Patent ID: 6934613
Filing Date: 2005-08-23
Classification: B60W,G01C

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling a self-control traveling system for an expressway, comprising: (a) determining whether at least one image received from an imaging device contains information indicating a starting point for enabling a self-control traveling operation; (b) determining whether a self-control traveling command is inputted according to a result of the determination at the step (a), switching a driving mode from a manual driving mode to an automatic driving mode, requesting that destination information be inputted, and starting the self-control traveling operation; (c) searching for corresponding map information associated with the inputted destination information when the self-control traveling operation is started, determining whether a turning point is indicated in the searched man information, and performing the self-control traveling operation according to a result of the determination; (d) determining whether turning-point information is inputted among input image information during the self-control traveling operation; (e) controlling an automatic turning operation or determining whether an automobile has arrived at an end point according to a result of the determination at the step (d); and (f) switching the driving mode from the automatic driving mode to the manual driving mode according to a result of the determination at the step (e), and terminating the self-control traveling operation, wherein step (e) comprises: (e-1) changing a traveling route to the turning point when the automobile arrives at the turning point; (e-2) notifying the driver that a section of the self-control traveling operation will end soon when the automobile gets near to the destination during searching for the map information after step (e-1) is completed; and (e-3) determining whether a sign image indicating the end point is contained in the input image information after step (e-2) is completely performed.