Autonomous vehicle travel control systems and methods
US7979172B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 14, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08G1/161
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Method and system for enabling semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle travel includes creating dedicated travel lanes for vehicle travel, determining the location of vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes, and providing instructions to the vehicles in the dedicated travel lanes to enable them to travel in a manner which maximizes speed. To determine the location of the vehicles, a vehicle travel management system may be arranged in each vehicle to determine the location of that vehicle, e.g., using a GPS-based positioning system or similar system, and which also optionally receives travel instructions which can be implemented by a vehicle control system to control the direction and speed of the vehicle. The vehicle control system can be designed to assume control of vehicle travel without requiring driving by an occupant of the vehicle and control vehicle travel based on the provided instructions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.