Apparatus and method for audible driver confirmation for maneuvers in an autonomous vehicle

1. A method of controlling a vehicle comprising:

receiving a lane change request;

playing an audio prompt requesting confirmation of lane change to a vehicle occupant wherein the audio prompt includes a request for a vehicle occupant to check a lane availability;

generating a control signal to initiate a microphone to receive an audio confirmation from the vehicle occupant;

receiving an audio confirmation corresponding to a vehicle occupant response; and

executing a lane change in response to the audio confirmation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio confirmation is stored in a memory.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the lane change is performed in response to a vehicle controller.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio prompt is played via a speaker within a vehicle cabin.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the audio confirmation is received via a microphone within an audio cabin.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising reducing a vehicle speed in response to not receiving the audio confirmation.

7. An apparatus comprising:

an audio output for coupling an audio output signal to a speaker wherein the audio output signal is a request for a vehicle occupant to confirm a lane change and to check a lane availability;

an audio input for receiving an audio input signal from a microphone

a processor for determining a vehicle maneuver option, generating the audio output signal in response to the vehicle maneuver option and receiving the audio input signal, the processor being further operative to generate a control signal in response to the audio input signal; and

a controller for executing a vehicle maneuver corresponding the vehicle maneuver option in response to the control signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vehicle maneuver option is a lane change option.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the audio input signal is an affirmative response from a vehicle occupant.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the speaker and the microphone are located inside a vehicle cabin.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the speaker and microphone are part of a vehicle entertainment system.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vehicle maneuver option is a lane change option, the audio input signal is a negative response from a vehicle occupant and the vehicle maneuver is a reduction of speed of the vehicle.

13. A method of controlling a vehicle comprising:

receiving a request for a user input in response to a navigational option;

generating an output audio signal in response to the request wherein the audio output signal is a request for a vehicle occupant to confirm a lane change and to check a lane availability;

receiving an input audio signal;

determining a user response to the navigation option in response to the audio signal;

generating an indicator indicative of the user response; and

executing the navigational option in response to the indicator.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the audio output signal is played to the user on a speaker within a vehicle cabin.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the input audio signal is received via a microphone within a vehicle cabin.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein vehicle is an autonomous vehicle.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the navigational option is a lane change option.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the user response is a negative response and wherein the navigational option is not executed in response to the indicator.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the navigational option is a lane change option in response to a slower vehicle ahead of the vehicle, and wherein the method is operative to execute a lane change in response to a positive user response and wherein the method is operative to reduce a vehicle speed in response to a negative user response.