US 9,463,793 B2Granted

Method for transition between driving modes

AssigneeVolvo Car Corporation

InventorsHenrik Lind, Erik Coelingh, Mattias Erik Brannstrom, Peter Harda, Julia Nilsson

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A method for transition between driving modes of a vehicle is disclosed. The driving modes include an autonomous driving (AD) mode, a partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode and a manual driving (MD) mode. A transition from the PAD mode to the AD mode is performed by enabling the AD mode. A transition from the AD mode to the PAD mode is performed by releasing a steering wheel lock when the PAD mode is in an enabled state. A transition from the MD mode to the AD mode is performed by enabling the AD mode. A transition from the AD mode to the MD mode is performed by releasing the steering wheel lock when the PAD mode is in a disabled state. A system for performing the method and a vehicle including the system are also disclosed.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method for transition between driving modes of a vehicle, the driving modes comprising an autonomous driving (AD) mode, a partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode and a manual driving (MD) mode, the method comprising:

(i) performing a transition from the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode to the autonomous driving (AD) mode by enabling the autonomous driving (AD) mode;
(ii) performing a transition from the autonomous driving (AD) mode to the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode by releasing a steering wheel lock when the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode is in an enabled state;
(iii) performing a transition from the manual driving (MD) mode to the autonomous driving (AD) mode by enabling the autonomous driving (AD) mode;
and
(iv) performing a transition from the autonomous driving (AD) mode to the manual driving (MD) mode by releasing the steering wheel lock when the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode is in a disabled state;
wherein releasing the steering wheel lock in (ii) and/or (iv) comprises (a) disabling the autonomous driving (AD) mode or selecting deactivation, and within a predefined time interval performing at least one action selected from holding a steering wheel, activating a confirmation switch and/or performing a normal driving action, the normal driving action comprising to brake, to steer and/or to accelerate, or (b) performing a firm driving action, the firm driving action comprising to brake, to steer and/or to accelerate, the firm driving action being more forceful than the normal driving action, such as pressing a pedal harder or turning the steering wheel more quickly.

3 more elements

A system for performing transitions between driving modes of a vehicle, the driving modes comprising an autonomous driving (AD) mode, a partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode and a manual driving (MD) mode, the transitions comprising (i) transition from the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode to the autonomous driving (AD) mode by enabling the autonomous driving (AD) mode, (ii) transition from the autonomous driving (AD) mode to the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode by releasing a steering wheel lock when the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode is in an enabled state, (iii) transition from the manual driving (MD) mode to the autonomous driving (AD) mode by enabling the autonomous driving (AD) mode, and (iv) transition from the autonomous driving (AD) mode to the manual driving (MD) mode by releasing the steering wheel lock when the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode is in a disabled state, the system comprising:

an enabling switch for enabling and disabling the autonomous driving (AD) mode;
an enabling switch for enabling and disabling the partly autonomous driving (PAD) mode;
a confirmation switch for confirming a previous action;
and
a hand presence determining system for determining at least one hand on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/676,007Filed 1 Apr 2015
Priority: EP 141637988 Apr 2014
Published: US 2015/0283998 A18 Oct 2015
Granted: 11 Oct 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

B60W 30/00
Purposes of road vehicle drive control systems not related to the control
B60K 35/60
Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles: instruments characterised by their location or relative…
B60W 10/04
Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function: including control of propulsion units
B60W 10/18
Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function: including control of braking systems