Abstract: A system that classifies driver driving skill based on lane-change maneuvers. The system reads vehicle sensor signals. The system determining that the vehicle has made a lane-change maneuver using the vehicle sensor signals and then classifies the driver's driving skill using selected discriminant features obtained or derived from the lane-change maneuver.

Abstract: A system for classifying a driver's driving skill of a vehicle based on behavioral diagnosis. A plurality of vehicle sensors providing vehicle measurement signals. A maneuver qualification and identification processor qualifies and identifies characteristic maneuver identifying signals and a maneuver index and parameter processor creates a maneuver index and identifies relevant vehicle parameters. A path reconstruction processor reproduces an intended vehicle path for each characteristic maneuver identified by the maneuver characteristic processor. A maneuver model processor models the characteristic maneuvers and a driving skill diagnosis processor provides driving skill signals based on the maneuver model and driver input data. The driving skill diagnosis processor converts the maneuver model signals and the driver command input signal to the frequency domain to provide frequency content discrepancy analysis.

Abstract: A system that classifies driver driving skill based on U-turn maneuvers. The system reads sensor signals for vehicle speed and vehicle yaw rate. The system determining that the vehicle has made a U-turn maneuver using the vehicle speed signal and the yaw-rate signal and then classifies the driver's driving skill using selected discriminant features obtained or derived from the U-turn maneuver.

Abstract: A system that classifies driver driving skill based on on-ramp or off-ramp maneuvers. The system reads sensor signals for vehicle speed and vehicle yaw rate. The system determines that the vehicle has made an on-ramp or off-ramp maneuver using the vehicle speed signal and the yaw-rate signal and then classifies the driver's driving skill using selected discriminant features obtained or derived from the on-ramp or off-ramp maneuver.

Abstract: A skill characterization processor classifies driver skill based stop and go maneuvers. A maneuver identification processor determines whether the vehicle is in a braking maneuver, and the system determines the vehicle longitudinal deceleration, the brake pedal position and the brake pedal rate from the brake pedal position. The skill characterization processor then classifies the driver's driving skill based on the brake pedal rate, the brake pedal position and the vehicle longitudinal deceleration generally under normal driving conditions. In one embodiment, the processor classifies driver skill by performing frequency analysis on the brake pedal rate using a discrete Fourier transform to find a frequency component of the brake pedal rate to obtain a power spectrum density.

Abstract: A system that classifies driver driving skill based on left/right turning maneuvers. The system reads sensor signals for vehicle speed and vehicle yaw rate. The system determining that the vehicle has made a left/right-turn maneuver using the vehicle speed signal and the yaw-rate signal and then classifies the driver's driving skill using selected discriminant features obtained or derived from the left/right-turn maneuver.

Abstract: A method for determining a driver's driving skill of a vehicle using transmission shift information. The method includes providing an ideal transmission shift map based on throttle position and vehicle speed. The method also includes monitoring an actual transmission shift point performed by the driver and comparing an actual transmission shift point to the transmission shift map to identify a shift-error distance on the map. The method also includes comparing the shift-error distance to a predetermined threshold and classifying the driver's driving skill based on the comparison of the shift-error distance to the threshold.

Abstract: A system and method that classifies driver driving skill based on backup maneuvers. The system determines a vehicle speed signal and a vehicle backup gear position. The system determines that the vehicle has made a backup maneuver using the vehicle speed signal and the backup gear position and then classifies the driver's driving skill using selected discriminant features obtained or derived from the backup maneuver.

Abstract: A system and method that classifies a driver's driving skill based on curve-handling maneuvers. The curve-handling maneuvers can be identified based on the drivers steering activity, vehicle yaw motion and a change in the vehicle heading direction.

Abstract: A system and method that classify driver driving skill based on multiple types of maneuvers. An original features generation processor receives signals identifying driving characteristics of the driver of the vehicle and outputs original features from the signals. A features extraction processor extracts certain features from the original features and outputs transformed features. A features selection processor selects certain ones of the transformed features and outputs final features and a classifier classifies the final features to determine the skill level of the vehicle driver.

Abstract: A vehicle stability enhancement system that is adapted for an estimated driver workload. The system includes a driver workload estimation processor that estimates the driver workload based on certain factors, such as the vehicle speed or driver-behavior factors. The driver workload estimation is used to adjust the damping ratio and natural frequency in dynamic filters in a command interpreter to adjust a desired yaw rate signal and a desired side-slip signal. The driver workload estimation is also used to generate a yaw rate multiplication factor and a side-slip multiplication factor that modify a yaw rate stability signal and a side-slip stability signal in a feedback control processor that generates a stability control signal.

