Method for maintaining active control of an autonomous vehicle
View Patent ↗A method for operating an autonomous vehicle can involve monitoring a throttle position of a throttle pedal on the semi-autonomous vehicle. Once the throttle pedal is found to no longer be depressed, the vehicle can be returned to human control.
1. A method of operating a semi-autonomous vehicle, the method being performed by one or more processors and comprising:
operating one or more vehicle actuators to semi-autonomously drive the semi-autonomous vehicle, the one or more vehicle actuators including a throttle pedal;
monitoring a throttle position of the throttle pedal; and
based on the throttle pedal not being depressed, terminating semi-autonomous driving of the semi-autonomous vehicle and returning the semi-autonomous vehicle to human control.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors terminate semi-autonomous operation in response to detecting that the throttle pedal has not been depressed for a predetermined period of time.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors semi-autonomously operate the plurality of vehicle actuators based on the throttle pedal being depressed.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
detecting the throttle position of the throttle pedal when depressed; and
adjusting a semi-autonomous driving behavior of the semi-autonomous vehicle according to the throttle position when depressed.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein adjusting the semi-autonomous driving behavior comprises adjusting a maximum speed during semi-autonomous driving of the semi-autonomous vehicle.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein adjusting the semi-autonomous driving behavior comprises adjusting a maximum motive power during semi-autonomous driving of the semi-autonomous vehicle.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein adjusting the semi-autonomous driving behavior comprises adjusting at least one of a following-distance of the semi-autonomous vehicle or a tendency to pass other vehicles by the semi-autonomous vehicle.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein terminating semi-autonomous operation of the semi-autonomous vehicle comprises detecting that the throttle pedal has been released.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, on a display screen of the semi-autonomous vehicle, a future plan of semi-autonomous driving; and
confirming approval of the future plan by detecting a movement pattern of the throttle pedal.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the future plan comprises an immediate plan of semi-autonomous driving.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the future plan comprises a long-term route for semi-autonomous driving.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the movement pattern of the throttle pedal comprises a pump of the throttle pedal.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting a sudden and extreme depression of the throttle pedal; and
in response to detecting the sudden and extreme depression of the throttle pedal, terminating semi-autonomous driving of the semi-autonomous vehicle and returning the semi-autonomous vehicle to human control.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more vehicle actuators further include a brake pedal, the method further comprising:
detecting a sudden and extreme depression of the brake pedal; and
in response to detecting the sudden and extreme depression of the brake pedal, terminating semi-autonomous driving of the semi-autonomous vehicle and returning the semi-autonomous vehicle to human control.
15. A control system for a semi-autonomous vehicle comprising:
one or more processors executing programmable logic, causing the one or more processors to:
operate one or more vehicle actuators to semi-autonomously drive the semi-autonomous vehicle, the one or more vehicle actuators including a throttle pedal;
monitor a throttle position of the throttle pedal; and
based on the throttle pedal not being depressed, terminate semi-autonomous driving of the semi-autonomous vehicle and returning the semi-autonomous vehicle to human control.
16. The control system of claim 15 , wherein the executed programmable logic causes the one or more processors to terminate semi-autonomous operation in response to detecting that the throttle pedal has not been depressed for a predetermined period of time.
17. The control system of claim 15 , wherein the executed programmable logic causes the one or more processors to semi-autonomously operate the plurality of vehicle actuators based on the throttle pedal being depressed.
18. A semi-autonomous vehicle comprising:
one or more vehicle actuators, including a throttle pedal; and
one or more processors executing programmable logic, causing the one or more processors to:
operate the one or more vehicle actuators to semi-autonomously drive the semi-autonomous vehicle;
monitor a throttle position of the throttle pedal; and
based on the throttle pedal not being depressed, terminate semi-autonomous driving of the semi-autonomous vehicle and returning the semi-autonomous vehicle to human control.
19. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the executed programmable logic causes the one or more processors to terminate semi-autonomous operation in response to detecting that the throttle pedal has not been depressed for a predetermined period of time.
20. The semi-autonomous vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the executed programmable logic causes the one or more processors to semi-autonomously operate the plurality of vehicle actuators based on the throttle pedal being depressed.