The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 05, 1996
Filed:
May. 19, 1994
Qing Tang, Storrs, CT (US);
Wei-Ping Wang, Storrs, CT (US);
Zhongxue Gan, Storrs, CT (US);
Ruiming Zhang, Storrs, CT (US);
John Moh, Freshmeadows, NY (US);
VI&T Group, Inc., Freshmeadows, NY (US);
Abstract
An automatic vehicle following system is provided for controlling a following vehicle to maintain at least a predetermined distance behind a preceding vehicle and to substantially follow the path of the preceding vehicle. An on-line measurement system of the preceding vehicle generates signals indicative of the velocity (having speed and directional components) of the preceding vehicle, and a communication system transmits the velocity signals to the following vehicle. The following vehicle likewise has a communication system for receiving the signals from the preceding vehicle, and an on-line measurement system for providing signals indicative of the velocity of the following vehicle and signals indicative of the distance between the two vehicles. A signal processing system of the following vehicle is coupled to the communication system and on-line measurement system for estimating motion trajectory of the preceding vehicle based on the difference in the velocities of the preceding and following vehicles and the following distance. A control system generates control signals and takes action so as to perform speed control and maintain at least a predetermined safe following distance between the two vehicles, and steering control to substantially follow the path of the preceding vehicle.