Autonomous vehicle control system and method
A vehicle including an autonomic vehicle control system is described. A method for operating the vehicle includes, during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, determining vehicle and environmental operating conditions and extra-vehicle conditions when the autonomic vehicle control system is activated. A confidence level associated with operation of the autonomic vehicle control system is determined based upon the vehicle operating conditions, the environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions. The confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system is transmitted via an operator interface device.
1. A method for operating a vehicle including with an autonomic vehicle control system, comprising:
during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system:
determining vehicle and environmental operating conditions,
determining extra-vehicle conditions,
determining a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle operating conditions, the environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions,
transmitting, via an operator interface device, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, including visually displaying the confidence level via a controllable multi-color light bar that is disposed on a steering wheel, wherein transmitting the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system includes displaying a green color via the light bar when the confidence level is high, and displaying a red color via the light bar when the confidence level indicates a need for an immediate intervention by a vehicle operator;
monitoring the confidence level, and
transmitting the confidence level via a second operator interface device in response to a change in the confidence level.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the confidence level has a numerical value that is continuously variable over a range between 0% and 100%.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises visually displaying the confidence level via an electronic visual display module.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises visually displaying the confidence level via a heads-up display.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises conveying the confidence level via an audio feedback device.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises conveying the confidence level via a haptic seat.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the confidence level via an operator interface device further comprises conveying the confidence level via a wearable device.
8. A method for operating a vehicle including with an autonomic vehicle control system, comprising:
during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system:
determining vehicle and environmental operating conditions,
determining extra-vehicle conditions,
determining a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle operating conditions, the environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions,
transmitting, via an operator interface device, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system;
monitoring the confidence level,
monitoring biometric data associated with a vehicle operator,
determining a need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator based upon the biometric data;
transmitting the confidence level via a second operator interface device in response to a change in the confidence level; and
transmitting the confidence level via the second operator interface device when the need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator is determined based upon the biometric data.
9. A vehicle, comprising:
a steering wheel;
an autonomic vehicle control system;
a human-machine interface (HMI) controller;
a plurality of operator interface devices, wherein the operator interface devices are capable of transmitting a message associated with operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, wherein one of the operator interface devices comprises a controllable multi-color light bar that is disposed on the steering wheel, including the light bar being configured to display a first color when the confidence level is high, and the light bar being configured to display a second color when the confidence level indicates a need for an immediate intervention by the vehicle operator;
a controller including an instruction set, the instruction set executable to:
determine vehicle and environmental operating conditions and extra-vehicle conditions during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system,
determine a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle and environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions, and
display, via the multi-color light bar, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system.
10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the confidence level has a numerical value that is continuously variable over a range between 0% and 100%.
11. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise an electronic visual display module.
12. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise a heads-up display.
13. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise an audio feedback device.
14. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise a haptic seat.
15. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the operator interface devices further comprise a wearable device.
16. A vehicle, comprising:
an autonomic vehicle control system;
a human-machine interface (HMI) controller;
a plurality of operator interface devices, wherein the operator interface devices are capable of transmitting a message associated with operation of the autonomic vehicle control system, wherein the operator interface devices includes a multi-color light bar;
a controller including an instruction set, the instruction set executable to:
determine vehicle and environmental operating conditions and extra-vehicle conditions during operation of the autonomic vehicle control system,
determine a confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system based upon the vehicle and environmental operating conditions and the extra-vehicle conditions,
transmit, via the multi-color light bar, the confidence level associated with the operation of the autonomic vehicle control system,
monitor the confidence level,
transmit the confidence level via a second of the operator interface devices in response to a change in the confidence level,
monitor biometric data associated with a vehicle operator,
determine a need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator based upon the biometric data; and
transmit the confidence level via the second of the operator interface devices when the need to escalate notification to the vehicle operator is determined based upon the biometric data.