Method and apparatus for generating and using driver specific vehicle controls

A driver-specific vehicle control method is provided that can adjust one or more vehicle control systems in response to a difference in current driver driving characteristics with respect to safe driver driving characteristics on the same roadway type and vehicle operating conditions. The method maintains a driver score for each driver of a vehicle, in the form of a set of the driver's driving characteristics scores for each different roadway type. The method, via a control apparatus, determines a current position of the vehicle on a roadway and the roadway features to select the appropriate driver score for comparison. When the driver's score exceeds a threshold difference from a safe driver score on the same roadway type, the method can adjust a control system parameter.

BACKGROUND

The present method relates, in, general, to methods and apparatus for adapting vehicle control systems to a driver's specific driving style.

Vehicles are provided with a number of control systems, which can be varied, based on road and weather conditions, and more particularly, to a driver's particular preferences. Personalizable vehicle controls, such as stability control, and acceleration and brake assist controls, forward crash warning timing, etc., can be controlled by setting options under general headings such as sport, economy, touring, etc. Such modes are usually automatically selected by the driver depending upon the driver's preference, the road conditions that the driver is or expects to be traveling on, i.e., dry, wet, icy, etc., and the type of road, namely, urban streets, rural roads and limited access highways.

However, such general modes of operation are set by the vehicle manufacture in for the different categories of sporting, economy, touring, etc., and average driver skills and not to the specific driving characteristics of a particular driver in a particular vehicle.

Every driver has a different driving characteristic or style, which can vary depending upon the roadway features. A particular driver can, for example, have a different skill level or score for his or her driving characteristics on a limited access, high speed highway, two or multi-lane rural roads, and two or multiple lane urban streets. Such roadway features can also include, for each general type of roadway, the type of roadway segment on which the vehicle is traveling, such as straight, curved, exit or entrance ramp, congested urban traffic, traffic lights, perpendicular intersection turns, etc.

A driver may have a high level of skill in certain of these roadway features, but may have a lower skilled level in other roadway features. Each driver also varies in his or her driving characteristics with respect to acceleration from a stop; such as when a traffic light turns green or when a driver first applies the brakes to bring the vehicle to a stop in congested traffic or at a traffic light, how much distance or headway the driver leaves between his or her vehicle and the vehicle to the immediate front of his or her vehicle. This separation distance or headway affects forward crash warning timing, acceleration and brake assist mode, cruise control, etc.

In addition to the above described roadway features, the driver's driving characteristics can also vary significantly depending upon the roadway surface i.e., paved, concrete, asphalt, dirt, gravel, deteriorating with potholes, etc. In addition, weather conditions, such as snow and ice, rain, dry, etc., also influence a driver's driving characteristics.

It would be desirable to provide driver specific vehicle controls, which can be adapted to a particular driver's driving characteristics, in comparison to safe driver driving characteristics, for all roadway features and roadway conditions.

SUMMARY

A method and apparatus for implementing driver specific vehicle controls include determining a driver's driving characteristics in a plurality of different roadway features, roadway type, traffic conditions and weather conditions, and determining the current roadway type over which a vehicle is moving; comparing the driver's driving characteristics for the current roadway features and type with safe driver driving characteristics for the same roadway features and type. Based on the comparison, the method and apparatus can select a vehicle system parameter for adjustment if the current driver's driving characteristics score exceeds the safe driver driving characteristics score by a threshold amount and actuate the vehicle control system by the selected vehicle system parameter adjustment.

The method further includes selecting the adjustable vehicle control systems to include at least one of vehicle traction control, vehicle stability control, vehicle acceleration, and vehicle braking.

The method includes determining vehicle drift from a center of a lane of a roadway by at least one camera mounted on the vehicle, the camera positioned to image lane markers on both sides of the lane in on the roadway. In response to vehicle drift, a control system may manipulate individual vehicle wheel torque.

The method and apparatus can determine the number of times that the vehicle drifts from the center of a lane in any one type of roadway condition.

The method and apparatus can determine different driver driving characteristics scores for one or more different roadway features, including one or more of a straight roadway, a curved roadway, an urban roadway, a highway, a rural roadway, and a multilane roadway. The method and apparatus can also determine different driver driving characteristic scores for each of the roadway features and, in addition, for straight or curved roadways, congested traffic conditions and at a traffic light or stop light. The method and apparatus can determine the driver's driving characteristic score based on one or more of a driver's skill level, a driver's years of driving experience, the driver's driving violations, and collisions.

