Abstract:
A motor vehicle comprises a plurality of road engaging wheels (7-10), a braking system (3, 14-18) linked to the wheels (7-10) by which a driver of the vehicle (1) may brake the vehicle, a motive means (50) linked to one or more of the wheels (7-10) by which a driver of the vehicle may control vehicle sped, and a dynamic stability control system that includes a means (12-17, 20-22, 24) for deducing the position and orientation of the vehicle (1) with respect to a roadway (4) on which the vehicle travels, a path prediction system ( 12-17, 20-22, 24) for predicting the trajectory (Tp) of the motor vehicle (1) with respect to the roadway (4) and for identifying when the predicted trajectory (Tp) would place the vehicle in danger, and a wheel slip detection system (14-18, 51) for detecting loss of traction of one or more of the wheels (12-17). The dynamic stability control system monitors wheel slip and the predicted trajectory (Tp) of the vehicle (1), and, if loss of wheel traction is detected when the predicted trajectory (Tp) would place the vehicle (1) in danger, acts to alter (Tc) the predicted trajectory, for example by controlling the braking system (14-18) and/or the motive means (50) in such a way that the identified danger is reduced or eliminated.
Abstract:
A real-time integrated navigation system for a vehicle includes a GPS receiver, connected to a first antenna, where the GPS receiver receives GPS data from satellites and outputs GPS position data. The system also includes a communications link, connected to a second antenna and to the GPS receiver, receiving range and carrier phase measurements from at least one base station. The system further includes navigation aids which provide relative position data of said vehicle and a Kalman filter, connected to the output of the GPS receiver and the navigation aids, that integrates the GPS position data and the relative position data and outputs smoothed position data. The smoothed position data is used in transportation applications, especially detection of lane departure. This GPS-based positioning system is suitable for highway speeds during all weather conditions.
Abstract:
The proximity of a boundary of a roadway is detected optically by apparatus mounted to a vehicle (12). The apparatus includes an array of light sensitive elements (11) to receive light reflected from a transverse strip of the roadway. The output values of the light sensitive elements (11) are analysed by a microprocessor to detect substantial differences between neighbouring elements, indicative of the contrasting bright and dark portions on either side of the boundary, which may be a road edge or white line (13). The exposure time for the light sensitive elements is adjusted automatically, based on the minimum actual brightness level detected. The microprocessor is able to identify a white line by scanning the output values from the array of light sensitive elements to detect differences corresponding to a dark-to-bright transition and a bright-to-dark transition. If the distance between these transitions is within a predetermined range, the microprocessor identifies the feature as a line. A light shield (14) is mounted around the array of light sensitive elements, to minimise the effect of stray light.
Abstract:
In a traffic/transportation system in which a truck with an automobile/container mounted/fixed thereon travels, a normal steering operation is carried out by changing the direction of wheels (including tires) by an electronically controlled automatic steering system on the basis of steering information, whereby comfortable travel and a smooth turn are obtained. When the truck is about to run off a lane on which it travels, the run-off thereof is prevented physically and mechanically since a fin provided on the truck is inserted in a groove provided in a road, whereby a safe traffic/transportation system is obtained. The truck obtains a driving force by a gap length regulated/controlled linear induction motor so that the truck can travel at a high speed. In branching (diverging) and converging points, the branching (diverging)/converging of the trucks is practiced by steering the wheels (tires) by the automatic steering system, and the truck advances with the fin inserted in a groove in a main line or a ramp, whereby a reliable, safe traffic/transportation system adapted to practice high-speed branching (diverging) is obtained. At the exit/entrance of the present invention to/from a general road, a mode interchange is provided which is adapted to convert a travelling mode of automobile/container, and mount and fix an automobile/container on the truck and unfasten such automobile/container.
