# US 10,369,998 B2 · Dynamic gap control for automated driving > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,369,998 B2 - Document ID: US10369998B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/605,456 - Filed: 2017-05-25 - Published: 2018-02-22 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-22 - Assignees: Peloton Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Peloton Technology, Inc. - Inventors: James B. Kuszmaul; Austin B. Schuh; Stephen M. Erlien; Joshua P. Switkes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369998B2 ## CPC - B60W 30/165: Automatically following the path of a preceding lead vehicle, e.g. "electronic tow-bar" - B60W 10/04: including control of propulsion units - B60W 10/06: including control of combustion engines - B60W 10/18: including control of braking systems - B60W 40/1005: {Driving resistance} - G01S 13/93: for anti-collision purposes - G01S 13/931: of land vehicles - G01S 19/14: specially adapted for specific applications - G05D 1/0293: {Convoy travelling} - G05D 1/0295: {by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet} - G08G 1/22: {Platooning, i.e. convoy of communicating vehicles} - B60W 2050/0075: {Automatic parameter input, automatic initialising or calibrating means} - B60W 2300/125: Heavy duty trucks - B60W 2420/408: Radar; Laser, e.g. lidar - B60W 2520/10: Longitudinal speed - B60W 2520/105: Longitudinal acceleration - B60W 2520/14: Yaw - B60W 2520/28: Wheel speed - B60W 2530/10: Weight - B60W 2540/10: Accelerator pedal position - B60W 2540/12: Brake pedal position - B60W 2540/18: Steering angle - B60W 2554/801: Lateral distance - B60W 2556/65: Data transmitted between vehicles - B60W 2710/09: Other types of propulsion units, e.g. fluid motors, or type not specified - B60W 2710/18: Braking system - B60W 2754/30: Longitudinal distance - B60W 2756/10: Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle - G01S 19/13: Receivers - G01S 2013/9316: {combined with communication equipment with other vehicles or with base stations} - G01S 2013/93185: {Controlling the brakes} - G01S 2013/9319: {Controlling the accelerator} - G01S 2013/9323: {Alternative operation using light waves} - G01S 2013/9325: {for inter-vehicle distance regulation, e.g. navigating in platoons} - G08G 1/161: {Decentralised systems, e.g. inter-vehicle communication} - B60W: CONJOINT CONTROL OF VEHICLE SUB-UNITS OF DIFFERENT TYPE OR DIFFERENT FUNCTION; CONTROL SYSTEMS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR HYBRID VEHICLES; ROAD VEHICLE DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR PURPOSES NOT RELATED TO THE CONTROL OF A PARTICULAR SUB-UNIT - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES - G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES - G08G: TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS (guiding railway traffic, ensuring the safety of railway traffic B61L; arrangement of road signs or traffic signals E01F9/00; radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for traffic control G01S13/91, G01S15/88, G01S17/88; {radar or analogous systems, sonar systems, lidar systems specially adapted for anti-collision purposes G01S13/93, G01S15/93, G01S17/93}) ## Abstract A variety of methods, controllers and algorithms are described for controlling a vehicle to closely follow one another safely using automatic or partially automatic control. The described control schemes are well suited for use in vehicle platooning and/or vehicle convoying applications, including truck platooning and convoying controllers. In one aspect, a power plant (such as an engine) is controlled using a control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the vehicles. Brakes (such as wheel brakes) are controlled in a manner configured to attain and maintain a second (shorter) target gap. Such control allows a certain degree of encroachment on the targeted gap (sometimes referred to as a gap tolerance) before the brakes are actuated. The described approaches facilitate a safe and comfortable rider experience and reduce the likelihood of the brakes being actuated unnecessarily. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a first vehicle to at least partially automatically maintain separation from a second vehicle while driving, the first vehicle having a power plant and brakes, the method comprising: automatically controlling an output of the power plant during driving in accordance with a power plant output control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the first and the second vehicles; and automatically controlling the brakes during driving in accordance with a braking control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a second target gap during first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein the difference between the first and second target gaps is a gap tolerance; and wherein automatically controlling the brakes to maintain the second target gap during the first selected operating conditions causes braking requests to be generated during the first selected operating conditions only when the first vehicle has encroached upon the second vehicle by at least the gap tolerance relative to a targeted separation distance between the first and second vehicles dictated by the first control scheme at a current operational state. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the gap tolerance varies at least in part based on a current actual gap between the first and second vehicles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the power plant is an engine and the controlled brakes are wheel brakes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first and second target gaps are longitudinal separations between the first and second vehicles. