Navigation with a safe lateral distance

1. A method for navigating a host vehicle, the method comprising: receiving, from an image capture device, at least one image representative of an environment of the host vehicle;

determining, based on at least one driving policy, a planned navigational action for accomplishing a navigational goal of the host vehicle;

analyzing the at least one image to identify a target vehicle in the environment of the host vehicle;

determining a next-state lateral distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle that would result if the planned navigational action was taken;

determining a maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle, a maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, and a current lateral speed of the host vehicle;

determining a lateral braking distance for the host vehicle based on the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle, the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, and the current lateral speed of the host vehicle;

determining a current lateral speed of the target vehicle, a target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability, and a target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability;

determining a lateral braking distance for the target vehicle based on the current lateral speed of the target vehicle, the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability, and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability;

determining that the next-state lateral distance is greater than a sum of the lateral braking distance for the host vehicle and the lateral braking distance of the target vehicle; and

implementing the planned navigational action when the determined next-state lateral distance is greater than the sum of the lateral braking distance for the host vehicle and the lateral braking distance of the target vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lateral braking distance for the host vehicle corresponds to a distance required to achieve a host vehicle lateral speed of zero, at the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle and the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, starting from the current lateral speed of the host vehicle and after a lateral acceleration of the host vehicle as a result of a turning maneuver made toward the target vehicle at the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle and the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle during a reaction time associated with the host vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lateral braking distance for the target vehicle corresponds to a distance required to achieve a target vehicle lateral speed of zero, at the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability, starting from the current lateral speed of the target vehicle and after a lateral acceleration of the target vehicle as a result of a turning maneuver by the target vehicle toward the host vehicle made at the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability during a reaction time associated with the target vehicle.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing device is programmed to implement the planned navigational action regardless of the next-state lateral distance if the planned navigational action would result in a safe longitudinal distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the safe longitudinal distance is greater than or equal to a sum of a host vehicle longitudinal stopping distance and a target vehicle longitudinal stopping distance;

wherein the host vehicle stopping distance is based on a maximum longitudinal braking capability of the host vehicle and a current longitudinal speed of the host vehicle, and wherein the host vehicle stopping distance includes a host vehicle acceleration distance corresponding to a distance the host vehicle can travel at a maximum acceleration capability of the host vehicle during a reaction time associated with the host vehicle starting from the current longitudinal speed of the host vehicle; and

wherein the target vehicle stopping distance is based on a maximum longitudinal braking capability of the target vehicle and a current longitudinal speed of the target vehicle, and wherein the target vehicle stopping distance includes a target vehicle acceleration distance corresponding to a distance the target vehicle can travel at a maximum acceleration capability of the target vehicle during a reaction time associated with the target vehicle starting from the current longitudinal speed of the target vehicle.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability is determined based on at least one characteristic of the target vehicle identified through analysis of the at least one image.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the target vehicle includes one or more of a vehicle type, a vehicle size, or a vehicle model.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle and the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle are based on predetermined constraints for the host vehicle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the current lateral speed of the target vehicle is determined based on an output of a RADAR unit or a LIDAR unit associated with the host vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle, the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability, or the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability is determined based on a sensed condition of a road surface.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle, the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability, or the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability is determined based on a sensed weather condition.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the planned navigational action includes at least one of a lane change maneuver, a merge maneuver, a passing maneuver, a parking lot navigation maneuver, or a turning maneuver.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to implement the planned navigational action if the determined next-state lateral distance is greater, by at least a predetermined minimum distance, than the sum of the lateral braking distance for the host vehicle and the lateral braking distance of the target vehicle.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the predetermined minimum distance corresponds to a predetermined lateral separation distance to be maintained between the host vehicle and other vehicles.

