An imaging system for a vehicle includes an imaging device having a field of view exteriorly and forward of the vehicle in its direction of travel, and an image processor operable to process the captured images in accordance with an algorithm. The algorithm comprises a sign recognition routine and a character recognition routine. The image processor processes the image data captured by the imaging device to detect signs in the field of view of the imaging device and applies the sign recognition routine to determine a sign type of the detected sign. The image processor is operable to apply the character recognition routine to the image data to determine information on the detected sign. The image processor applies the character recognition routine to the captured images in response to an output of the sign recognition routine being indicative of the detected sign being a sign type of interest.

Imaging system for vehicle

GPS satellite (4) ranging signals (6) received (32) on comm1, and DGPS auxiliary range correction signals and pseudolite carrier phase ambiguity resolution signals (8) from a fixed known earth base station (10) received (34) on comm2, at one of a plurality of vehicles/aircraft/automobiles (2) are computer processed (36) to continuously determine the one's kinematic tracking position on a pathway (14) with centimeter accuracy. That GPS-based position is communicated with selected other status information to each other one of the plurality of vehicles (2), to the one station (10), and/or to one of a plurality of control centers (16), and the one vehicle receives therefrom each of the others' status information and kinematic tracking position. Objects (22) are detected from all directions (300) by multiple supplemental mechanisms, e.g., video (54), radar/lidar (56), laser and optical scanners. Data and information are computer processed and analyzed (50,52,200,452) in neural networks (132, FIGS. 6-8) in the one vehicle to identify, rank, and evaluate collision hazards/objects, an expert operating response to which is determined in a fuzzy logic associative memory (484) which generates control signals which actuate a plurality of control systems of the one vehicle in a coordinated manner to maneuver it laterally and longitudinally to avoid each collision hazard, or, for motor vehicles, when a collision is unavoidable, to minimize injury or damage therefrom. The operator is warned by a heads up display and other modes and may override. An automotive auto-pilot mode is provided.

GPS vehicle collision avoidance warning and control system and method

Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, an accelerometer attached to a portable device detects a movement of the portable device. In response, a machine executable code is executed within the portable device to perform one or more predetermined user configurable operations. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer

The steering angle of a vehicle is monitored using position sensors of an electric motor of an electric power assisted steering (EPAS) system. A position of the electric motor corresponding to the straight-ahead, center position of the steering system is stored in non-volatile memory during a steering calibration procedure, such as an end-of-line calibration in a vehicle assembly plant. Following power loss due to a dead battery, a steering angle zeroing procedure performed in a vehicle stability control (VSC) system generates a center position with enough accuracy to be within one electrical cycle of the motor. The pre-stored electric motor position is then used to determine the electrical cycle where the center position was located, and accurate monitoring of steering angle is resumed.

Recovery of calibrated center steering position after loss of battery power

A forward-facing vision system for a vehicle includes a forward-facing camera disposed in a windshield electronics module attached at a windshield of the vehicle and viewing through the windshield. A control includes a processor that, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects taillights of leading vehicles during nighttime conditions and, responsive to processing of captured image data, detects lane markers on a road being traveled by the vehicle. The control, responsive to lane marker detection and a determination that the vehicle is drifting out of a traffic lane, may control a steering system of the vehicle to mitigate such drifting, with the steering system manually controllable by a driver of the vehicle irrespective of control by the control. The processor, based at least in part on detection of lane markers via processing of captured image data, determines curvature of the road being traveled by the vehicle.

Vision system for vehicle

A standardized microcontroller-based fuzzy logic processing module (101) for generating control signal values in response to variable input signal values in accordance with constraints imposed by propositions or "rules" stored in memory (117) in a standardized format. Each rule consists of one or more input conditions and an output directive. Each input signal (110) and the output signal (112) values are characterisable by their degree of membership in a predetermined number of fuzzy sets, each fuzzy set being defined by a membership function (119). Each input condition is composed of a reference to a particular input variable, which has been preprocessed into integer (whole number) normalised form and a reference to a membership function. Each output directive includes a reference to a further membership function. Each membership function is implemented by one of a three possible forms of standard membership data structures: a triangular function represented by three data points, a table lookup function represented by a two end data points and the points between these two end points, and an standard shape function composed of a set of data points and a set of reference points used to form a similar shape function by interpolation. Fuzzy logic processing is accomplished by determining the extent to which the input conditions are satisfied by the current values of the input signals in order to develop a rule strength value, and then performing a "centre-of-gravity" determination based on the output membership function values (118) of each satisfied rule integrated over the range of possible output signal values.

Electronic control system

A method for determining a steering wheel angle of a vehicular steering system includes determining a center position for the steering sensor output every time the vehicle is started. The method employs the use of a yaw sensor for computing an estimate of the actual steering position so that a center position may be back computed to provide immediate and accurate steering position data using the steering sensor signal for controlling an automotive device. The accuracy of the initial estimates may be improved upon by implementing interim and final center algorithms as vehicle operating characteristics permit.

Method for determining steering position of automotive steering mechanism

A method and apparatus for determining the stability of an automotive vehicle includes a steering wheel sensor generating a steering wheel signal, a yaw rate sensor generating a yaw rate signal and a lateral acceleration sensor for generating a lateral acceleration signal. A controller is coupled to the steering wheel sensor, the yaw rate sensor, and the accelerometer. The controller determines a first steering wheel angle from the yaw rate signal, a second steering wheel angle from the lateral acceleration signal, and a third steering angle from a steering wheel signal. The controller generates a vehicle stability indicator in response to the first steering wheel angle, the second steering wheel angle and the third steering wheel angle.

Method and apparatus for determining the dynamic stability of an automotive vehicle

A system and method for vehicle dynamic control processes a compensated yaw rate signal measurement and a compensated lateral acceleration signal measurement (30, 32) to derive a signal measurement of road bank angle disturbance not compensated for in a compensated steering angle signal measurement and provides the derived signal to a controller (12). The compensated steering angle signal measurement is an input to the controller. Because a disturbance already compensated in the compensated steering angle signal measurement is transparent to the controller, the controller is able to adjust the control action of the vehicle dynamic control system based on the derived signal measurement of road bank angle disturbance not compensated for in a compensated steering angle signal measurement, thereby providing enhanced robustness of control.

Relative vehicle platform having synchronized adaptive offset calibration for lateral accelerometer and steering angle sensor

Describes the preliminary research on and implementation of a fuzzy logic controller to control wheel slip for an antilock brake system. The dynamics of braking systems are highly nonlinear and time-variant. Simulation was used to derive an initial rule base, which was then tested on an experimental brake system. The rules were further refined by analysis of the data acquired from vehicle braking maneuvers on a surface with a high coefficient of friction. The robustness of the fuzzy logic slip regulator was further tested by varying operating conditions and external environmental variables. >

Dinu Petre Madau

Papers

Electronic control system

Method for determining steering position of automotive steering mechanism

Method and apparatus for determining the dynamic stability of an automotive vehicle

Relative vehicle platform having synchronized adaptive offset calibration for lateral accelerometer and steering angle sensor

Fuzzy logic anti-lock brake system for a limited range coefficient of friction surface