The method and apparatus provide vehicle sensor outputs including one or more outputs from at least one camera, a radar, map data, a GPS, collision detectors, acceleration and deceleration, and braking pedal force.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A driver specific vehicle control method and apparatus are disclosed which, during operation of the vehicle, compares a driver's preexisting and current driving characteristics, under the existing roadway features, roadway conditions and vehicle operating conditions, with safe driver driving characteristics under the same roadway features and vehicle operating conditions to determine if the driver's driving capabilities are within a threshold value of safe driver driving characteristics. When a significant difference from safe driving characteristics is detected, the apparatus and method can select a vehicle control system parameter for adjustment and implement the adjustment to maintain the vehicle within safe operating conditions. This provides a current update and adjustment of vehicle control systems for efficient and safe vehicle operation as the vehicle driver encounters different roadway conditions or features.

The control method and apparatus also enable a significant change in the driver's current driving characteristics as compared to the driver's prior history of the driving characteristics to be detected so that an appropriate vehicle control system parameter adjustments made to maintain safe vehicle operation.

A method for generating driver specific vehicle control can be implemented on a computing device100shown in a block diagram form inFIGS. 1 and 2. The computing device100can be any type of computing device, including a handheld, desktop, or other form of single computing device, or it can be formed of multiple computing devices. A CPU102in the computing device100can be a conventional central processing unit, multiple CPUs, or any other type of device, or multiple devices, capable of manipulating or processing information. A memory104in the computing device100can be a Random Access Memory device (RAM) or any other suitable type of storage device. The memory104can include data106that is accessed by the CPU102using a bus108. The memory104can also include an operating system110and installed applications112. The installed applications112include programs that permit the CPU102to perform the method described herein.

The computing device100can also include secondary, additional, or external storage114, for example, a memory card, flash drive, or other forms of computer readable medium. The installed applications112can be stored in whole or in part in the secondary storage114and loaded into the memory104as needed for processing.

The vehicle10includes a number of vehicle control systems150that can be adjusted in terms of performance parameters. Such vehicle systems150can include the vehicle traction control system, stability system, acceleration and deceleration, brake assist, forward crash warning timing, for example. Each vehicle control system150has suitable adjustable system parameters that can be controlled, as described hereafter, to vary the performance of each control system depending upon the driver's driving characteristics, the existing or current roadway shape and roadway conditions, traffic congestion, weather, etc.

The vehicle10also includes a number of onboard sensors, such as a forward crash warning sensor indicative of an eminent crash, an actual crash sensor or accelerometer indicative of the deformation of the portion of the exterior body panels on impact with another object, brake pedal force sensor, acceleration and deceleration levels of the vehicle, etc. These various sensors, generally indicated by reference number152inFIG. 2, are input to the computing device100.

As shown inFIG. 3, the CPU102executes program instructions stored in the memory104or external memory storage114in response to the various inputs shown inFIG. 2.

The memory104, or the external memory storage114, may include personal information200,FIG. 3, about the driver or drivers who would normally drive a particular vehicle. This personal information, such as the driver's name or other personal identification, is input with the driver assigned to or driving the vehicle in step202. The assignment of the driver can be through the vehicle interface or interactive display148where the CPU102displays a list of available drivers authorized or expected to drive the vehicle. The driver can then select his name.

Next, the CPU102, in step204, accesses the driver's driving characteristics score. This score is based on the driver's skill level, including the number of years of driving, the number of years of driving in a particular vehicle, as well as other factors described hereafter.

The driver's score can also include the driver's driving record with the state driver licensing bureau which would include traffic or moving violations, collisions, collisions which were the fault of the driver, and other factors impacting on the driver's driving record.

During driving, the CPU102collects information relating to non-crash driving styles in step206and crash or near crash situations in step208using the onboard sensors152, remotely accessed data sources and any or all of the onboard cameras130-136, the radar118, the GPS system140, and map data116.

The driver's score is not a total combined score for all driving conditions, but rather, a series or set of scores, where each score is identified with the driver's driving characteristics on a particular type of roadway, roadway condition, weather, etc. The roadway features from210are input to the CPU102. The roadway features include separate categories for urban roadways, rural roadways, highway or restricted access freeways, as well as any of these roadway categories with straight segments, curved segments, exit ramps with straight or curved segments, urban intersections with traffic lights, congested urban or freeway traffic conditions, etc. The categories are an attempt to monitor the driver's driving capabilities in all types of roadway features, weather conditions, etc.