15. A system for navigating a host vehicle, the system comprising;

at least one processing device programmed to:

receive, from an image capture device, at least one image representative of an environment of the host vehicle;

determine, based on at least one driving policy, a planned navigational action for accomplishing a navigational goal of the host vehicle;

analyze the at least one image to identify a target vehicle in the environment of the host vehicle;

determine a next-state lateral distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle that would result if the planned navigational action was taken;

determine a maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle, a maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, and a current lateral speed of the host vehicle;

determine a lateral braking distance for the host vehicle based on the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle, the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, and the current lateral speed of the host vehicle;

determine a current lateral speed of the target vehicle, a target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability, and a target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability;

determine a lateral braking distance for the target vehicle based on the current lateral speed of the target vehicle, the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability, and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability; and

implement the planned navigational action if the determined next-state lateral distance is greater than a sum of the lateral braking distance for the host vehicle and the lateral braking distance of the target vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the lateral braking distance for the host vehicle corresponds to a distance required to achieve a host vehicle lateral speed of zero, at the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle and the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, starting from the current lateral speed of the host vehicle and after a lateral acceleration of the host vehicle as a result of a turning maneuver made toward the target vehicle at the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle and the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle during a reaction time associated with the host vehicle.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the lateral braking distance for the target vehicle corresponds to a distance required to achieve a target vehicle lateral speed of zero, at the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability, starting from the current lateral speed of the target vehicle and after a lateral acceleration of the target vehicle as a result of a turning maneuver by the target vehicle toward the host vehicle made at the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability during a reaction time associated with the target vehicle.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processing device is programmed to implement the planned navigational action regardless of the next-state lateral distance if the planned navigational action would result in a safe longitudinal distance between the host vehicle and the target vehicle.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the safe longitudinal distance is greater than or equal to a sum of a host vehicle longitudinal stopping distance and a target vehicle longitudinal stopping distance;

wherein the host vehicle stopping distance is based on a maximum longitudinal braking capability of the host vehicle and a cu merit longitudinal speed of the host vehicle, and wherein the host vehicle stopping distance includes a host vehicle acceleration distance corresponding to a distance the host vehicle can travel at a maximum acceleration capability of the host vehicle during a reaction time associated with the host vehicle starting from the current longitudinal speed of the host vehicle; and

wherein the target vehicle stopping distance is based on a maximum longitudinal braking capability of the target vehicle and a current longitudinal speed of the target vehicle, and wherein the target vehicle stopping distance includes a target vehicle acceleration distance corresponding to a distance the target vehicle can travel at a maximum acceleration capability of the target vehicle during a reaction time associated with the target vehicle starting from the current longitudinal speed of the target vehicle.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability and the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability is determined based on at least one characteristic of the target vehicle identified through analysis of the at least one image.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the at least one characteristic of the target vehicle includes one or more of a vehicle type, a vehicle size, or a vehicle model.

22. The system of claim 15 , wherein the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle and the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle are based on predetermined constraints for the host vehicle.

23. The system of claim 15 , wherein the current lateral speed of the target vehicle is determined based on an output of a RADAR unit or a LIDAR unit associated with the host vehicle.

24. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle or the maximum chance in turn radius capability of the host vehicle is determined based on a sensed condition of a road surface.

25. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability or the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability is determined based on a sensed condition of a road surface.

26. The system of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the maximum yaw rate capability of the host vehicle, the maximum change in turn radius capability of the host vehicle, the target vehicle maximum yaw rate capability, or the target vehicle maximum change in turn radius capability is determined based on a sensed weather condition.

27. The system of claim 15 , wherein the planned navigational action includes at least one of a lane change maneuver, a merge maneuver, a passing maneuver, a parking lot navigation maneuver, or a turning maneuver.

28. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processing device is configured to implement the planned navigational action if the determined next-state lateral distance is greater, by at least a predetermined minimum distance, than the sum of the lateral braking distance for the host vehicle and the lateral braking distance of the target vehicle.

29. The system of claim 28 , wherein the predetermined minimum distance corresponds to a predetermined lateral separation distance to be maintained between the host vehicle and other vehicles.

30. The system of claim 29 , wherein the predetermined lateral separation distance is at least one meter.