Intelligent turn signal system
A method includes, responsive to a turn signal tap by an operator of a vehicle, controlling an external turn signal indicator to provide a turn signal for a pre-determined duration, the turn signal visible to operators of other vehicles, determining an intended driving maneuver of the vehicle by the operator, and determining a location of the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver. The method also includes determining, based on the intended driving maneuver and the location, a turn indication score representing whether the intended driving maneuver is complete, based on the turn indication score satisfying a criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to continue the turn signal past the pre-determined duration, and, based on the turn indication score not satisfying the criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to de-activate the turn signal.
1 . A vehicle comprising:
a turn signal lever configured to detect a turn signal tap by an operator of the vehicle, the turn signal tap activating a turn signal having a pre-determined duration;
an external turn signal indicator configured to, responsive to detection of the turn signal tap, provide the turn signal, the turn signal visible to operators of other vehicles;
data processing hardware; and
memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware and storing instructions that, when executed by the data processing hardware, cause the data processing hardware to perform operations responsive to the turn signal tap, the operations comprising:
determining an intended driving maneuver of the vehicle by the operator;
determining a location of the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver;
determining, based on the intended driving maneuver and the location, a turn indication score representing whether the intended driving maneuver is complete;
based on the turn indication score satisfying a criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to continue the turn signal past the pre-determined duration; and
based on the turn indication score not satisfying the criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to de-activate the turn signal.
2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein determining the intended driving maneuver is based on at least one of:
a predicted driver intent;
a measured vehicle dynamic;
a predicted vehicle dynamic;
an object detection;
a lane detection;
a navigation route;
the location of the vehicle;
a traffic control input;
a map;
a traffic sign;
a road marking;
a traffic light;
a lane merging;
a lane split; or
an ending lane.
3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein determining the location of the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver comprises at least one of:
determining a location of a trailer towed by the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver; or
determining a location of an object transported by the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver.
4 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein controlling the external turn signal indicator to continue the turn signal past the pre-determined duration comprises continuing the external turn signal indicator until the turn indication score does not satisfy the criterion and all boundary points of the trailer are in a destination lane.
5 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the turn indication score comprises a weighted sum of at least two of:
a navigation route;
a location of the vehicle;
a location of a trailer towed by the vehicle;
a location of an object transported by the vehicle;
a vehicle kinematic;
a trailer kinematic;
an operator input to execute the intended driving maneuver;
a topology; or
trailer information.
6 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the turn indication score is determined repeatedly over time as the operator operates the vehicle to perform the intended driving maneuver to determine when to deactivate the turn signal.
7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) controller comprising the data processing hardware and the memory hardware; and
a body controller configured to:
detect the turn signal tap;
provide an indication of the turn signal tap to the ADAS controller; and
control activation and de-activation of the turn signal responsive to inputs from the ADAS controller.
8 . A computer-implemented method executed by data processing hardware that causes the data processing hardware to perform operations responsive to a turn signal tap by an operator of a vehicle, the operations comprising:
controlling an external turn signal indicator to provide a turn signal for a pre-determined duration, the turn signal visible to operators of other vehicles;
determining an intended driving maneuver of the vehicle by the operator;
determining a location of the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver;
determining, based on the intended driving maneuver and the location, a turn indication score representing whether the intended driving maneuver is complete;
based on the turn indication score satisfying a criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to continue the turn signal past the pre-determined duration; and
based on the turn indication score not satisfying the criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to de-activate the turn signal.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein determining the intended driving maneuver is based on at least one of:
a predicted driver intent;
a measured vehicle dynamic;
a predicted vehicle dynamic;
an object detection;
a lane detection;
a navigation route;
the location of the vehicle;
a traffic control input;
a map;
a traffic sign;
a road marking;
a traffic light;
a lane merging;
a lane split; or
an ending lane.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein determining the location of the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver comprises at least one of:
determining a location of a trailer towed by the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver; or
determining a location of an object transported by the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 , wherein controlling the external turn signal indicator to continue the turn signal past the pre-determined duration comprises continuing the external turn signal indicator until the turn indication score does not satisfy the criterion and all boundary points of the trailer are in a destination lane.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the turn indication score comprises a weighted sum of at least two of:
a navigation route;
a location of the vehicle;
a location of a trailer towed by the vehicle;
a location of an object transported by the vehicle;
a vehicle kinematic;
a trailer kinematic;
an operator input to execute the intended driving maneuver;
a topology; or
trailer information.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 11 , wherein the turn indication score is determined repeatedly over time as the operator operates the vehicle to perform the intended driving maneuver to determine when to deactivate the turn signal.
14 . A system comprising:
data processing hardware; and
memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware and storing instructions that, when executed by the data processing hardware, cause the data processing hardware to perform operations responsive to a turn signal tap by an operator of a vehicle, the operations comprising:
controlling an external turn signal indicator to provide a turn signal for a pre-determined duration, the turn signal visible to operators of other vehicles;
determining an intended driving maneuver of the vehicle by the operator;
determining a location of the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver;
determining, based on the intended driving maneuver and the location, a turn indication score representing whether the intended driving maneuver is complete;
based on the turn indication score satisfying a criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to continue the turn signal past the pre-determined duration; and
based on the turn indication score not satisfying the criterion, controlling the external turn signal indicator to de-activate the turn signal.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein determining the intended driving maneuver is based on at least one of:
a predicted driver intent;
a measured vehicle dynamic;
a predicted vehicle dynamic;
an object detection;
a lane detection;
a navigation route;
the location of the vehicle;
a traffic control input;
a map;
a traffic sign;
a road marking;
a traffic light;
a lane merging;
a lane split; or
an ending lane.
16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein determining the location of the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver comprises at least one of:
determining a location of a trailer towed by the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver; or
determining a location of an object transported by the vehicle relative to the intended driving maneuver.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein controlling the external turn signal indicator to continue the turn signal past the pre-determined duration comprises continuing the external turn signal indicator until the turn indication score does not satisfy the criterion and all boundary points of the trailer are in a destination lane.
18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the turn indication score comprises a weighted sum of at least two of:
a navigation route;
a location of the vehicle;
a location of a trailer towed by the vehicle;
a location of an object transported by the vehicle;
a vehicle kinematic;
a trailer kinematic;
an operator input to execute the intended driving maneuver;
a topology; or
trailer information.
19 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the turn indication score is determined repeatedly over time as the operator operates the vehicle to perform the intended driving maneuver to determine when to deactivate the turn signal.