Rear impact avoidance assist

1 . A method comprising:

obtaining, via one or more first sensors of a host vehicle, first sensor data as to one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle, as the host vehicle is stopped or travelling in a forward direction;

obtaining, via one or more additional sensors of the host vehicle, additional sensor data as to an input provided by a driver of the host vehicle, including steering wheel data as to engagement by the driver of a steering wheel of the vehicle and accelerator pedal data as to engagement by the driver of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle;

determining, via processor of the host vehicle using the first sensor data, whether the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle comprises a rear threat that is likely to contact the host vehicle as the host vehicle is stopped or travelling in the forward direction;

determining, via the processor using the additional sensor data, including the steering wheel data, the accelerator pedal data, or both, whether the driver is requesting assistance to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle; and

when it is determined that both (a) the one or more vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle comprises a rear threat that is likely to contact the vehicle, and (b) the driver is requesting assistance via engagement of the steering wheel, the accelerator pedal, or both to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle, then:

determining, via the processor, an intended path and a resulting planned trajectory of the vehicle, based on the steering wheel data; and

providing automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the host vehicle to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor of the host vehicle, including by automatically controlling steering, braking, and throttle for the vehicle in accordance with instructions provided by the processor in executing an automated maneuver for the vehicle to follow the intended path and the resulting planned trajectory to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more rear-facing object detection sensors of the host vehicle.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining front and side sensor data from one or more front and side sensors of the host vehicle as to whether the host vehicle is likely to contact one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the host vehicle along the predicted path;

wherein the automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the host vehicle are provided via the instructions are provided by the processor upon a further condition that vehicle is not likely to contact the one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the host vehicle along the predicted path.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the step of obtaining the sensor data comprises obtaining the sensor data from one or more front and side facing object detection sensors of the host vehicle.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the host vehicle utilize the front and side sensor data for avoiding contact with the one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the host vehicle along the predicted path.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining braking sensor data from one or more braking sensors coupled to a brake pedal of the host vehicle; and

terminating the automated steering control commands, the automated propulsion control commands, and the automated braking control commands from the processor when it is determined by the processor, based on the braking sensor data, that the driver has engaged the brake pedal of the host vehicle.

7 . A system comprising:

one or more first sensors of a host vehicle that are configured to obtain first sensor data as to one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle, as the host vehicle is stopped or travelling in a forward direction;

one or more additional sensors of the host vehicle that are configured to obtain additional sensor data as to an input provided by a driver of the host vehicle, including steering wheel data as to engagement by the driver of a steering wheel of the vehicle and accelerator pedal data as to engagement by the driver of an accelerator pedal of the vehicle; and

a processor of the host vehicle that is configured to at least facilitate:

determining, using the first sensor data, whether the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle comprises a rear threat that is likely to contact the host vehicle as the host vehicle is stopped or travelling in the forward direction;

determining, using the additional sensor data, including the steering wheel data, the accelerator pedal data, or both, whether the driver is requesting assistance to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle; and

when it is determined that both (a) the one or more vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle comprises a rear threat that is likely to contact the vehicle, and (b) the driver is requesting assistance via engagement of the steering wheel, the accelerator pedal, or both to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle, then:

determining, via the processor, an intended path and a resulting planned trajectory of the vehicle, based on the steering wheel data; and

providing automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the host vehicle to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor of the host vehicle, including by automatically controlling steering, braking, and throttle for the vehicle in accordance with instructions provided by the processor in executing an automated maneuver for the vehicle to follow the intended path and the resulting planned trajectory to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise one or more rear-facing object detection sensors of the host vehicle.

9 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

one or more front and side sensors of the host vehicle that are configured to obtain front and side sensor data as to whether the host vehicle is likely to contact one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the host vehicle along the predicted path;

wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate providing the automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the host vehicle upon a further condition that vehicle is not likely to contact the one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the host vehicle along the predicted path.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more front and side sensors comprise one or more front and side facing object detection sensors of the host vehicle.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate providing the automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the host vehicle utilizing the front and side sensor data for avoiding contact with the one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the host vehicle along the predicted path.

