Patent ID: 6026347
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: B62D,G08G

Abstract:
An obstacle avoidance method for use with automated vehicles that use an automated highway having at least two adjacent automated lanes, that minimizes the impact of the automated vehicles with an obstacle, said method comprising the steps of:providing a set of decision rules for determining whether affected vehicles that could potentially impact the obstacle should change lanes or brake to minimize the expected impact with the obstacle;sensing the presence of the obstacle in one of the automated lanes;determining by an iterative process a series of coordinated avoidance maneuvers for affected vehicles in the lane containing the obstacle and in lanes adjacent to the lane containing the obstacle in accordance with the set of decision rules, an estimate of the position of the obstacle, the positions and velocities of other affected vehicles and the geometry of the highway; andcausing each of the affected vehicles to perform the series of coordinated avoidance maneuvers to avoid collision with the obstacle and with the other affected vehicles.