scheme at each of two or more simulation intervals within the planning horizon. The evaluating and the determining the behavior plan is repeated at two or more positions of the autonomous vehicle from the origin to the destination.

Parallelized tree-based decision scheme for autonomous vehicle

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for executing a lane change for a host vehicle. In various embodiments, one or more sensors obtain sensor data pertaining to target vehicles in proximity to the host vehicle; and a processor at least facilitates: obtaining, using the sensor data, predictions as to future positions and movement of the target vehicle; identifying a plurality of gaps through which the host vehicle may accomplish the lane change, based on the predictions; calculating a cost for each of the plurality of gaps; selecting, a selected gap of the plurality of gaps, having a minimized cost; and executing the lane change for the host vehicle via the selected gap.

Maneuver planning for urgent lane changes

Automated driving systems, control logic, and methods execute maneuver criticality analysis to provide intelligent vehicle operation in transient driving conditions. A method for controlling an automated driving operation includes a vehicle controller receiving path plan data with location, destination, and predicted path data for a vehicle. From the received path plan data, the controller predicts an upcoming maneuver for driving the vehicle between start and goal lane segments. The vehicle controller determines a predicted route with lane segments connecting the start and goal lane segments, and segment maneuvers for moving the vehicle between the start, goal, and route lane segments. A cost value is calculated for each segment maneuver; the controller determines if a cost values exceeds a corresponding criticality value. If so, the controller commands a resident vehicle subsystem to execute a control operation associated with taking the predicted route.

Automated driving systems and control logic using maneuver criticality for vehicle routing and mode adaptation

A method for performing autonomous operation of a vehicle is provided. The method obtains object data, by a plurality of vehicle onboard sensors; obtains road data, by one or more cameras onboard the vehicle; determines, by at least one processor, an initial vehicle trajectory, based on the object data and the road data; identifies, by the at least one processor, a set of constraints associated with the initial vehicle trajectory; determines a final vehicle trajectory, based on the potential vehicle trajectory and the set of constraints; and transmits the final vehicle trajectory to a steering mechanism onboard the vehicle.

Methods and apparatus for optimizing a trajectory for an autonomous vehicle

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

Methods, apparatus and systems are provided for steering a vehicle, for example, during autonomous operation. One exemplary method involves operating a locking system associated with a first set of one or more wheels of the vehicle to lock an angle of the wheel(s) and detecting a steering adjustment condition based on the angle during subsequent operation of the vehicle. In response to the steering adjustment condition, the locking system is operated in an intermediate mode, and then thereafter operated to relock the angle of the wheel(s) based on monitoring the angle of the wheel(s) during operation in the intermediate mode.

Autonomous vehicle steering control methods and systems

Methods, systems, and vehicles are provided for facilitating control of steering in autonomous vehicles. In accordance with one embodiment, an autonomous vehicle includes one or more wheel sensors and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to obtain sensor data pertaining to a side slip of the autonomous vehicle. A dual mandate of desired path tracking & stability is achieved by using a combination of two linear controllers. The first controlled facilitates tracking whereas the second controller facilitates vehicle stability. When the stability event occurs a gradual shift towards the second controller occurs and with recovery from stability event gradual shift towards the first controller. Mimicking of driver behavior by changing the desired trajectory and dynamic control gain adaptation are also added.

Autonomous vehicle lateral control for path tracking and stability

A system and method of controlling a clutch fill command based on the hydraulic state of an oncoming clutch is provided. A vehicle includes a hydraulically-actuated oncoming clutch that is configured to engage during a shift event from one operating mode of the vehicle to another. A controller is configured to generate a clutch fill command at an initial time such that completion of the clutch fill command is synchronized with an identified speed profile of the oncoming clutch. The oncoming clutch defines a real-time hydraulic state when the clutch fill command is generated. The controller is configured to generate a real-time acceptable speed margin for the oncoming clutch based at least partially on the real-time hydraulic state of the oncoming clutch. The controller is configured to cancel the clutch fill command if a real-time speed of the oncoming clutch is outside the generated real-time acceptable speed margin.

