IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,202,559
Granted Patent B2
US 12,202,559 · App. 17/947,609 · Granted Jan 21, 2025

Autonomous driving kit, vehicle platform, vehicle control interface box, and vehicle

Inventors: Ikuma Suzuki (Okazaki, JP); Yuji Watari (Toyota, JP); Eisuke Ando (Nagoya, JP)
Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
B62D6/002B62D5/046B62D15/0225
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,202,559
App. No.
17/947,609
Granted
Jan 21, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An ADK is attachable to and removable from a VP and issues an instruction for autonomous driving to the VP. The VP includes a steering system for steering of the VP. (An ADS of) the ADK includes a compute assembly and a communication module configured to communicate with the VP. The compute assembly obtains from the VP, a torque value relating to a steering system 33 through the communication module and transmits to the VP, a wheel steer angle command indicating the wheel steer angle in accordance with a driving plan for autonomous driving and the obtained torque value. Even when a user intervenes with an operation while the attachable and removable ADK that issues the instruction for autonomous driving controls the VP, stable steering can be achieved.

Claims (38)

1. An autonomous driving kit attachable to and removable from a vehicle platform, the autonomous driving kit issuing an instruction for autonomous driving to the vehicle platform, the vehicle platform including a steering system for steering of the vehicle platform, the autonomous driving kit comprising:

a compute assembly that includes a processor and a memory in which a program executable by the processor is stored; and

a transceiver configured to communicate with the vehicle platform, wherein

in accordance with the program stored in the memory, the processor of the compute assembly

obtains from the vehicle platform, a torque value relating to the steering system through the transceiver, and

transmits to the vehicle platform, a wheel steer angle command indicating a wheel steer angle in accordance with a driving plan for autonomous driving and the obtained torque value through the transceiver.

2. The autonomous driving kit according to claim 1 , wherein

the steering system includes a sensor that detects steering torque, and

the torque value is a value detected by the sensor.

3. The autonomous driving kit according to claim 1 , wherein

the steering system includes a steering motor, and

the torque value is a torque value estimated from a current value of the steering motor.

4. The autonomous driving kit according to claim 1 , wherein

the steering system includes a steering motor, and

the torque value is a value of maximum steering torque that the steering motor can output.

5. A vehicle comprising the autonomous driving kit according to claim 1 .

6. A vehicle platform that communicates with an autonomous driving kit, the vehicle platform being configured to allow autonomous driving in accordance with an instruction for autonomous driving received from the autonomous driving kit, the autonomous driving kit being attachable to and removable from the vehicle platform, the vehicle platform comprising:

a steering system for steering of the vehicle platform; and

a vehicle control interface box that provides a control command for controlling the steering system, wherein

the vehicle control interface box

transmits a torque value relating to the steering system in the vehicle platform to the autonomous driving kit in accordance with a request from the autonomous driving kit that obtains the torque value, and

provides to the steering system, a control command in accordance with a wheel steer angle command received from the autonomous driving kit, the wheel steer angle command indicating a wheel steer angle in accordance with a driving plan for autonomous driving and the torque value.

7. The vehicle platform according to claim 6 , wherein

the steering system includes a sensor that detects steering torque, and

the torque value is a value detected by the sensor.

8. The vehicle platform according to claim 6 , wherein

the steering system includes a steering motor, and

the torque value is a torque value estimated from a current value of the steering motor.

9. The vehicle platform according to claim 6 , wherein

the steering system includes a steering motor, and

the torque value is a value of maximum steering torque that the steering motor can output.

10. A vehicle comprising the vehicle platform according to claim 6 .

11. A vehicle control interface box that communicates with an autonomous driving kit and issues an instruction for autonomous driving to a vehicle platform in accordance with an instruction for autonomous driving received from the autonomous driving kit, the autonomous driving kit being attachable to and removable from the vehicle platform, the vehicle platform including a steering system for steering of the vehicle platform, the vehicle control interface box comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in which a program executable by the processor is stored, wherein

in accordance with the program stored in the memory, the processor

transmits a torque value relating to the steering system in the vehicle platform to the autonomous driving kit in accordance with a request from the autonomous driving kit that obtains the torque value, and

provides to the steering system, a control command in accordance with a wheel steer angle command received from the autonomous driving kit, the wheel steer angle command indicating a wheel steer angle in accordance with a driving plan for autonomous driving and the torque value.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2022
From: SUZUKI, IKUMA; WATARI, YUJI; ANDO, EISUKE
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 061137/0826 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-158035 · Sep 28, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230112480A1 · Apr 13, 2023
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