Lane-keeping assistance method for a motor vehicle

1. A lane-keeping method for a motor vehicle comprising:

determining a transverse deviation and an misalignment angle of the motor vehicle relative to a target lane centerline;

calculating a reference track for the motor vehicle to follow to return to the centerline using the transverse deviation and the misalignment angle;

determining a reference yaw rate using a curvature of the reference track and a longitudinal speed of the vehicle;

comparing the reference yaw rate with an actual yaw rate of the vehicle to determine a control deviation;

applying a steering input into a steering system of the motor vehicle to minimize the control deviation; and

wherein the transverse deviation and the misalignment angle of the motor vehicle are weighted independently of each other in the calculation of the reference track, and wherein the respective weightings are independent of the longitudinal speed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reference track is calculated such that at least one of an instantaneous curvature of the reference track and a curvature change rate of the reference track do not each exceed a pre-defined maximum value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target lane centerline has a curvature and the steering input is controlled based upon the curvature of the target lane centerline.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steering input is overlaid with a friction-compensating force to compensate for steering friction.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steering input is overlaid with a damping force to damp rapid steering interventions not made by a driver of the vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steering input is only applied on entering an intervention zone.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein a geometry of the intervention zone is dependent on at least one of: a lane width, a lane-related transverse speed of the motor vehicle, the longitudinal speed, a curvature of the target lane centerline, and a direction of deviation from the target lane centerline.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a finite fraction of the reference is calculated in advance.

9. A lane-keeping method for a motor vehicle comprising:

determining a transverse deviation and an misalignment angle of the motor vehicle relative to a target lane centerline;

calculating a reference track for the motor vehicle to follow to return to the centerline using the transverse deviation and the misalignment angle, the reference track being calculated such that at least one of an instantaneous curvature of the reference track and a curvature change rate of the reference track do not each exceed a pre-defined maximum value;

determining a reference yaw rate using a curvature of the reference track and a longitudinal speed of the vehicle;

comparing the reference yaw rate with an actual yaw rate of the vehicle to determine a control deviation;

determining a position of the motor vehicle relative to an intervention zone defined with reference to at least one of: a lane width, a lane-related transverse speed of the motor vehicle, the longitudinal speed, a curvature of the target lane centerline, and a direction of deviation from the target lane centerline

if and only if the vehicle is within the intervention zone, applying a steering input into a steering system of the motor vehicle to minimize the control deviation; and

wherein the transverse deviation and the misalignment angle of the motor vehicle are weighted independently of each other in the calculation of the reference track, and wherein the respective weightings are independent of the longitudinal speed.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the target lane centerline has a curvature and the steering input is controlled based upon the curvature of the target lane centerline.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the steering input is overlaid with a friction-compensating force to compensate for steering friction.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the steering input is overlaid with a damping force to damp rapid steering interventions not made by a driver of the vehicle.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein a finite fraction of the total reference track for return to the target lane centerline is calculated in advance.

14. A lane-keeping assistance system for a motor vehicle comprising:

a lane detection sensor determining a transverse deviation and an misalignment angle of the motor vehicle relative to a target lane centerline;

a speed sensor generating a signal indicating a longitudinal speed of the vehicle;

a yaw rate sensor generating a signal indicating an actual yaw rate of the vehicle;

a controller operative to:

(a) calculate a reference track for the motor vehicle to follow to return to the centerline using the transverse deviation and the misalignment angle,

(b) determine a reference yaw rate using a curvature of the reference track and the longitudinal speed signal, and

(c) compare the reference yaw rate with the actual yaw rate signal to determine a control deviation; and

a steering actuator commanded by the controller to apply a steering input into a steering system of the motor vehicle to minimize the control deviation,

(d) determine a position of the motor vehicle relative to an intervention zone defined with reference to at least one of: a lane width, a lane-related transverse speed of the motor vehicle, the longitudinal speed, a curvature of the target lane centerline, and a direction of deviation from the target lane centerline; and command the steering actuator to apply the steering input if and only if the vehicle is within the intervention zone.