US 12,752,785 B2Granted

Adaptive cruise control system and method

AssigneeInternational Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC

InventorsChaozhe He, Eric Jiang, Matthew David Hunkler, Dean A. Oppermann

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Abstract

A vehicle longitudinal motion control apparatus for controlling a longitudinal motion of a vehicle. The vehicle longitudinal motion control apparatus includes at least one sensor configured to sense a longitudinal motion of another vehicle which precedes the vehicle and a controller having at least one control module in communication with the at least one sensor. The at least one control module is configured to determine a longitudinal motion characteristic of both vehicles and a headway distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle. The at least one control module is further configured to apply a coasting maneuver to the vehicle based upon the determined headway distance to reduce the distance between the vehicles and increase energy efficiency of the vehicle.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A vehicle longitudinal motion control apparatus for controlling a longitudinal motion of a first vehicle, comprising:

a first sensor configured to sense a longitudinal motion of a second vehicle which precedes the first vehicle;
a second sensor configured to detect real-time elevation changes of a roadway;
and
a controller having at least one control module in communication with the sensors, the at least one control module configured to:
determine a longitudinal motion characteristic of the first vehicle;
determine a longitudinal motion characteristic of the second vehicle;
determine a headway distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle by way of the following function:
h
eco
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
v
1
,
a
,
c
)
=
V
-
1
(
v
f
)
+
s
f
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
a
,
c
)
-
v
1
⁢
t
f
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
a
,
c
)
wherein V−1 is an inverse of a range policy function, v0 is an initial velocity of the first vehicle at a first time, v1, is a subsequent velocity of the first vehicle at a second time, vf is the velocity of the second vehicle, sf is a location of the second vehicle, tf is a coasting time, a is a function of a weight of the first vehicle, and c is a function of an air drag of the first vehicle;
and
wherein the function is based upon the longitudinal motion characteristic of the first vehicle, the longitudinal motion characteristic of the second vehicle, and at least one vehicle characteristic of the first vehicle;
and the detected elevation changes;
apply an energy saving maneuver to the first vehicle based upon the determined headway distance to reduce a distance being greater than a current distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle and increase energy efficiency of the first vehicle.

64 more elements

A vehicle having a longitudinal motion control apparatus for controlling a longitudinal motion of the vehicle, comprising:

at least a first sensor configured to sense a longitudinal motion of a preceding vehicle;
at least a second sensor configured to detect real-time elevation changes of a roadway;
and
a controller having at least one control module in communication with the first and second sensors, the at least one control module configured to:
determine a longitudinal motion characteristic of the vehicle;
determine a longitudinal motion characteristic of the preceding vehicle;
determine a headway distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle by way of the following function:
h
eco
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
v
1
,
a
,
c
)
=
V
-
1
(
v
f
)
+
s
f
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
a
,
c
)
-
v
1
⁢
t
f
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
a
,
c
)
wherein V−1 is an inverse of a range policy function, v0 is an initial velocity of the vehicle at a first time, v1 is a subsequent velocity of the vehicle at a second time, vf is the velocity of the preceding vehicle, sf is a location of the preceding vehicle, tf is a coasting time, a is a function of a weight of the vehicle, and c is a function of an air drag of the vehicle;
and
wherein the function is based upon the longitudinal motion characteristic of the vehicle, the longitudinal motion characteristic of the preceding vehicle, at least one vehicle characteristic of the vehicle, and the detected elevation changes;
and
apply an energy saving maneuver to the vehicle based upon the determined headway distance being greater than a current distance between the vehicle and preceding vehicle to increase energy efficiency of the vehicle and reduce the distance between the vehicle and the preceding vehicle.

64 more elements

A method of controlling a longitudinal motion of a first vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing a vehicle longitudinal motion control apparatus having at least a first sensor configured to sense a longitudinal motion of a second vehicle which precedes the first vehicle;
at least a second sensor configured to detect real-time elevation changes of a roadway;
and a controller having at least one control module in communication with the first and second sensors;
configuring the at least one control module to determine a longitudinal motion characteristic of the first vehicle;
configuring the at least one control module to determine a longitudinal motion characteristic of the second vehicle;
configuring the at least one control module to determine a headway distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle by way of the following function:
h
eco
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
v
1
,
a
,
c
)
=
V
-
1
(
v
f
)
+
s
f
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
a
,
c
)
-
v
1
⁢
t
f
(
v
0
,
v
f
,
a
,
c
)
wherein V−1 is an inverse of a range policy function, v0 is an initial velocity of the first vehicle at a first time, v1 is a subsequent velocity of the first vehicle at a second time, vf is the velocity of the second vehicle, sf is a location of the second vehicle, tf is a coasting time, a is a function of a weight of the first vehicle, and c is a function of an air drag of the first vehicle;
and
wherein the function is based upon the longitudinal motion characteristic of the first vehicle, the longitudinal motion characteristic of the second vehicle, at least one vehicle characteristic of the first vehicle and the detected elevation changes;
and
configuring the at least one control module to apply an energy saving maneuver to the first vehicle based upon the determined headway distance being greater than a current distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle to reduce a distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle and increase energy efficiency of the first vehicle.

63 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/235,553Filed 18 Aug 2023
Published: US 2025/0058775 A120 Feb 2025
Granted: 6 Oct 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60W 30/16
Adaptive cruise control: control of distance between vehicles, e.g. keeping a distance to preceding vehicle
B60W 30/18072
Related to particular drive situations: coasting
B60W 40/13
Related to parameters of the vehicle itself , e.g. tyre models: load or weight
B60W 2554/802
Spatial relation or speed relative to objects: longitudinal distance