SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENGAGING IN EMERGENCY AUTONOMOUS DRIVING MODE FOR ASSISTED-DRIVING VEHICLES
Embodiments disclosed herein include systems and methods for engaging in an emergency autonomous driving mode for assisted-driving vehicles. The vehicle may include a non-emergency driving mode and an emergency autonomous driving mode, where the vehicle includes an electronic control unit for controlling an operation of the vehicle. The electronic control unit may determine a driving mode of the vehicle, receive a request to revert from the non-emergency driving mode to the emergency autonomous driving mode; and revert back to the non-emergency driving mode when select predetermined conditions are satisfied.
1 . A system comprising:
a vehicle configured to drive in a non-emergency driving mode and an emergency autonomous driving mode, where the vehicle comprises:
an electronic control unit for controlling an operation of the vehicle, wherein the electronic control unit:
determines a driving mode of the vehicle;
receives a request to revert from the non-emergency driving mode to the emergency autonomous driving mode; and
reverts back to the non-emergency driving mode when select predetermined conditions are satisfied.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the request to revert from the non-emergency driving mode to the autonomous driving mode is initiated by a driver.
3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising an emergency button such that when a driver pushes the emergency button, the vehicle engages in the emergency autonomous driving mode.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the request to revert from the non-emergency driving mode to the autonomous driving mode is initiated by a processor connected to the electronic control unit, such that when one or more in-vehicle devices detect a pre-determined environmental condition or physical condition of a driver, the autonomous driving mode is engaged.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more in-vehicle devices comprises sensors, cameras, navigation system, communication system, radar, and laser scanners.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the environmental condition comprises a natural disaster or a dangerous road condition.
7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the physical condition of the driver comprises an indication that the driver is physically or mentally unfit to drive the vehicle in a safe manner.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the vehicle monitors the physical condition of the driver comprising heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, reaction time, and vision.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the electronic control unit displays one or more tasks on a display screen for the driver to complete with a passing score before reverting back to the non-emergency driving mode.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the driver must complete the one or more tasks within a predetermined time period.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle overrides standard driving protocol when the vehicle is engaged in the autonomous driving mode.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein overriding standard driving protocol comprises driving against a flow of traffic, driving through a red light, and driving over a speed limit.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle overrides a current destination point determined by the driver and determines a new destination point.
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the new destination point comprises a hospital, a police station, an evacuation center, and a home.
15 . A method for operating a vehicle comprising:
determining whether the vehicle is in a non-emergency driving mode or an emergency autonomous driving mode;
receiving a request to revert from the non-emergency driving mode to the emergency autonomous driving mode; and
reverting back to non-emergency driving mode only when select predetermined conditions are satisfied.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving a request comprises a driver pushing an emergency button to request the autonomous driving mode.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein receiving a request comprises the vehicle detecting a pre-determined environmental condition indicating unsafe driving conditions and detecting that the driver is physically or mentally unfit to drive the vehicle in a safe manner.
18 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising displaying one or more tasks on a display screen for the driver to complete, wherein completing the one or more tasks reverts back to the non-emergency driving mode.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the select predetermined conditions comprise driving conditions and a driver's physical and mental capability of driving the vehicle in non-emergency driving mode.
20 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising monitoring a physical condition of the driver comprising heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, reaction time, and vision.