Control of clutch fill command based on hydraulic state of oncoming clutch

A method for controlling a transmission of a powertrain system includes executing a single source shortest path search to identify a preferred shift path originating with an initial powertrain state and terminating at a target powertrain state, wherein the single source shortest path search employs transition-specific costs and situational costs to identify the preferred shift path. The preferred shift path is executed to achieve the target powertrain state.

Method and apparatus for executing a shift path to a target powertrain state

A vehicle includes a torque generating device, a transmission, and a controller. The transmission has one or more clutches. The controller executes a method, which includes measuring an amount of slip across an identified offgoing clutches and determining whether the offgoing clutches have slipped prior to a modeled clutch torque capacity reaching zero. A status is assigned indicating that the offgoing clutches are released if the offgoing clutch has slipped prior to the modeled clutch capacity reaching zero. The controller induces slip across the identified offgoing clutches to a calibrated low, non-zero level after recording the value, including by enforcing the low, non-zero slip value using one or more acceleration profiles.

Acceleration profile-based control of an offgoing clutch operation

A vehicle includes torque sources, a transmission, and a controller programmed to execute a method. In executing the associated method, the controller determines whether continuous output torque is required through a torque exchange. When continuous output torque is required, the controller synchronizes and fills the oncoming clutch, estimates capacity of the oncoming clutch, and expands a short-term torque capacity of the oncoming clutch during the torque exchange, doing so in response to a control objective having a threshold priority. Onset of the torque exchange delays until the short-term torque capacity is sufficient for receiving all torque load from the offgoing clutch without affecting output torque. The controller asynchronously controls the offgoing clutch and synchronously controls the oncoming clutch through the torque exchange, and loads the synchronous oncoming clutch via an expanding set of long-control torque capacity limits as a function of a simultaneously exhausting of the offgoing clutch load.

Asynchronous-to-synchronous clutch torque exchange in a hybrid electric vehicle

A vehicle includes a powertrain with an engine, first and second torque machines, and a hybrid transmission. A method for operating the vehicle includes operating the engine in an unfueled state, releasing an off-going clutch which when engaged effects operation of the hybrid transmission in a first continuously variable mode, and applying a friction braking torque to a wheel of the vehicle to compensate for an increase in an output torque of the hybrid transmission resulting from releasing the off-going clutch. Subsequent to releasing the off-going clutch, an oncoming clutch which when engaged effects operation of the hybrid transmission in a second continuously variable mode is synchronized. Subsequent to synchronization of the oncoming clutch, the oncoming clutch is engaged.

Control system for a hybrid powertrain system

A hybrid transmission includes first and second electric machines. A method for operating the hybrid transmission in response to a command to execute a shift from an initial continuously variable mode to a target continuously variable mode includes increasing torque of an oncoming clutch associated with operating in the target continuously variable mode and correspondingly decreasing a torque of an off-going clutch associated with operating in the initial continuously variable mode. Upon deactivation of the off-going clutch, torque outputs of the first and second electric machines and the torque of the oncoming clutch are controlled to synchronize the oncoming clutch. Upon synchronization of the oncoming clutch, the torque for the oncoming clutch is increased and the transmission is operated in the target continuously variable mode.

Method and apparatus for executing an asynchronous clutch-to-clutch shift in a hybrid transmission

A system for a vehicle includes a constraint module that generates a plurality of constraints. An output torque module generates a commanded output torque based on a torque request and the plurality of constraints. A split torque module determines a first torque and a second torque to be applied to a transmission of the vehicle based on the plurality of constraints and the commanded output torque. A first one of the plurality of constraints corresponding to a first clutch is adjusted from a first range of values to a second range of values that is different from the first range of values in response to a command to offload the first clutch.

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Wixom, MI, United States of America

Pinaki Gupta