Abstract: A conflict-resolution system for operating an automated vehicle includes an intersection detector, a vehicle-detection device, and a controller. The intersection detector is suitable to mount on a host-vehicle. The detector used to determine when the host-vehicle is stopped at or approaches an intersection. The vehicle-detection device is suitable to mount on the host-vehicle. The device is used to detect when an other-vehicle has stopped at or approaches the intersection at the same instant as the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the detector and the device. The controller is configured to determine a wait-time for the host-vehicle to wait before attempting to proceed into the intersection when right-of-way rules are unable to determine when the host-vehicle should proceed into the intersection.

Abstract: A map-update system to update maps used by an automated vehicle includes an object-detection-device, an operator-communication-device, and a controller. The object-detection-device is used to detect objects proximate to a vehicle. The operator-communication-device is used to communicate an inquiry to an operator and detect a response from the operator. The controller is in communication with the object-detection-device and the operator-communication-device. The controller is configured to navigate the vehicle in accordance with a digitized-map, determine when an object detected by the object-detection-device does not correspond to an expected-feature present in the digitized-map, output an inquiry regarding the object to the operator via the operator-communication-device, and update the digitized-map based on the response from the operator.

Abstract: A system for changing a control-mode of an automated vehicle from automated-control to manual-control includes an operator-detection device and a controller. The operator-detection device is operable to detect a readiness-state of an operator of a vehicle while a control-mode of the vehicle is automated-control. The controller is configured to forecast a future-time when the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control and determine a take-over-interval for an operator to assume manual-control of the vehicle once notified. The take-over-interval is determined based on the readiness-state. The controller is also configured to notify the operator that the control-mode of the vehicle should change from automated-control to manual-control no later than the take-over-interval prior to the future-time.

Abstract: A navigation system suitable to use on an automated vehicle includes an occupant-detection device and a memory. The occupant-detection device is used to determine a degree-of-interest of an occupant of a vehicle. The degree-of-interest is determined with regard to a route traveled by the vehicle. The memory used to store an interest-score of the route. The interest-score is based on the degree-of-interest exhibited by the occupant while traveling the route. The system may include a controller. The controller is in communication with the occupant-detection device and the memory. The controller is configured to operate the vehicle. The controller selects a preferred-route from a plurality of possible-routes. The preferred-route is characterized by a maximum-value of a prior-score associated with each one of the plurality of possible-routes.

Abstract: A gesture detection system suitable to operate an automated vehicle includes a gesture-detection-device, a pedestrian-detection-device, and a controller. The gesture-detection-device is used to detect a gesture made by an occupant of a host-vehicle. The pedestrian-detection-device is used to detect a pedestrian proximate to the host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the gesture-detection-device and the pedestrian-detection-device. The controller is configured to control movement of the host-vehicle along a travel-path of the host-vehicle. The controller waits to move the host-vehicle until after the pedestrian crosses the travel-path when the occupant gestures to the pedestrian to proceed across the travel-path.

Abstract: A cognitive-driver-assist system includes an object-detection device, an operator-detection device, a control-override device, and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect when an object is proximate to a host-vehicle. The operator-detection device is operable to determine when an operator of the host-vehicle is aware of the object. The control-override device is operable to limit operator-authority of the operator while the operator is driving the host-vehicle. The controller is configured to operate the control-override device in accordance with the operator-authority to override the operator and avoid interference with the object when the operator is not aware of the object.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes a sensor, a data-source, and a controller. The sensor is installed in a host-vehicle. The sensor is operable to determine a state-of-awareness of an operator of the host-vehicle. The data-source provides route-data used for automated operation of the host-vehicle. The route-data includes a map and a control-rule for navigating the map. The controller is in communication with the sensor and the data-source. The controller is configured to operate the host-vehicle during automated operation of the host-vehicle in accordance with the route-data. The controller is also configured to modify the control-rule based on the state-of-awareness of the operator.

Abstract: A humanized steering system for an automated vehicle includes one or more steering-wheels operable to steer a vehicle, an angle-sensor configured to determine a steering-angle of the steering-wheels, a hand-wheel used by an operator of the vehicle to influence the steering-angle and thereby manually steer the vehicle, a steering-actuator operable to influence the steering-angle thereby steer the vehicle when the operator does not manually steer the vehicle, a position-sensor operable to indicate a relative-position an object proximate to the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the steering-angle and the relative-position, determine, using deep-learning techniques, a steering-model based on the steering-angle and the relative-position, and operate the steering-actuator when the operator does not manually steer the vehicle to steer the vehicle in accordance with the steering-model, whereby the vehicle is steered in a manner similar to how the operator manually steers the vehicle.

Abstract: A pedestrian-intent-detection system for automated operation of a host-vehicle (e.g. automated vehicle) includes an object-detection device and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect an object proximate to a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detection device. The controller is configured to determine when the object detected by the object-detection device is a pedestrian based on a detection-characteristic of the pedestrian indicated by the object-detection device. The controller is further configured to define a size of a caution-area located proximate to the pedestrian based on a behavior-characteristic (e.g. intent) of the pedestrian indicated by the object-detection device. The controller is further configured to operate (e.g. brake, steer) the host-vehicle in order to avoid the caution-area.