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method as recited in claim 1 wherein: the first vehicle is a truck that includes a retarder; and the retarder is controlled at least in part based on a torque request generated by a torque request controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the brakes are wheel brakes and the retarder is also controlled in part by a brake controller that automatically controls the wheel brakes during driving. ### Claim 7 A method of controlling a first vehicle to at least partially automatically maintain separation from a second vehicle while driving, the first vehicle having a power plant and brakes, the method comprising: automatically controlling an output of the power plant during driving in accordance with a power plant output control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the first and the second vehicles; and automatically controlling the brakes during driving in accordance with a braking control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a second target gap during first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein in at least some circumstances, when the first vehicle receives an indication that the second vehicle is braking, the braking control is switched to automatically control the brakes in a manner arranged to attain and maintain the first target gap rather than the second target gap. ### Claim 8 A method of controlling a first vehicle to at least partially automatically maintain separation from a second vehicle while driving, the first vehicle having a power plant and brakes, the method comprising: automatically controlling an output of the power plant during driving in accordance with a power plant output control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the first and the second vehicles; and automatically controlling the brakes during driving in accordance with a braking control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a second target gap during first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein in at least some circumstances, when the first vehicle receives an indication that the second vehicle is braking, the braking control is switched to automatically control the brakes in a manner arranged to attain and maintain a current gap rather than the second target gap. ### Claim 9 A method of controlling a first vehicle to at least partially automatically maintain separation from a second vehicle while driving, the first vehicle having a power plant and brakes, the method comprising automatically controlling an output of the power plant during driving in accordance with a power plant output control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the first and the second vehicles, and automatically controlling the brakes during driving in accordance with a braking control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a second target gap during first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap, and wherein: the power plant output control scheme has a target output control line that defines a relative velocity versus gap relationship desired for use in controlling the first vehicle to attain the first target gap; the braking control scheme has a target braking control line that defines a relative velocity versus gap relationship desired for use in controlling braking of the first vehicle to attain the second target gap; and identifying a circumstance in which (i) the second vehicle is or will imminently be braking, and (ii) an actual current relative velocity of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle is less than or equal to a targeted relative velocity defined by the target output control line at an actual current gap between the first and second vehicles; and changing the braking control scheme to automatically control the brakes in a manner arranged to attain and maintain the first target gap rather than the second target gap. ### Claim 10 A method of controlling a trailing vehicle to at least partially automatically maintain separation from a leading vehicle, the trailing vehicle having an engine and wheel brakes, the method comprising: automatically controlling an output of the engine during driving in accordance with an engine control scheme arranged to attain and maintain a first target gap between the leading and trailing vehicles, the engine output control scheme having a target engine output control line that defines a relative velocity versus gap relationship desired for use in controlling the trailing vehicle to attain the first target gap; and automatically controlling the wheel brakes during driving in accordance with a braking control scheme during first selected operating conditions arranged to attain and maintain a second target gap between the leading and trailing vehicles, the braking control scheme having a target braking control line that defines a relative velocity versus gap relationship desired for use in controlling braking of the trailing vehicle to attain the second target gap, wherein the second target gap is shorter than the first target gap and wherein the difference between the first and second control lines is a gap tolerance; and wherein automatically controlling the wheel brakes in a manner arranged to attain and maintain the second target gap during the first selected operating conditions causes wheel brake braking requests to be generated during the first selected operating conditions only when the trailing vehicle has encroached upon the leading vehicle by at least the gap tolerance relative to a desired gap defined by the target engine output control line at a current actual relative velocity of the trailing vehicle relative to the leading vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising: identifying a first circumstance in which (i) the leading vehicle is or will imminently be braking, and (ii) an actual current relative velocity of the trailing vehicle relative to the leading vehicle is less than or equal to a targeted relative velocity defined by the target engine output control line at an actual current gap between the leading and trailing vehicles; and changing the braking control scheme for the trailing vehicle in response to the identification of the first circumstance to automatically control the brakes for the trailing vehicle in a manner arranged to attain and maintain the first target gap rather than the second target gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method as recited in claim 10 further comprising: identifying a first circumstance in which (i) the leading vehicle is or will imminently be braking, and (ii) an actual current relative velocity of the trailing vehicle relative to the leading vehicle is between a first targeted relative velocity defined by the target engine output control line at an actual current gap between the leading and trailing vehicles and a second targeted relative velocity defined by the target braking control line at the actual current gap; and changing the braking control scheme for the trailing vehicle in response to the identification of the first circumstance to automatically control the brakes for the trailing vehicle in a manner arranged to attain and maintain the third target gap rather than the second target gap, the third target gap being intermediary between the first and second target gaps. