Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Bridgestone Corporation

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties Inc

Shigenobu Saigusa

Yoichi Sugimoto

Jovin D'sa

Xue Bai

Samer Rajab

Zeljko Medenica

Kei Oshida

Samir Al-Stouhi

Kenichi Ohshima

Yasushi Shoda

David W Weber

Hiroyuki Kawagoe

Yasuhiro Konishi

Amer Abughaida

Haoyu Sun

Yoshikazu Sato

Paritosh Kelkar

Sue Bai

Michael T Sailer

Yasir Khudhair Al-Nadawi

Yukihiro Fujiwara

Nathan G Brown

Katsuyuki Takei

Yoshitaka Katashima

Soroush Jalali

Yutaka Kamata

Takahiro Goto

Shane McLaughlin

Manabu Shimizu

Yuji Tahara

R Michael Van Auken

Henricus Andhy Yuliawan

Alex J Chapman

Tyler Naes

Yusen Chen

Cameron Rainey

Steven Huggins

James Schultz

Kevin Kefauver

Yoshitaka Yokoo

Tatsuya Hasi

Ryo Takasu

A system and method for controlling a merge vehicle travelling along a highway having a merge lane and a main lane. The method includes receiving merge data about the merge vehicle and a surrounding environment of the merge vehicle. The method includes detecting an intent to perform a merge maneuver by the merge vehicle from the merge lane to the main lane based on the merge data. Further, the method includes generating a graph having a plurality of nodes connected by edges. The plurality of nodes includes a start node set to a current position of the merge vehicle and a goal node located in the main lane after the merge lane has ended. The method includes calculating a three-dimensional (3D) trajectory based on the graph by optimizing edge costs from the start node to the goal node, and controlling the merge vehicle based on the 3D trajectory.

System and method for automated merging

Embodiments, systems, and techniques for vehicle operation assistance are provided herein. Vehicle operation assistance may be provided by a method. An example method includes transmitting a help request for help to a help center based on an emergency status of an occupant of a vehicle. The method also includes receiving availability information from the help center. The availability information indicates availability of one or more potential leader vehicles in an area. The method yet further includes placing the system in a follower mode based on a selection of a leader vehicle from the one or more potential leader vehicles by establishing a connection with the potential leader vehicle. In follower mode the vehicle is a follower vehicle. The method additionally includes wirelessly receiving a navigation instruction from the leader vehicle. The method includes executing a driving maneuver in an autonomous fashion based on the navigation instruction from the leader vehicle.

Vehicle operation assistance

A merge behavior system assists a host vehicle positioned in a merge lane that is adjacent a mainline lane. The merge behavior system includes an identification module that identifies at least one proximate vehicle in the mainline lane, if present. The merge behavior system also includes a prediction module that selects one or more models based on the at least one proximate vehicle, calculates one or more merge factors corresponding to the one or more models, and predicts a merge location based on the one or more merge factors. The merge behavior system further includes a control module that adjusts a kinematic parameter of the host vehicle to bring the host vehicle within a merging distance of the predicted merge location. The merge behavior system includes a merge module that determines whether a gap at the predicted merge location is a sufficient size for the host vehicle.

Merge behavior systems and methods for merging vehicles

A computer-implemented method for controlling a vehicle system of a host vehicle merging into a lane. The method includes determining an actual distance between the host vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles. The actual distance is a longitudinal distance between the host vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles. The method includes determining a safe distance for merging into the lane based on a relative position of the host vehicle to the one or more remote vehicles, a speed of the host vehicle, and a speed of the one or more remote vehicles. The safe distance is a second longitudinal distance between the host vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles. The method includes controlling the vehicle system of the host vehicle to assist a merge maneuver by the host vehicle according to the actual distance and the safe distance.

System and method for merge assist using vehicular communication

A computer-implemented method for controlling a host vehicle having a vehicle control system that controls motion of the host vehicle relative to a preceding vehicle that is immediately ahead of the host vehicle. The method includes determining a relative headway distance and a relative velocity between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, and an acceleration rate of the preceding vehicle. The method includes receiving message packets transmitted from a leading vehicle and the message packets contain parameters of the leading vehicle including an acceleration rate of the leading vehicle. Further, the method includes calculating an acceleration control rate for the host vehicle to maintain the headway reference distance between the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle, based on the relative headway distance, the relative velocity, the acceleration rate of the preceding vehicle, and the acceleration rate of the leading vehicle. The acceleration rate is output to a vehicle controller to control motion of the host vehicle.

System and method for vehicle control using vehicular communication

A vehicle control system for use with a host vehicle configured for travel along a path is described. The vehicle control system includes a processor configured to access a host location and host speed of the host vehicle. The processor is also configured to detect a follower location and follower speed of a following vehicle behind the host vehicle on the path. A tailgating distance is calculated between the host vehicle and the following vehicle. The following vehicle is identified as a tailgating vehicle when the tailgating distance is less than or equal to a first warning distance or when the follower speed is greater than the host vehicle within a second warning distance. A tailgating protocol of the host vehicle is initiated for the tailgating vehicle based on a differential speed between the host speed and the follower speed.

