Method for controlling the speed and distance of a motor vehicle

US6493625B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT · DE

Inventors

• Peter Andreas · Gifhorn, DE
• Thomas Ruchatz · Lehre, DE
• Wolfgang Baeker · Braunschweig, DE
• Thomas Bizenberger · Braunschweig, DE
• Heiko Rabba · Gifhorn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 12, 2001
• Grant date: Dec 10, 2002
• Expiry date: Feb 12, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G08G1/166
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for controlling the speed of a motor vehicle and the distance of a motor vehicle to at least one motor vehicle driving ahead includes the steps of: inputting a setpoint trailing distance to the motor vehicle driving ahead; determining, in accordance with at least one detector, at least the speed of the motor vehicle, the distance, and the speed relative to the motor vehicle driving ahead; decelerating or accelerating the motor vehicle in response to the detected distance deviating from the setpoint trailing distance; calculating, in response to the motor vehicle driving ahead being lost from the detection range of the detector (target loss), the speed of the motor vehicle driving ahead from the relative speed determined prior to losing the target; and calculating the actual distance from the driving speed of the motor vehicle. Thus, the speed of the motor vehicle driving ahead is derived from the measured values measured prior to the time of losing the target, and, in accordance with a differential time unit, the distance is extrapolated from the driven speed of the motor vehicle and the speed of the motor vehicle driving ahead.