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) A method as recited in claim 10 wherein: the leading and trailing vehicles are trucks, and the trailing vehicle includes a retarder; and the retarder is controlled at least in part based on a torque request generated by a torque request controller. ### Claim 14 A platoon controller for at least partially automatically controlling a host vehicle to attain and maintain a first target gap separation between the host vehicle and a second vehicle while the host vehicle is driving, the platoon controller comprising: a torque request controller configured to determine torque requests suitable for attaining and maintaining the first target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under first selected operating conditions; a brake request controller configured to determine brake requests suitable for attaining and maintaining a second target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under the first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein during driving under the first selected operation condition, the torque request controller outputs torque requests based on the first target gap and the brake request controller outputs brake requests based on the second target gap wherein the difference between the first and second target gaps is a gap tolerance; and wherein automatically controlling the brakes to maintain the second target gap during the first selected operating conditions causes braking requests to be generated during the first selected operating conditions only when the first vehicle has encroached upon the second vehicle by at least the gap tolerance relative to a targeted separation distance between the first and second vehicles dictated by the first control scheme at a current operational state. ### Claim 15 A platoon controller for at least partially automatically controlling a host vehicle to attain and maintain a first target gap separation between the host vehicle and a second vehicle while the host vehicle is driving, the platoon controller comprising: a torque request controller configured to determine torque requests suitable for attaining and maintaining the first target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under first selected operating conditions; a brake request controller configured to determine brake requests suitable for attaining and maintaining a second target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under the first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein during driving under the first selected operation condition, the torque request controller outputs torque requests based on the first target gap and the brake request controller outputs brake requests based on the second target gap; and wherein the torque request controller and the brake request controller are components of a sliding mode controller. ### Claim 16 A platoon controller for at least partially automatically controlling a host vehicle to attain and maintain a first target gap separation between the host vehicle and a second vehicle while the host vehicle is driving, the platoon controller comprising: a torque request controller configured to determine torque requests suitable for attaining and maintaining the first target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under first selected operating conditions; a brake request controller configured to determine brake requests suitable for attaining and maintaining a second target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under the first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein during driving under the first selected operation condition, the torque request controller outputs torque requests based on the first target gap and the brake request controller outputs brake requests based on the second target gap; and wherein the brake request controller is further configured to, responsive to reception of an indication that the second vehicle is braking, determine a brake request suitable for attaining and maintaining the first target gap rather than the second target gap during second selected operating conditions. ### Claim 17 A platoon controller for at least partially automatically controlling a host vehicle to attain and maintain a first target gap separation between the host vehicle and a second vehicle while the host vehicle is driving, the platoon controller comprising: a torque request controller configured to determine torque requests suitable for attaining and maintaining the first target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under first selected operating conditions; a brake request controller configured to determine brake requests suitable for attaining and maintaining a second target gap between the host and second vehicles while the host vehicle is driving under the first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein during driving under the first selected operation condition, the torque request controller outputs torque requests based on the first target gap and the brake request controller outputs brake requests based on the second target gap; and wherein the brake request controller is further configured to determine a brake request suitable for attaining and maintaining a third target gap during second selected operating conditions, the third target gap being intermediary between the first and second target gaps. ### Claim 18 A platoon controller configured for use on a truck having an engine, a retarder and wheel brakes, for at least partially automatically controlling the truck to attain and maintain a first target gap separation between the truck and a second vehicle while the truck is driving, the platoon controller comprising: a torque request controller configured to determine torque requests suitable for attaining and maintaining the first target gap between the truck and second vehicle while the truck is driving under first selected operating conditions; a brake request controller configured to determine brake requests suitable for attaining and maintaining a second target gap between the truck and second vehicle while the truck is driving under the first selected operating conditions, the second target gap being shorter than the first target gap; and wherein during driving under the first selected operation condition, the torque request controller outputs torque requests based on the first target gap and the brake request controller outputs brake requests based on the second target gap; and wherein the torque requests generated by the torque request controller are configured to be used in conjunction with control of the engine and retarder but not the wheel brakes; and wherein the brake requests generated by the brake request controller are configured to be used in conjunction with control of the wheel brakes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A truck having an engine, a retarder and wheel brakes and a platoon controller as recited in claim 18.