Vehicle control system and control method

A control system for a host vehicle operable in an autonomous mode and a non-autonomous mode, the control system comprising one or more controllers configured to:

• receive, when operating in the non-autonomous mode:
• a mode signal indicative of the host vehicle operating in a training mode;
• and
• environment data indicative of a sensed environment of the host vehicle during a first manoeuvre by the host vehicle from a first location to a first navigation goal;
• wherein, in the training mode, the one or more controllers:
• identify a navigable area in a vicinity of the first manoeuvre based on the environment data, the navigable area being suitable to contain a plurality of possible navigation paths for subsequent navigation of the host vehicle, operating in the autonomous mode, to a second navigation goal within the navigable area, the second navigation goal being different than the first navigation goal;
• and
• output vehicle control data indicative of the navigable area, wherein when subsequently navigating to the second navigation goal in the autonomous mode, the control system utilises the vehicle control data to autonomously control the host vehicle.

A method for controlling a vehicle operable in an autonomous mode and a non-autonomous mode, the method comprising:

• receiving, when the vehicle is operating in the non-autonomous mode, environment data indicative of a sensed environment of the vehicle during a first manoeuvre by the vehicle from a first location to a first navigation goal;
• operating the vehicle in a training mode;
• when operating in the training mode:
• identifying a navigable area suitable to contain a plurality of possible navigation paths for autonomous navigation of the vehicle to a second navigation goal different than the first navigation goal, the navigable area being in a vicinity of the first manoeuvre, based on the sensed environment;
• and
• outputting vehicle control data indicative of the navigable area;
• and
• when operating in the autonomous mode, autonomously controlling the vehicle to navigate to the second navigation goal utilising the vehicle control data.