Abstract: A system and method for estimating characteristics of a trailer. The system includes a trailer a vehicle with a sensor, a camera, and an electronic controller configured to receive first data from at least one of the sensor and the camera at a first location relative to the trailer, determine a second location relative to the trailer for the vehicle, the second location being a different location than the first location, generate a signal to move the vehicle from the first location to the second location, receive second data from at least one of the sensor and the camera at the second location, determine a characteristic of the trailer based upon the first data and the second data, and determine a movement behavior of the trailer based upon the characteristic before the vehicle couples to the trailer.

Abstract: A system for providing a range speed response pattern to a learning system as an image. The system includes a radar sensor and an electronic controller. In one example, the electronic controller is configured to receive a radar signal, obtain a beat signal, apply a fast Fourier transform to the beat signal to generate a transform, apply a power spectral density periodogram to the beat signal to generate an estimate, and filter the transform with the estimate to generate a filtered transform. The electronic controller is further configured to store the filtered transform in a column of a matrix, apply the power spectral density periodogram to each row of the matrix, generate a range speed response pattern from the matrix, generate a signal to control the vehicle's motion based on the range speed response pattern, and control a steering apparatus, an engine, and/or a braking system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A system for providing a range speed response pattern to a learning system as an image. The system includes a radar sensor and an electronic controller. In one example, the electronic controller is configured to receive a radar signal, obtain a beat signal, apply a fast Fourier transform to the beat signal to generate a transform, apply a power spectral density periodogram to the beat signal to generate an estimate, and filter the transform with the estimate to generate a filtered transform. The electronic controller is further configured to store the filtered transform in a column of a matrix, apply the power spectral density periodogram to each row of the matrix, generate a range speed response pattern from the matrix, generate a signal to control the vehicle's motion based on the range speed response pattern, and control a steering apparatus, an engine, and/or a braking system of the vehicle.

Abstract: A lane assistance system of a host vehicle for reacting to fast and extremely fast approaching vehicles includes a rear radar sensing unit having a sensor and an electronic controller. The electronic controller determines the distance and relative velocity of the fast approaching vehicle to the host vehicle. Further, depending on the closeness of the approaching vehicle, the lane of the approaching vehicle is determined from angular resolution of the radar signal. When the vehicle is approaching at an extremely fast rate and the angular resolution of the radar signal is not capable of determining an exact relative lane of the approaching vehicle due to the vehicle being too far away, the assistance system warns against or prevents lane changes by the host vehicle.

Abstract: A driver assistance system senses and provides an indication of an approaching vehicle located sidewardly and rearwardly within an immediately adjacent driving lane to a host vehicle. The system includes left and right rear sensor units proximate rear corners of the host vehicle. The rear sensor units sense vehicles on respective sides and rearwardly of the host vehicle. When either rear sensor unit detects an approaching vehicle within the adjacent lane on the opposite side of the host vehicle therefrom, the rear sensor unit provides an opposite-lane warning signal to the other rear sensor unit. The system includes providing host vehicle driving path information to the rear sensor units for determining the path of the adjacent lanes adjacent to and rearward of the host vehicle. The path information accounts for curves in a roadway. Further, the rear sensor units detect the speed of a closing vehicle.

Abstract: A lane departure monitoring system uses a forward sensor to determine a lane position of a host vehicle and to detect oncoming vehicles. Rear side sensors monitor the side blind-spots of the host vehicle as well as vehicles in the adjacent lanes that are approaching from the rear. A control system combines the information provided by these sensors and runs integrated programs to carry out a method for providing lane keeping assist and lane departure warnings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting vertical misalignment of a radar sensor mounted on a vehicle. One system includes a controller. The controller is configured to receive, from the radar sensor, a plurality of reflected radar signals from a target as one of the vehicle and the target moves and determine a plurality of data points, each of the plurality of data points corresponding to one of the plurality of reflected radar signals. The controller is also configured to determine a curve based on the plurality of data points, and determine a vertical alignment angle of the radar sensor by matching the curve to one of a plurality of pre-recorded curves and setting the vertical alignment angle of the radar sensor to an angle associated with the one of the plurality of pre-recorded curves.

Abstract: A driver assistance system senses and provides an indication of an approaching vehicle located sidewardly and rearwardly within an immediately adjacent driving lane to a host vehicle. The system includes left and right rear sensor units proximate rear corners of the host vehicle. The rear sensor units sense vehicles on respective sides and rearwardly of the host vehicle. When either rear sensor unit detects an approaching vehicle within the adjacent lane on the opposite side of the host vehicle therefrom, the rear sensor unit provides an opposite-lane warning signal to the other rear sensor unit. The system includes providing host vehicle driving path information to the rear sensor units for determining the path of the adjacent lanes adjacent to and rearward of the host vehicle. The path information accounts for curves in a roadway. Further, the rear sensor units detect the speed of a closing vehicle.

Abstract: An ACC system and object detection method for a vehicle. The ACC system includes a vehicle parameter sensor, an object detection sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate the vehicle's path based on a signal from the parameter sensor, detect an object based on the vehicle's path and a signal from the object detection sensor, determine an acceleration of the vehicle, and prevent the acceleration of the vehicle from increasing while the object is detected and the acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined acceleration threshold. The object detection method includes identifying stationary objects in a path of a vehicle and limiting an acceleration of the vehicle when the acceleration is above a threshold and a stationary object is identified.

Abstract: A lane departure monitoring system uses a forward sensor to determine a lane position of a host vehicle and to detect oncoming vehicles. Rear side sensors monitor the side blind-spots of the host vehicle as well as vehicles in the adjacent lanes that are approaching from the rear. A control system combines the information provided by these sensors and runs integrated programs to carry out a method for providing lane keeping assist and lane departure warnings.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing vehicle driver assistance. One method includes determining, at a controller, whether the vehicle is steering toward a drive-straight state and when the vehicle is steering toward the drive-straight state, calculating, at the controller, a predicted course trajectory using a third order polynomial. The method also includes calculating, at the controller, the predicted course trajectory using a non-third-order function when the vehicle is not steering toward the drive-straight state. In addition, the method includes performing the driver assistance based on the predicted course trajectory.

Abstract: An ACC system and object detection method for a vehicle. The ACC system includes a vehicle parameter sensor, an object detection sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to calculate the vehicle's path based on a signal from the parameter sensor, detect an object based on the vehicle's path and a signal from the object detection sensor, determine an acceleration of the vehicle, and prevent the acceleration of the vehicle from increasing while the object is detected and the acceleration of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined acceleration threshold. The object detection method includes identifying stationary objects in a path of a vehicle and limiting an acceleration of the vehicle when the acceleration is above a threshold and a stationary object is identified.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing vehicle driver assistance. One method includes determining, at a controller, whether the vehicle is steering toward a drive-straight state and when the vehicle is steering toward the drive-straight state, calculating, at the controller, a predicted course trajectory using a third order polynomial. The method also includes calculating, at the controller, the predicted course trajectory using a non-third-order function when the vehicle is not steering toward the drive-straight state. In addition, the method includes performing the driver assistance based on the predicted course trajectory.