Abstract: A seasonal navigation system for an automated vehicle includes a memory and a controller. The memory is installed in a vehicle. The memory is programmed with a digital-map that defines a travel-lane of a roadway. The travel-lane is closed during a predetermined-event. The controller is installed in the vehicle. The controller is configured to operate the vehicle in accordance with the digital-map. The controller avoids the travel-lane during the predetermined-event.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes an object-detection device and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect an object in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle. The object-detection device is operable to vary a field-of-focus of the object-detection device used to observe a portion of the field-of-view. The controller is configured to determine, based on information received from the object-detection device, a travel-direction of the object relative to a travel-path of the host-vehicle. The controller is also configured to adjust the field-of-focus of the object-detection device based on the travel-direction.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a vehicle includes an infotainment-device and a controller. The infotainment-device is operable to provide an infotainment-activity to an operator of a vehicle. The controller is operable to estimate a take-over-interval for an operator to prepare for a mode-transition from automated-control of the vehicle by the controller to manual-control of the vehicle by the operator. The take-over-interval is determined based on the infotainment-activity of the operator. The controller is operable to notify the operator that the mode-transition is needed at least the take-over-interval prior to a take-over-time.

Abstract: A system to determine a vehicle-location of an automated vehicle includes a light-source, a sensor, and a controller. The light-source is located at a light-location that is observable from a roadway. The light emitted by the light-source is modulated to broadcast the light-location of the light-source. The sensor is mounted on a vehicle. The sensor is operable to detect the light in order to receive the light-location and determine a direction of the light relative to the vehicle and/or the roadway. The controller is configured to determine a vehicle-location of the vehicle based on the direction and the light-location.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes an object-sensor, a global-positioning-system (GPS) receiver, and a controller. The object-sensor is used to determine a first-polynomial indicative of a preferred-steering-path based on an object detected proximate to a host-vehicle. The GPS-receiver is used to determine a second-polynomial indicative of an alternative-steering-path based on a GPS-map. The controller is configured to steer the host-vehicle in accordance with the first-polynomial when the object is detected, and steer the host-vehicle in accordance with the second-polynomial when the object is not detected. The improvement allows the system to make use of a less expensive/less accurate version of the GPS-receiver, and a less complicated GPS-map than would be anticipated as necessary for automated steering of the host-vehicle using only the GPS-receiver and the GPS-map.

Abstract: A pedestrian-intent-detection system for automated operation of a host-vehicle (e.g. automated vehicle) includes an object-detection device and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect an object proximate to a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the object-detection device. The controller is configured to determine when the object detected by the object-detection device is a pedestrian based on a detection-characteristic of the pedestrian indicated by the object-detection device. The controller is further configured to define a size of a caution-area located proximate to the pedestrian based on a behavior-characteristic (e.g. intent) of the pedestrian indicated by the object-detection device. The controller is further configured to operate (e.g. brake, steer) the host-vehicle in order to avoid the caution-area.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes an object-detection device and a controller. The object-detection device is operable to detect an object in a field-of-view proximate to a host-vehicle. The object-detection device is operable to vary a field-of-focus of the object-detection device used to observe a portion of the field-of-view. The controller is configured to determine, based on information received from the object-detection device, a travel-direction of the object relative to a travel-path of the host-vehicle. The controller is also configured to adjust the field-of-focus of the object-detection device based on the travel-direction.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes a controller configured to operate the host-vehicle during automated operation of the host-vehicle. The controller is configured to do so in accordance with a parameter stored in the controller. The controller is also configured to determine when an operator of the host-vehicle uses a vehicle-control-input to override the controller and thereby operate the host-vehicle in a manner different from that which is in accordance with the parameter. The controller is also configured to modify the parameter in accordance with the manner of the operator.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a vehicle includes an infotainment-device and a controller. The infotainment-device is operable to provide an infotainment-activity to an operator of a vehicle. The controller is operable to estimate a take-over-interval for an operator to prepare for a mode-transition from automated-control of the vehicle by the controller to manual-control of the vehicle by the operator. The take-over-interval is determined based on the infotainment-activity of the operator. The controller is operable to notify the operator that the mode-transition is needed at least the take-over-interval prior to a take-over-time.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is configured to detect an other-vehicle proximate to a host-vehicle. The controller is in communication with the sensor. The controller is configured to determine a behavior-classification of the other-vehicle based on lane-keeping-behavior of the other-vehicle relative to a roadway traveled by the other-vehicle, and select a travel-path for the host-vehicle based on the behavior-classification. In one embodiment, the behavior-classification of the other-vehicle is based on a position-variation-value indicative of how much an actual-lane-position of the other-vehicle varies from a center-lane-position of the roadway. In yet another embodiment, the behavior-classification of the other-vehicle is based on a vector-difference-value indicative of how much a vehicle-vector of the other-vehicle differs from a lane-vector of the roadway.

Abstract: A system for automated operation of a host-vehicle includes a vehicle-control device, an object-detection device, and a controller. The vehicle-control device is operable to control one or more of acceleration of the host-vehicle, braking of the host-vehicle, and steering of the host-vehicle. The object-detection device is operable to detect a rearward-vehicle located behind the host-vehicle. The controller is configured to determine when the object-detection device indicates that a rear-end collision into the host-vehicle by the rearward-vehicle is imminent, and operate the vehicle-control device to reduce the effect of the rear-end collision experienced by an operator of the host-vehicle when the rear-end collision is imminent.