Vehicular communications network and methods of use and manufacture thereof

A merge behavior system assists a host vehicle positioned in a mainline lane that is adjacent a merge lane. The merge behavior system includes an identification module that identifies at least one proximate vehicle in the merge lane. The merge behavior system also includes a prediction module that selects one or more models based on the at least one proximate vehicle, calculates one or more merge factors corresponding to the one or more models, and predicts a merge location based on the one or more merge factors. The merge behavior system further includes a control module configured to adjust a kinematic parameter of the host vehicle to create a gap at the predicted merge location.

Merge behavior systems and methods for mainline vehicles

A display apparatus is provided. The display apparatus includes a display screen, and control circuitry that is coupled with the display screen. The control circuitry is configured to detect at least one physical space based on a geographical location of a vehicle which includes the display apparatus. The control circuitry is configured to establish a communication connection with at least one electronic device associated with the detected at least one physical space. The control circuitry is further configured to receive at least one image frame associated with at least one activity being performed within the at least one physical space based on the established communication connection. The at least one image frame is received from the at least one electronic device. The control circuitry is further configured to control the display screen to display the received at least one image frame associated with the at least one activity.

Display control based on location of vehicle

A computer-implemented method for braking control of a host vehicle includes detecting a panic brake operation based on a change of a braking pressure of a braking system of the host vehicle with respect to time. The method includes detecting a second vehicle driving behind the host vehicle and in the same lane as the host vehicle, and determining a time-to-collision value between the host vehicle and the second vehicle. Further, the method includes determining a deceleration rate of the host vehicle based on a driver braking pressure provided by operation of a brake pedal of the braking system. The method includes controlling the braking system based on the time-to-collision value and the deceleration rate.

System and method for vehicle control in tailgating situations

Embodiments, systems, and techniques for vehicle operation assistance are provided herein. Vehicle operation assistance may be provided by monitoring characteristics of an occupant of a vehicle and determining an emergency status for the occupant based on characteristics of the occupant, transmitting a request for help based on the emergency status indicating the occupant of the vehicle is experiencing an emergency, receiving a 'follow me' request from a potential leader vehicle, enabling follower mode such that vehicle is a follower vehicle and the potential leader vehicle is a leader vehicle, establishing a connection with the leader vehicle and receiving navigation instructions from the leader vehicle based on the vehicle being in follower mode, generating driving action commands based on navigation instructions, and executing respective driving action commands in an autonomous fashion based on the vehicle being in follower mode.

A computer-implemented method for controlling a host vehicle relative to a first vehicle positioned immediately ahead of the host vehicle, including, detecting a second vehicle driving behind the host vehicle and in the same lane as the host vehicle. The method including detecting a braking operation initiated by the vehicle system of the host vehicle. The braking operation causes the host vehicle to decelerate based on an acceleration control rate in order to maintain a preceding headway reference distance with the first vehicle. The method includes, determining a relative rear headway distance between the host vehicle and the second vehicle with respect to a rear headway reference distance and modifying the acceleration control rate based on the relative rear headway distance and the rear headway reference distance. Further, the method includes controlling the vehicle system according to the modified acceleration control rate.

A system and method for controlling a host vehicle in a platoon of vehicles. The method includes receiving speed data of a leading vehicle from the leading vehicle via a vehicle communication network, and receiving speed data of a preceding vehicle from a sensor system of the host vehicle. The preceding vehicle is positioned immediately ahead of the host vehicle. The leading vehicle is positioned ahead of the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle. The method includes calculating a transfer function between the leading vehicle and the host vehicle and determining a string stability level of the platoon of vehicles based on the transfer function. The string stability level indicates a speed variation of the platoon of vehicles. Further, the method includes calculating a traffic congestion level based on the string stability level, and controlling a vehicle system of the host vehicle based on the traffic congestion level.

System and method for vehicle congestion estimation

A computer-implemented method for controlling a vehicle system of a host vehicle merging with one or more remote vehicles, including receiving speed data transmitted from the one or more remote vehicles via a vehicular communication network and receiving position data of the one or more remote vehicles from the sensor system of the host vehicle that monitors an area around the host vehicle. Upon determining the one or more remote vehicles are in the area around the host vehicle based on the position data, determining a safe distance for merging into the lane based on a relative position of the host vehicle to the one or more remote vehicles. Further, controlling the vehicle system of the host vehicle according to an actual distance between the host vehicle and the one or more remote vehicles and the safe distance.

An information providing system for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle is operable by a driver capable of exhibiting driving behavior, the driving behavior being a recorded frequency of occurrences. The system can include a processor that is configured to: obtain a first driving pattern from the driving behavior, the first driving pattern being specified when the same driving behavior is repeated above a threshold frequency; select at least one functionality based on the first driving pattern obtained; and recommend the at least one functionality selected by the selector to the driver.

Apparatus and methods for providing vehicle driving information

Growing community of inventors

West Bloomfield, MI, United States of America

Shigenobu Saigusa