Automated vehicle lane positioning
A vehicle lane positioning system includes a sensor arrangement that is designed to determine lateral boundaries of a vehicle lane. A control unit is designed to calculate a vehicle travel path within the vehicle lane having a predetermined variation from a centered vehicle pathway. An actuator unit is designed to execute the vehicle travel path within the vehicle lane.
1. A vehicle lane positioning system comprising:
a sensor arrangement designed to determine lateral boundaries of a vehicle lane;
a control unit designed to calculate a vehicle travel path within the vehicle lane having a predetermined variation from a centered vehicle pathway;
an actuator unit designed to execute the vehicle travel path within the vehicle lane; and
wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path is offset from a center of the vehicle lane and includes a randomly selected variation from within a predetermined range of variation.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path is determined based on a predetermined time schedule.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path is determined by a time schedule that varies on a periodic basis.
4. The system of claim 1 , including an input unit for selectively choosing the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the input unit includes a wireless communication device capable of receiving an input to select the predetermined variation.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path continuously varies between the lateral boundaries.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the randomly selected variation is determined from a Pseudorandom Binary Sequence.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined variation relative to the lateral boundaries is spaced by a clearance distance from each of the lateral boundaries.
9. A method of positioning a vehicle within a lane comprising:
determining lateral boundaries of a vehicle lane with a sensor arrangement;
calculating a vehicle travel path within the vehicle lane having a predetermined variation from a centered vehicle pathway with a control unit; and
executing the vehicle travel path with an actuator unit; and
wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path is offset from a center of the vehicle lane and includes a randomly selected variation from within a predetermined range of variation.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path is determined based on a predetermined time schedule.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path is determined by a time schedule that varies on a periodic basis.
12. The method of claim 9 , including an input unit for selectively choosing the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the input unit includes a wireless communication device capable of receiving an input to select the predetermined variation.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined variation for the vehicle travel path continuously varies between the lateral boundaries.
15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the randomly selected variation is determined from a Pseudorandom Binary Sequence.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined variation relative to the lateral boundaries is spaced by a clearance distance from each of the lateral boundaries.