Controlling driving condition components of an autonomous vehicle based on a current driving mode and current conditions
AssigneeToyota Research Institute, Inc.
InventorsHiromitsu Urano, Kentaro Ichikawa, Junya Ueno
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling a driving condition component of an autonomous vehicle is presented. The method includes determining whether current conditions would limit a driver's visibility. The method also includes predicting whether the driver will enable a manual mode during the current conditions. The method further includes controlling the driving condition component to mitigate the current conditions prior to the driver enabling the manual mode.
Claims20
A method for controlling a driving condition component of a vehicle, comprising:
- enabling an autonomous mode for the vehicle;
- disabling automatic operation of the driving condition component based on a current condition in response to enabling the autonomous mode;
- determining, while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode, the current condition limits visibility for a human occupant of the vehicle;
- predicting the human occupant will enable a manual mode during the current condition;
- and
- enabling the driving condition component to mitigate the current condition prior to the human occupant switching from the autonomous mode to the manual mode.
An apparatus for controlling a driving condition component of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured:
- to enable an autonomous mode for the vehicle;
- to disable automatic operation of the driving condition component based on a current condition in response to enabling the autonomous mode;
- to determine, while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode, the current condition limits visibility for a human occupant of the vehicle;
- to predict the human occupant will enable a manual mode during the current conditions;
- and
- to enable the driving condition component to mitigate the current conditions prior to the human occupant switching from the autonomous mode to the manual mode.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon for controlling a driving condition component of a vehicle, the program code executed by a processor and comprising:
- program code to enable an autonomous mode for the vehicle;
- program code to disable automatic operation of the driving condition component based on a current condition in response to enabling the autonomous mode;
- program code to determine, while the vehicle is operating in the autonomous mode, the current condition limits visibility for a human occupant of the vehicle;
- program code to predict the human occupant will enable a manual mode during the current condition;
- and
- program code to enable the driving condition component to mitigate the current condition prior to the human occupant switching from the autonomous mode to the manual mode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.