Autonomous Driving Merge Management System

Abstract

An autonomous driving merge management system includes an autonomous driving control device and an intention decision management system. The management system includes a candidate strategy subsystem generating a plurality of candidate driving strategies, a merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem predicting a merging intention of a merging vehicle; an intention-based interactive prediction subsystem predicting future merging scenarios between the host vehicle and merging vehicle as a function of inputs by the merging vehicle behavior recognition subsystem and inputs by the candidate strategy subsystem, and a cost function-based evaluation subsystem determining a cost for each future merging scenario generated by the intention-based interactive prediction subsystem. A processor selects a merge strategy of the host vehicle based on intention-based prediction results and cost function-based evaluation results. The autonomous driving control device applies the merge strategy to the host vehicle for allowing the merging vehicle to cooperatively merge with the host vehicle.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION[0001]An embodiment relates generally to autonomous traffic merging behaviors.[0002]Merging maneuvers includes at least one vehicle traveling in separate lanes wherein the vehicle must merge into a single lane of travel. The merging maneuver is performed implicitly by the driver of each vehicle wherein the driver individually decides whether they should merge in front of or behind the other vehicle. That is, each driver is not in communication with the other drivers and must make a decision on what merging position should be executed based on their observance of the relative position and speed between the two vehicles. The merging vehicle may speed up to merge ahead of the vehicle on the thoroughfare or slow down to merge behind the vehicle on the thoroughfare. Alternatively, the vehicle on the thoroughfare may speed up or slow down to accommodate the merging vehicle. In addition, the vehicle traveling on the thoroughfare may change lanes to accommodate the me...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes an autonomous and cooperative merging system for vehicles. The system uses data from the host vehicle and a merging vehicle to predict the intent of the merging vehicle and estimate the cost of different merging scenarios. The system selects the best merging strategy based on these evaluations and controls the host vehicle to allow the merging vehicle to safely merge with it. The technical effect is an improved merging system that reduces stress and risk for drivers and allows for smoother traffic flow.

Problems solved by technology

A change of speed such as braking may cause a chain of braking events for vehicles trailing the braking vehicle, which may ultimately lead to a traffic slow down or collision.

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