During driving, the CPU102constantly receives information from the GPS140and the map data116to determine the current location of the vehicle10and the type of roadway in which the vehicle10is currently on or moving along. This enables the CPU102to immediately identify the current roadway feature of the vehicle10as well as the driver's score for that particular type of roadway feature.FIG. 4illustrates one type of roadway feature in a form of a two lane urban roadway300. The roadway300includes two lanes302and304, although multiple lanes for each direction of traffic may also be provided in the roadway300.

As is conventional, the roadway300includes a pair of outer continuous lane markers306and308and center lane markers310dividing the two lanes302and304. The center located lane markers310are typically dashed, but can represent a continuous yellow or white line or lines.

The roadway300also includes an intersection312with another roadway and a traffic light314at the intersection312.

In the following description of the method and apparatus, the driver's driving characteristics will be computed and updated for many different types of driving conditions on the roadway300. For example, the driver's driving characteristics when in the vehicle10A stopped at the traffic light314will be scored with respect to the driver's driving characteristics in how hard or how early or late the driver applies the brakes when approaching an amber or red light314at the intersection312. The driver's score is also computed for the rate of acceleration of the vehicle's10A when the traffic light314turns green or a vehicle located in front of the vehicle10A accelerates when the light314turns green.

The driver's score on the roadway300is also calculated when the vehicle10B traverses a curve. In this instance, the cameras130-136can detect the outer lane marker306and the center lane marker310and thereby calculate the degree of drift from the center of the lane302as the vehicle10B traverses the curved portion of the roadway300. At the same time, the speed that the driver uses when traversing the curved portion of the roadway300will be combined with the drift from left to right of the center of the lane302to calculate an urban curved road driver characteristic score.

It is also shown inFIG. 4, for vehicle10C, that the radar118can be employed to determine the space320that the driver of the vehicle10C maintains between the vehicle10C and the immediately preceding vehicle10D. This distance320is combined with the type of roadway300, and the speed or closing or opening relative speed of the vehicles10C and10D.

FIG. 5depicts a restricted access highway or freeway400containing two or more lanes, with three lanes402,404, and406shown by way of example. The outer side edges of the outer lanes402and406carry continuous lane markers, such as white lane markers408and410. Dashed lane markers412and414typically separate the interior lanes402,404, and406.

The method and apparatus enables the driver's driving characteristics to be scored for the straight portion of the high-speed restricted access highway or freeway400shown inFIG. 5. The drift of the vehicle10from the left or right of center of the lane404can be determined along with the vehicle's speed to calculate part of the driver score for straight highway roadways. The same applies if the roadway400curves or bends at a degree which would require a change in speed of the vehicle.

FIG. 6depicts yet another roadway feature in which a two lane restricted access highway or freeway500has an exit lane502with a significant bend or curve. The exit ramp502will typically carry outer lane markers504and506. The driver's driving characteristics, such as the degree of drift left or right or center of the exit lane502with respect to the outer lane markers504and506can be calculated by using the front or side cameras130,134and136along with the GPS and map data to determine the degree of curve and the fact that the vehicle10is traversing a curved exit lane502of the highway500.

A similar calculation of the driver's driving capabilities is done for an entrance ramp to the highway500. Such calculations would include the speed of the vehicle when merging unto the main portion of the highway500, the vehicle speed traversing the entrance ramp, whether the entrance ramp is straight or curved, etc.

In this manner, the driver's prior history of driving characteristics under all types of roadway features is calculated separately for each type of roadway feature.

Current weather or roadway conditions, such as dry, dry and sunny, dry and overcast, wet, snowy, icy, day or night conditions may also be factored into the driver's characteristic score for each type of roadway feature.

With this information, the CPU102is thereby able to determine the driver's score representing the driver's driving characteristics for the particular roadway feature in which the driver is currently traversing with the vehicle10, in step212inFIG. 3. This driving characteristic or score is compared with safe driver's driving characteristics in step214. The safe driving characteristics are pre-stored safe driver characteristics from a database216input to the CPU or accessible by the CPU102. The safe driver characteristics can be baseline data set of driving styles for safe, typically professional drivers, traversing the same roadway feature as the driver is currently traversing in the vehicle10, under the same roadway conditions, i.e., sunny, night, overcast, dry, wet, icy, etc.