12 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising:

one or more braking sensors that are configured to be coupled to a brake pedal of the host vehicle and the at are configured to obtain braking sensor data;

wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate terminating the automated steering control commands, the automated propulsion control commands, and the automated braking control commands when it is determined by the processor, based on the braking sensor data, that the driver has engaged the brake pedal of the host vehicle.

13 . A vehicle comprising:

a body;

a drive system configured to move the body, the drive system including an accelerator pedal;

a braking system including a brake pedal;

a steering system including a steering wheel;

one or more object detection sensors that are configured to obtain object detection sensor data as to one or more other vehicles travelling behind the vehicle, as the vehicle is stopped or travelling in a forward direction;

one or more steering sensors that are coupled to the steering wheel and configured to obtain steering wheel data from the steering wheel;

one or more accelerator sensors that are coupled to the accelerator pedal and configured to obtain accelerator pedal data of the accelerator pedal;

one or more braking sensors that are coupled to the brake pedal and that are configured to obtain brake pedal sensor data as to an engagement of the brake pedal by a driver of the vehicle; and

a processor of the vehicle that is configured to at least facilitate:

determining, using the object detection sensor data, whether the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the vehicle comprises a rear threat that is likely to contact the vehicle as the vehicle is stopped or travelling in the forward direction;

determining, using the accelerator pedal data and the steering wheel data, whether the driver has provided an input with a request for automated assistance from the processor for avoiding contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the vehicle, as the vehicle is stopped or travelling in the forward direction;

providing automated assistive commands to the drive system, the steering system, and the braking system for controlling movement of the vehicle to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the vehicle, in accordance with instructions provided by the processor of the vehicle, including by determining, via the processor, an intended path and a resulting planned trajectory of the vehicle, based on the steering wheel data, and by automatically controlling steering, braking, and throttle for the vehicle in accordance with instructions provided by the processor in executing an automated maneuver for the vehicle to follow the intended path and the resulting planned trajectory to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle, when it is determined both that:

the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the vehicle comprises a rear threat that is likely to contact the vehicle as the vehicle is stopped or travelling in the forward direction, as determined by the processor using the first sensor data; and

the driver of the vehicle has provided the input with the request for automated assistance from the processor for avoiding contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the vehicle, as the vehicle is stopped or travelling in the forward direction, as determined by the processor using the steering wheel data and the accelerator pedal data; and

terminating the providing of the automated assistive commands when it is determined by the processor, based on the brake pedal sensor data, that the driver has engaged the brake pedal of the vehicle.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising:

one or more front and side detection sensors of the vehicle that are configured to obtain front and side sensor data as to whether the vehicle is likely to contact one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the vehicle along a predicted path of a maneuver of the vehicle to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles;

wherein the processor is further configured to at least facilitate providing the automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the vehicle upon a further condition that the vehicle is not likely to contact the one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to a side of the vehicle along the predicted path.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining as to whether the driver is requesting assistance to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle is made by the processor based on the steering wheel data as to the driver's engagement of the steering wheel.

16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining as to whether the driver is requesting assistance to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle is made by the processor based on the accelerator pedal data as to the driver's engagement of the accelerator pedal.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining as to whether the driver is requesting assistance to avoid contact with the one or more other vehicles travelling behind the host vehicle is made by the processor based on both the accelerator pedal data as to the driver's engagement of the accelerator pedal and the steering wheel data as to the driver's engagement of the steering wheel.

18 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the automated assistive commands for controlling movement of the host vehicle from the processor utilize the front and side sensor data for avoiding contact with the one or more other vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects located in front of or to the side of the host vehicle along the predicted path, including based on relative headings, positions, velocities, and accelerations of the other vehicles, pedestrians, and other objects with respect to the vehicle and its predicted path as determined based on the front and side sensor data.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the automated assistive commands further comprise automatically applying, via the processor, corrective steering torque in order to allow the vehicle to avoid contact with the rear threat as well as to avoid contact with any other vehicles, pedestrians, and other objects that may be in proximity to the vehicle and the projected path.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the automatic steering control is provided by instructions provided by the processor via instructions that are determined by the processor incorporating the first sensor data regarding the rear threat as well as the front and side objection detection sensor data of step to help avoid any contact between the host vehicle and the other vehicles, pedestrians, and other objects during the maneuver.