System and process for closest in path vehicle following using surrounding vehicles motion flow

Abstract

A system for closest in path vehicle following using surrounding vehicles motion flow is provided and includes a sensor device of a host vehicle generating data related to vehicles upon a drivable surface. The system further includes a navigation controller including a computerized processor operable to monitor the data from the sensor device, define a portion of the plurality of vehicles as a swarm of vehicles, identify one of the plurality of vehicles as a closest in path vehicle to be followed, evaluate the data to determine whether the closest in path vehicle to be followed is exhibiting good behavior in relation to the swarm of vehicles, and, when the closest in path vehicle to be followed is exhibiting the good behavior, generate a breadcrumbing navigation path based upon the data. The system further includes a vehicle controller controlling the host vehicle based upon the breadcrumbing navigation path.