Using ‘dynamic regenerative braking’ to enhance crash avoidance
A method for dynamic regenerative braking of a vehicle includes sensing one or more parameters associated with a driving environment of the vehicle, the one or more parameters including parameters determined using a vision system of the vehicle position to capture the driving environment in a forward direction. The method further includes adjusting by an electronic device a dynamic regenerative braking level prior to initiation of braking in response to the one or more parameters. The method further includes resetting the dynamic regenerative braking level by the electronic device when the vehicle operator applies pressure to an accelerator interface. The accelerator interface may include an accelerator pedal. The method may further include applying regenerative braking at the dynamic regenerative braking level and prior to resetting the dynamic regenerative braking level by the electronic device.
1 . A method for dynamic regenerating braking of a vehicle, the method comprising steps of:
sensing one or more parameters associated with a driving environment of the vehicle, the one or more parameters being indicative of a potential collision with a detected object in the driving environment;
determining, by an electronic device, a dynamic regenerative braking level based on the one or more parameters;
upon release of an accelerator interface, controlling by the electronic device application of regenerative braking at the dynamic regenerative braking level during a period between release of the accelerator interface and initiation of braking; and
resetting the dynamic regenerative braking level by the electronic device when the accelerator interface is re-engaged.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the accelerator interface comprises at least one of an accelerator pedal, a throttle grip, and a machine interface.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the accelerator interface comprises an accelerator pedal and wherein the accelerator pedal is re-engaged when a vehicle operator applies pressure to the accelerator pedal.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the sensing the one or more parameters associated with the driving environment is performed using a vision system.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters associated with the driving environment of the vehicle are associated with the driving environment in a forward direction of the vehicle, the vehicle traveling in the forward direction.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the adjusting the dynamic regenerative braking level comprises adjusting the dynamic regenerative braking level a plurality of times prior to initiation of the braking.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device is associated with a crash avoidance system of the vehicle.
8 . A crash avoidance system of a vehicle configured for performing the steps of claim 1 .
9 . A vehicle comprising a crash avoidance system configured for performing the steps of claim 1 .
10 . The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more parameters include a distance between the vehicle and the detected object and a relative speed between the vehicle and the detected object.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein the electronic device determines the dynamic regenerative braking level by calculating a time-to-collision based on the distance and relative speed and deriving a required deceleration from the time-to-collision.
13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the dynamic regenerative braking level is selected from a plurality of predetermined regenerative braking levels, each predetermined regenerative braking level corresponding to a characterized deceleration rate.
14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the electronic device continuously updates the dynamic regenerative braking level based on recalculated values of the one or more parameters while the vehicle is decelerating under regenerative braking.
15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the detected object comprises at least one of a lead vehicle, a stopped vehicle, a pedestrian, or a stationary obstacle.
16 . A system for dynamically regenerating braking of a vehicle, the system comprising:
a plurality of sensors for sensing one or more parameters associated with a driving environment of the vehicle, the one or more parameters being indicative of a potential collision with a detected object in the driving environment; and
an electronic device in operative communication with the plurality of sensors, the electronic device configured to determine a dynamic regenerative braking level based on the one or more parameters, upon release of an accelerator interface control application of regenerative braking at the dynamic regenerative braking level during a period between release of the accelerator interface and initiation of braking, and further configured to reset the dynamic regenerative braking level when the accelerator interface is re-engaged.
17 . The system of claim 16 wherein the electronic device is further configured for controlling applying of regenerative braking at the dynamic regenerative braking level prior to resetting the dynamic regenerative braking level.
18 . The system of claim 16 wherein the plurality of sensors include sensors associated with a vision system.
19 . The system of claim 16 wherein the one or more parameters include a distance between the vehicle and the detected object and a relative speed between the vehicle and the detected object, and the electronic device is further configured to calculate a time-to-collision based on the distance and the relative speed.
20 . A method for dynamic regenerative braking of a vehicle operated by a vehicle operator, the method comprising steps of:
sensing one or more parameters associated with a driving environment of the vehicle, the one or more parameters including parameters determined using a vision system of a vehicle position positioned to capture the driving environment in a forward direction, the one or more parameters being indicative of a potential collision with a detected object in the driving environment;
determining by an electronic device, a dynamic regenerative braking level based on the one or more parameters;
upon releases of an accelerator interface, controlling by the electronic device application of regenerative braking at the dynamic regenerative braking level during a period between release of the accelerator interface and engagement of a brake interface by the vehicle operator; and
resetting the dynamic regenerative braking level by the electronic device when the vehicle operator applies pressure to the accelerator interface.
21 . The method of claim 20 wherein the accelerator interface comprises an accelerator pedal.