Abstract: A system and method for providing autonomous and remote vehicle maintenance and repair. The system employs an on-board diagnosis and prognosis module that monitors one or more vehicle buses to identify trouble codes and other information indicating a vehicle problem. The on-board module causes a telematic device on the vehicle to broadcast a message including a problem code that identifies the problem the vehicle is having. A remote repair center may receive the message and may identify a software upgrade patch associated with the problem that can be transmitted to the vehicle to upgrade its software to correct the problem. Also, the message may be received by another vehicle that is part of a broadcast network that has previously received the software upgrade patch to fix a problem on that vehicle, where the receiving vehicle may transmit the software upgrade patch to the vehicle having the problem.

Abstract: A vehicle stability enhancement system that is adapted for an estimated driver workload. The system includes a driver workload estimation processor that estimates the driver workload based on certain factors, such as the vehicle speed or driver-behavior factors. The driver workload estimation is used to adjust the damping ratio and natural frequency in dynamic filters in a command interpreter to adjust a desired yaw rate signal and a desired side-slip signal. The driver workload estimation is also used to generate a yaw rate multiplication factor and a side-slip multiplication factor that modify a yaw rate stability signal and a side-slip stability signal in a feedback control processor that generates a stability control signal.

Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that classifies a driver's driving style based on vehicle stopping maneuvers. The system reads sensor signals to provide a vehicle speed and determines whether the vehicle is currently in straight line driving or curve driving. If the vehicle is in straight line or curve driving and the vehicle speed is less than a speed threshold, the system determines that the vehicle is in an accelerating or decelerating maneuver. The system then determines that the accelerating and decelerating maneuver has ended if the vehicle is not in straight line or curve driving or the vehicle speed signal is less than the speed threshold. The system can then classify the vehicle accelerating and decelerating maneuver using select discriminate features.

Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that classifies a driver's driving style based on vehicle stopping maneuvers. The system reads sensor signals to provide a vehicle speed and a vehicle longitudinal deceleration. The system determines whether an average of the vehicle longitudinal deceleration during a time window is greater than a longitudinal deceleration threshold and, if not, determines that the vehicle is in the stopping maneuver. The system then determines that the stopping maneuver has ended if the vehicle speed signal during another time window is less than a speed threshold. The style characterization processor can then classify the vehicle stopping maneuver using selected discriminant features.

Abstract: A method for estimating the maximum tire/road surface coefficient of friction for a vehicle that includes actively inducing a small amount of acceleration or deceleration to the front wheels or the rear wheels of the vehicle and inducing a corresponding and opposite amount of acceleration or deceleration to the other of the front wheels or the rear wheels of the vehicle so that the acceleration and deceleration cancel each other and the perceived speed of the vehicle does not change. The tire/road surface coefficient of friction and a wheel-slip ratio can be used to determine a road surface condition.

Abstract: A vehicle includes vehicle systems each having driver-selectable vehicle system settings (VSS), and a control system for statistically modeling the VSS to determine an identity of a driver. The control system automatically controls a setting of at least one of the vehicle systems using or based on the identity. The control system statistically models the VSS for the driver over time to produce a historical driver profile (HDP) for the driver, and can automatically update the HDP when said driver manually changes any one of the VSS. An optional driver identification device can verify the identity. A method for controlling a predetermined onboard system of a vehicle includes collecting a set of VSS for a plurality of onboard systems, processing the VSS through a statistical modeling algorithm to determine an identity of a driver of the vehicle, and automatically controlling a predetermined onboard system using the identity of the driver.

Abstract: A system and method for providing proactive vehicle system management and maintenance using diagnostic and prognostic information. Vehicle information is collected from vehicle sensors and/or sub-systems by an on-board module on the vehicle and/or at a remote facility where the information is wirelessly transmitted to the remote facility. The collected information is analyzed to determine the health of various systems, sub-systems and components so that the remaining useful life of the systems, sub-systems and components can be predicted. By utilizing the diagnostic and prognostic information, a vehicle control strategy can be reconfigured to minimize customer impact. Further, if a software problem is detected, temporary or permanent software fixes can be provided automatically and remotely through a remote service garage.

Abstract: An adaptive control VGR steering system that varies the steering gear ratio between a vehicle hand-wheel angle and the road wheel angle based on vehicle speed and one or more of hand-wheel angle, driver attentiveness and a driver's driving style and skill.

Abstract: An adaptive vehicle control system that classifies a driver's driving style based on vehicle passing maneuvers. A process determines whether the vehicle has started a lane change from a first lane to a second lane as a first phase of the passing maneuver. If so, the process determines whether the lane change to the second lane has been completed as a second phase of the passing maneuver. If the lane change to the second lane has been completed, the process determines whether there has been a lane change back to the first lane to complete the passing maneuver as a third phase of the passing maneuver. Further, the process determines whether a time threshold has been exceeded after the passing maneuver is in a second phase, but no lane change back to the first lane has occurred.