As a result of this comparison, the CPU102can determine the degree of difference of the driver's driving characteristics and the safe driver driving characteristics for the current roadway feature that vehicle10is traversing. When this difference exceeds a predetermined threshold, with the predetermined threshold established differently for each controllable or adjustable vehicle control system, the CPU102can select a parameter adjustment in step218for providing efficient and safe driving under the current roadway feature and roadway condition.

For example, regardless of the roadway feature, if the driver is drifting left or right of the center of the lane and the amount of drift, and the number of times the vehicle leaves the center of the lane compared with the safe driver driving characteristics under the same roadway condition and roadway feature, exceeds a threshold difference, the CPU102can select a vehicle control system parameter for adjustment. This parameter may be a simple warning by the vehicle interactive display148or and automatic decrease in the amount of accelerator pedal movement to slow the vehicle down. This particular control system actuation takes place in step220. When drift is deflected, the control system may also manipulate the torque to individual vehicle wheels to control the vehicle.

As noted above, when the CPU102determines that the current vehicle driver is exhibiting driving characteristics which exceed, by a threshold amount, the safe driving characteristics from database216on the same current roadway features and roadway conditions of the vehicle10, appropriate action can be taken. For example, a skilled driver might be able to take a significantly curved roadway segment, such as the curved exit lane502inFIG. 6, at a higher rate of speed, without endangering the vehicle10or leaving the exit lane502then a less skilled driver. The CPU102will differentiate the driving characteristics or score of each skilled or less skilled driver under the highly curved lane502when the amount of drift from the center of the curved lane502is calculated. For the higher skilled driver, the CPU102can determine that the driver is still in control of the vehicle and will not select any control system parameter for adjustment. However, for the same amount of duration of drift from the center of the lane502by a less skilled driver, the CPU102can determine for the less skilled driver, that the vehicle may be going out of control. The CPU102can than select a reduction in accelerator pedal position, light application of the brakes and/or an audible, visual, or tactile warning to the driver to slow down.

In the congested traffic examples shownFIG. 4, when the driver of vehicle10C is following another vehicle10D with a headway space320determined by the CPU102for the roadway feature and roadway conditions currently existing for the vehicles10C and10D and the speed of the vehicles10C and10D and whether or not the headway distance320is increasing or decreasing, the CPU102can select a parameter for adjustment, such as applying the brakes if the headway320is less than a threshold safe distance under the existing roadway and vehicle speed conditions.

The same headway distance calculations may be applied for the higher speed highway shown in400or500. However, due to the typically higher rate of speed of the vehicle on the highway or freeway, the CPU102may determine that the headway distance320needs to be larger. When the CPU102determines that the headway distance320is less than a threshold safe distance as determined by the safe driver characteristics in database216, the CPU102in lieu of an audible, visual, or tactile warning to the driver, can reduce the degree of fuel input to the vehicle by moving the accelerator pedal or lightly apply the brakes so as to increase the headway distance320to a safer distance. Again, the amount of headway distance320, which meets the threshold safe distance under the existing roadway features and conditions of the vehicles10C and10D, will vary depending upon the skill of the particular driver of the vehicle10C. Such driver skill can result in greater or less acceptable headway distance without parameter adjustment.

In summary, a unique driver specific vehicle control method and apparatus has been disclosed which, based on a driver's driving characteristic score for the particular roadway feature, roadway condition and vehicle condition can determine if a driver's driving characteristics fall within a safe threshold difference from safe driver driving characteristics. If the determination is that the current driver's driving characteristics exceed a threshold from the safe driving characteristics, the CPU102can implement selected parameter adjustment of one or more vehicle control systems, including issuing a warning to the driver and/or adjusting a parameter and implementing the parameter adjustment in a selected control system to maintain the vehicle in a safe driving condition.

In summary, a unique driver specific vehicle control method and apparatus has been disclosed which, based on a driver's driving characteristics score for the particular roadway feature can determine if the driver's driving characteristics fall within a safe threshold difference from a safe driver driving characteristics. If the determination is that the current driver driving characteristics exceed a threshold difference from the safe driver driving characteristics, the vehicle control can implement selected parameter adjustment of one or more vehicle control systems, including issuing a warning to driver and/or adjusting a control system parameter and implementing the parameter adjustment to maintain the vehicle in a safe driving condition.