Semiautonomous vehicle control system

• Main Authors: Sarra Awad Yako, Gerald H Engelman, Levasseur Tellis
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 30.05.2018
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE ORDIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TOTHE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL

A method for controlling a vehicle in a first autonomy mode, comprising a step of disregarding a command from an occupant to perform an action interfering with an ability of the occupant to either see a field of travel of a vehicle or provide input to the vehicle. The autonomy mode controls the steering and propulsion or braking. Preferably, a second autonomy mode obeys the driver commands. Actions to be overridden include deactivating windscreen wipers when precipitation is detected, deactivating headlights below a specified intensity threshold, reclining a seat past an angular threshold, adjusting a steering wheel position, unbuckling a driver seatbelt, or opening a driver door. The first autonomy mode may be deactivated based on a driving environment. A further step may involve deactivating the first autonomy mode in response to the command, or stopping the vehicle in response to the command.