Intelligent windshield wiper control systems and methods

A control system for windshield wipers of a vehicle, the control system comprising:

• a gaze module configured to determine a present gaze of a driver toward a front windshield of the vehicle based on a first image from a first camera facing the driver;
• an obstruction zone module configured to, based on the present gaze, set an obstruction zone through which the driver is looking through the front windshield based on a predetermined shape of predetermined dimensions centered at a point where the present gaze of the driver intersects the front windshield;
• an obstruction module configured to, based on a second image from a second camera facing the front windshield, determine whether vision through the obstruction zone is obstructed;
• a frequency module configured to determine a frequency at which to begin cycles of the windshield wipers of the front windshield in response to a determination that vision through the obstruction zone is obstructed;
• an actuator control module configured to actuate the windshield wipers of the front windshield based on the frequency,
• wherein the frequency module is configured to set the frequency based on (a) a frequency modifier value and (b) an initial frequency at which to begin cycles of the windshield wipers of the front windshield,
• wherein the frequency module is configured to set the frequency based on one of (a) the frequency modifier value plus the initial frequency and (b) the frequency modifier value multiplied by the initial frequency,
• wherein the frequency module is configured to determine the initial frequency based on (a) a period that vision through the obstruction zone has been obstructed and (b) a number of cycles of the windshield wipers performed since the obstruction zone became obstructed;
• and
• a modifier module configured to determine the frequency modifier value based on at least one of:
• a weather condition in front of the vehicle;
• a type of a second vehicle that is in front of the vehicle;
• a traffic condition in front of the vehicle;
• a present speed of the vehicle;
• and
• a second frequency of beginning cycles of second windshield wipers of a second front windshield of a second vehicle in front of the vehicle.

A control system for windshield wipers of a vehicle, the control system comprising:

• a gaze module configured to determine a present gaze of a driver toward a front windshield of the vehicle based on a first image from a first camera facing the driver;
• an obstruction zone module configured to, based on the present gaze, determine an obstruction zone through which the driver is looking through the front windshield;
• an obstruction module configured to, based on a second image from a second camera facing the front windshield, determine whether vision through the obstruction zone is obstructed;
• a frequency module configured to determine a frequency at which to begin cycles of the windshield wipers of the front windshield in response to a determination that vision through the obstruction zone is obstructed;
• an actuator control module configured to actuate the windshield wipers of the front windshield based on the frequency,
• wherein the frequency module is configured to set the frequency based on (a) a frequency modifier value and (b) an initial frequency at which to begin cycles of the windshield wipers of the front windshield;
• and
• a modifier module configured to determine the frequency modifier value based on a second frequency of beginning cycles of second windshield wipers of a second front windshield of a second vehicle in front of the vehicle.