Abstract:
A driver assist analysis system includes a processing system and a database that stores vehicle data, vehicle operational data, vehicle accident data, and environmental data related to the configuration and operation of a plurality of vehicles with driver assist systems or features. The driver assist analysis system also includes one or more analysis engines that execute on the processing system to determine one or more driving anomalies (e.g., accidents or poor driving operation) based on the vehicle operational data, and that correlate or determine a relationship between the driving anomalies and the operation of the driver assist systems or features. The driver assist analysis system then determines an effectiveness of operation of one or more of the driver assist systems or features as a statistical measure based on the determined relationship and the driver assist analysis system notifies a user or receiver, such as a manufacturer or an insurance company of the statistical measure.
Abstract:
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to identifying and displaying traffic lanes that are available for autonomous driving. This information may be displayed to a driver of a vehicle having an autonomous driving mode, in order to inform the driver of where he or she can use the autonomous driving mode. In one example, the display may visually distinguishing between lanes that are available for auto-drive from those that are not. The display may also include an indicator of the position of a lane (autodrive or not) currently occupied by the vehicle. In addition, if that lane is an autodrive lane the display may include information indicating how much further the vehicle may continue in the autonomous driving mode in that particular lane. The display may also display information indicating the remaining autodrive distance in other lanes as well as the lane with the greatest remaining autodrive distance.
Abstract:
Systems and methods use cameras to provide autonomous navigation features. In one implementation, a method for navigating a user vehicle may include acquiring, using at least one image capture device, a plurality of images of an area in a vicinity of the user vehicle; determining from the plurality of images a first lane constraint on a first side of the user vehicle and a second lane constraint on a second side of the user vehicle opposite to the first side of the user vehicle; enabling the user vehicle to pass a target vehicle if the target vehicle is determined to be in a lane different from the lane in which the user vehicle is traveling; and causing the user vehicle to abort the pass before completion of the pass, if the target vehicle is determined to be entering the lane in which the user vehicle is traveling.
Abstract:
A vehicular lane change system includes a forward-viewing camera that has a field of view through the vehicle windshield that encompasses a road being traveled along by the vehicle. Responsive at least in part to processing of image data captured by the camera, a control determines the lane traveled by the vehicle. The control is operable to detect a lane change maneuver of the vehicle to a lane immediately adjacent to the lane traveled by the vehicle. Detection of the lane change maneuver is based at least in part on vehicle steering data and/or image processing of captured image data. Responsive to the control detecting the lane change maneuver of the vehicle when the driver of the vehicle has neglected to turn on an appropriate turn signal indicator of the vehicle, the control automatically turns on the turn signal indicator at the appropriate side of the vehicle.
Abstract:
The disclosure includes a method that receives a real-time image of a road from a camera sensor communicatively coupled to an onboard computer of a vehicle. The method includes dividing the real-time image into superpixels. The method includes merging the superpixels to form superpixel regions. The method includes generating prior maps from a dataset of road scene images. The method includes drawing a set of bounding boxes where each bounding box surrounds one of the superpixel regions. The method includes comparing the bounding boxes in the set of bounding boxes to a road prior map to identify a road region in the real-time image. The method includes pruning bounding boxes from the set of bounding boxes to reduce the set to remaining bounding boxes. The method may include using a categorization module that identifies the presence of a road scene object in the remaining bounding boxes.
Abstract:
The disclosure includes a method that receives a real-time image of a road from a camera sensor communicatively coupled to an onboard computer of a vehicle. The method includes dividing the real-time image into superpixels. The method includes merging the superpixels to form superpixel regions. The method includes generating prior maps from a dataset of road scene images. The method includes drawing a set of bounding boxes where each bounding box surrounds one of the superpixel regions. The method includes comparing the bounding boxes in the set of bounding boxes to a road prior map to identify a road region in the real-time image. The method includes pruning bounding boxes from the set of bounding boxes to reduce the set to remaining bounding boxes. The method may include using a categorization module that identifies the presence of a road scene object in the remaining bounding boxes.