Abstract: Methods and apparatus provided for determining a current position of a vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus includes an autonomous driving system for a vehicle with a positioning system configured to determine a current position of the vehicle between an original point of the vehicle and a horizon point ahead the vehicle. The positioning system is configured to receive map data containing at least one road attribute, receive multiple trajectory points which are located between the original point and the horizon point and determine a trajectory which interconnects the multiple trajectory points, determine an absolute position of the vehicle, determine a projection point from the at least one road attribute onto the trajectory, and determine the current position of the vehicle and compare the current position of the vehicle with a position of the projection point of the road attribute between the original point and the horizon point.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a current object position module, an expected position module, and an object position comparison module. The current object position module can determine a first position of an object with respect to a position of a vehicle based upon sensor data generated by a first object detection sensor within the vehicle and determines a second position of the object with respect to the position of the vehicle based upon sensor data generated by a second object detection sensor. The expected object position module can determine an expected position of the object with respect to the position of the vehicle based upon the first position of the object. The object position comparison module can determine whether at least one object detection sensor is improperly installed within the vehicle based upon comparing the second position of the object with the expected position.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving image data from a camera device coupled to the autonomous vehicle; computing, by a processor, a value based on the image data; determining, by a processor, an existence of an emergency vehicle based on the computed value; selecting, by a processor, a first control strategy based on the determined existence of an emergency vehicle; and generating, by a processor, at least one signal to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle based on the control strategy.

Abstract: A system and method of determining a geographical location of a vehicle. The method carried out by the system includes: obtaining geographical coordinates of the vehicle; determining a lateral ground displacement within a roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; receiving geographical map data that includes one or more roadways including the roadway on which the vehicle is traveling; and adjusting the geographical coordinates of the vehicle based on the lateral ground displacement and the geographical map data.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling parking of an autonomous vehicle. A method of parking an autonomous vehicle includes receiving sensor data indicative of an exterior environment of the autonomous vehicle. The received sensor data is processed to determine a parking space characterization. Additional sensor data is received that is indicative of an occupant location within the autonomous vehicle. A processor determines a parking position within a parking space based on the parking space characterization and the occupant location. The processor generates control signals to operate one or more actuator devices to maneuver the autonomous vehicle into the parking space at the parking position.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes a propulsion system, at least one wheel brake, a sensor configured to detect objects external to the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is configured to, in response to the sensor detecting a first target vehicle in the path of the host vehicle and a second target vehicle in the path of the host vehicle, automatically control the propulsion system and the at least one wheel brake based on a first relative velocity associated with the first target vehicle, a first relative acceleration associated with the first target vehicle, a second relative velocity associated with the second target vehicle, and a second relative acceleration associated with the second target vehicle.

Abstract: Methods and systems for vehicle localization are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a navigation system configured to generate navigation data corresponding to a global position of the vehicle, at least one image sensor configured to capture image data of a selected roadway feature along a projected path of the vehicle, a database comprising map data corresponding to lateral and longitudinal coordinates for a plurality of roadway features along the projected path of the vehicle; and a controller, the controller configured to receive the image data, the map data, and the navigation data, calculate a first distance from the selected feature to the vehicle using the navigation data and the image data, calculate a second distance from the selected feature to the vehicle using the navigation data and the map data, and determine a localization error by comparing the first distance to the second distance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provided for determining a current position of a vehicle are disclosed. The apparatus includes an autonomous driving system for a vehicle with a positioning system configured to determine a current position of the vehicle between an original point of the vehicle and a horizon point ahead the vehicle. The positioning system is configured to receive map data containing at least one road attribute, receive multiple trajectory points which are located between the original point and the horizon point and determine a trajectory which interconnects the multiple trajectory points, determine an absolute position of the vehicle, determine a projection point from the at least one road attribute onto the trajectory, and determine the current position of the vehicle and compare the current position of the vehicle with a position of the projection point of the road attribute between the original point and the horizon point.

Abstract: A wrong-way determination system is disclosed. The wrong-way determination system includes a wrong-way determination module that is configured to determine a vehicle is traveling in a wrong direction when a current position of the vehicle with respect to a shape point does not exceed a width of a roadway and a deviation between a heading angle of the vehicle and a heading angle of the roadway exceeds a predetermined threshold. The wrong-way determination system also includes a mitigation module that is configured to generate a mitigation signal when the vehicle is traveling in the wrong direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving image data from a camera device coupled to the autonomous vehicle; computing, by a processor, a value based on the image data; determining, by a processor, one of a cleanliness and an uncleanliness of the autonomous vehicle based on the computed value; and selectively generating, by a processor, a signal to at least one of control the autonomous vehicle to navigate to a cleaning station and notify a user based on the determined one of cleanliness and uncleanliness of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling an autonomous vehicle. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving image data from a camera device coupled to the autonomous vehicle; computing, by a processor, a value based on the image data; determining, by a processor, an existence of an emergency vehicle based on the computed value; selecting, by a processor, a first control strategy based on the determined existence of an emergency vehicle; and generating, by a processor, at least one signal to autonomously control the autonomous vehicle based on the control strategy.

