IP Library Granted Patent US 11,054,834
Granted Patent B2
US 11,054,834 · App. 16/165,114 · Granted Jul 6, 2021

Controlling vehicles through multi-lane turns

Inventors: Jared Stephen Russell (San Francisco, CA); Jens-Steffen Ralf Gutmann (Cupertino, CA); Pei Sun (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Waymo LLC
G05D1/0221G05D1/0088G05D1/0231B60W30/18145B60W2400/00B60W2420/42B60W2555/60B60W2720/24G05D1/0274G05D2201/0213
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,054,834
App. No.
16/165,114
Granted
Jul 6, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

The technology relates controlling an autonomous vehicle through a multi-lane turn. In one example, data corresponding to a position of the autonomous vehicle in a lane of the multi-lane turn, a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle, and data corresponding to positions of objects in a vicinity of the autonomous vehicle may be received. A determination of whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane may be made based on a position of the autonomous vehicle in the lane relative to the positions of the objects. The trajectory of the autonomous vehicle through the lane may be adjusted based on whether the autonomous vehicle is positioned as a first vehicle in the lane or positioned behind another vehicle in the lane. The autonomous vehicle may be controlled based on the adjusted trajectory.

Claims (25)

1. A method for controlling an autonomous vehicle through a multi-lane turn, the method comprising:

receiving, by one or more processors, data corresponding to a position of the autonomous vehicle relative to positions of other vehicles in a lane of the multi-lane turn and a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle;

determining, based on a position of the autonomous vehicle in the lane relative to the positions of the other vehicles, that the autonomous vehicle is positioned as first in a line of vehicles in the lane;

upon determining that the autonomous vehicle is positioned as first in the line of vehicles in the lane, determining an average lateral displacement of actual paths previously traveled by one or more vehicles for traversing the multi-lane turn relative to the trajectory of the autonomous vehicle;

adjusting, by the one or more processors, the trajectory of the autonomous vehicle by the average lateral displacement; and

controlling the autonomous vehicle through the multi-lane turn based on the adjusted trajectory.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the average lateral displacement is limited to a predefined distance to a left and right direction of the trajectory.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein upon determining the autonomous vehicle is positioned behind the another vehicle, adjusting the trajectory based on a trajectory of the another vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the trajectory of the another vehicle is tracked by imaging sensors on the autonomous vehicle.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the adjusted trajectory is bound by a predefined distance to the left and right of the trajectory.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the trajectory of the autonomous vehicle occurs continuously through the multi-lane turn.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising upon determining the autonomous vehicle is positioned behind multiple vehicles, adjusting the trajectory based on trajectories of the multiple vehicles through the multi-lane turn.

8. A system for controlling an autonomous vehicle through a multi-lane turn, the system comprising:

one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to:

receive data corresponding to a position of the autonomous vehicle relative to positions of other vehicles in a lane of the multi-lane turn;

determine, based on a position of the autonomous vehicle in the lane relative to the positions of the other vehicles, that the autonomous vehicle is positioned as first in a line of vehicles in the lane;

upon determining that the autonomous vehicle is positioned as first in the line of vehicles in the lane, determine an average lateral displacement of actual paths previously traveled by one or more vehicles for traversing the multi-lane turn relative to the trajectory of the autonomous vehicle;

adjust a trajectory of the autonomous vehicle by the average lateral displacement; and

control the autonomous vehicle through the multi-lane turn based on the adjusted trajectory.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the average lateral displacement is limited to a predefined distance to a left and right of the trajectory.

10. The system of claim 8 , the one or more processors are further configured to, upon determining the autonomous vehicle is positioned behind the another vehicle, adjust the trajectory based on a trajectory of the another vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the trajectory of the another vehicle is tracked by imaging sensors on the autonomous vehicle.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the adjusted trajectory is bound by a predefined distance to the left and right of the trajectory.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein adjusting the trajectory of the autonomous vehicle occurs continuously through the multi-lane turn.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, upon determining the autonomous vehicle is positioned behind multiple vehicles, adjust the trajectory based on trajectories of the multiple vehicles through the multi-lane turn.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 22, 2018
From: RUSSELL, JARED STEPHEN; GUTMANN, JENS-STEFFEN RALF; SUN, PEI
To: WAYMO LLC
Reel/Frame 047260/0725 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200125106A1 · Apr 23, 2020
Cited By (2)
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