Automated driving systems and control logic for host vehicle velocity estimation using wide aperture radar

Abstract

Presented are target object detection systems for deriving host vehicle velocities, methods for making/using such systems, and motor vehicles with host vehicle velocity estimation capabilities. A method of automating operation of vehicles includes an electronic transmitter of a vehicle's target object detection system emitting electromagnetic signals, and an electronic receiver receiving multiple reflection echoes caused by each electromagnetic signal reflecting off target objects within proximity of the vehicle. A vehicle controller determines a relative velocity vector for each target object based on these reflection echoes. The relative velocity vectors are assigned to discrete vector clusters. The controller estimates a host vehicle velocity vector as an average of the relative velocity vectors in the vector cluster containing the most relative velocity vectors and having the largest spatial spread. The controller commands one or more vehicle systems to execute one or more control operations responsive to the host vehicle velocity vector.