Abstract: A method for an autonomous vehicle to perform an autonomous parking maneuver is provided. The method includes operating the autonomous vehicle to a destination and then operating the autonomous vehicle to a first parking location at the destination utilizing stored first coordinates of the first parking location. Next the autonomous vehicle determines whether the first parking location is available and performs the autonomous parking maneuver at the first location when the first parking location is available.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for controlling parking of an autonomous vehicle. A method of parking an autonomous vehicle includes receiving sensor data indicative of an exterior environment of the autonomous vehicle. The received sensor data is processed to determine a parking space characterization. Additional sensor data is received that is indicative of an occupant location within the autonomous vehicle. A processor determines a parking position within a parking space based on the parking space characterization and the occupant location. The processor generates control signals to operate one or more actuator devices to maneuver the autonomous vehicle into the parking space at the parking position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a road layer position are provided. The method includes reading sensor information including at least one from among global navigation system (GNS) information, image sensor information, ambient light information and inertial measurement sensor information, and determining a road layer position of a vehicle from among a plurality of road layers corresponding to a location of the vehicle based on the sensor information.

Abstract: A method and sensor system are disclosed for automatically determining object sensor position and alignment on a host vehicle. A radar sensor detects objects surrounding the host vehicle in normal operation. Static objects are identified as those objects with ground speed approximately equal to zero. Vehicle dynamics sensors provide vehicle longitudinal and lateral velocity and yaw rate data. Measurement data for the static objects—including azimuth angle, range and range rate relative to the sensor—along with the vehicle dynamics data, are used in a recursive geometric calculation which converges on actual values of the radar sensor's two-dimensional position and azimuth alignment angle on the host vehicle.

Abstract: A system according to the principles of the present disclosure includes a current object position module, an expected position module, and an object position comparison module. The current object position module can determine a first position of an object with respect to a position of a vehicle based upon sensor data generated by a first object detection sensor within the vehicle and determines a second position of the object with respect to the position of the vehicle based upon sensor data generated by a second object detection sensor. The expected object position module can determine an expected position of the object with respect to the position of the vehicle based upon the first position of the object. The object position comparison module can determine whether at least one object detection sensor is improperly installed within the vehicle based upon comparing the second position of the object with the expected position.

Abstract: A method of arbitrating conflicting outputs in a redundant control system. Execution data of a task executed by each controller in the redundant control system is recorded. The execution data includes an initial timestamp of each execution stream, identification of critical functions in each execution stream, and parameter values used by the critical functions. A path executed by each controller is identified based only on the critical functions executed for each execution stream. The recorded execution data of each executed path is applied to an arbitration module. An output result from one of the respective controllers selecting, by an arbitration module, based on the recorded execution data of each executed path. The output result of the selected controller is communicated to a next module for further processing.

Abstract: A lane detection method includes: identifying locations of a lane line included in a first image captured using a first camera capturing images beside the vehicle, the first camera being mounted to a mirror that is movable; based on the locations of the lane line, determining a first linear equation corresponding to the lane line; determining a distance to the lane line based on the first linear equation; identifying locations of the lane line included in a second image captured using a second camera capturing images in front of the vehicle; based on the locations of the lane line, determining a second linear equation corresponding to the lane line; based on the first and second linear equations, determining an angle between first and second lines corresponding to the first and second linear equations, respectively; and determining a corrected distance to the lane line based on the distance and the angle.

Abstract: A method of diagnosing a state of health of a vision-based lane sensing system. A first misalignment factor is calculated as a function of a vehicle lateral offset and a vehicle heading. A second misalignment factor is calculated as a function of a vehicle speed, an estimated curvature of an expected path of travel, a lane curvature, and the vehicle heading. Histograms are generated for the first and second misalignment factors. A probability of a state of health is determined. A determination is made whether the probability of the state of health is within a predetermined threshold. An angle misalignment of the vision system is estimated. The angle misalignment of the vision system is corrected in response to the determination that the probability of the state of health is within the predetermined threshold; otherwise a warning of a faulty lane sensing system is actuated.

Abstract: Methods and systems for operating a lane sensing system for a vehicle having at least one side-mounted infrared light source are disclosed. One system includes an ambient light sensor configured to detect a light level condition of an environment surrounding the vehicle; an infrared light sensor configured to detect an infrared light reflection from a lane marker; and a controller in communication with the ambient light sensor, the infrared light source, and the infrared light sensor, the controller configured to receive sensor data corresponding to the light level condition, determine if the light level condition is below a threshold, command the infrared light source to illuminate if the light level condition is below the threshold, receive infrared reflection data from the infrared light sensor of infrared light reflected from at least one lane marker, and detect a lane boundary based on the infrared reflection data.