Method for controlling a vehicle in accordance with parameters preferred by an identified driver

Abstract

A method for controlling a vehicle includes providing a plurality of sensors and a control at an equipped vehicle and identifying a driver present in the vehicle and capable of operating the vehicle. When the control is not operating in a driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the vehicle, and responsive to processing data received at the data processor, a personalized parameter set is created for the identified driver based on how the identified driver operates the equipped vehicle during determined driving conditions. When the control is operating in a driving assist mode, and responsive to a current driving condition of the vehicle, the vehicle is controlled (i) in accordance with the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle and (ii) in accordance with data processing of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors.

1 . A method for controlling a vehicle, said method comprising:
 providing a plurality of sensors at an equipped vehicle, the plurality of sensors sensing exterior of the equipped vehicle;   wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one forward viewing image sensor;   capturing, via the plurality of sensors, data;   providing a control at the equipped vehicle that is operable in a driving assist mode;   wherein the control, when operating in the driving assist mode, at least in part controls driving of the equipped vehicle;   wherein the control, when not operating in the driving assist mode, allows for driver control of driving of the equipped vehicle;   providing a data processor at the equipped vehicle for processing data captured by the plurality of sensors;   identifying to the data processor a driver present in the equipped vehicle and capable of operating the equipped vehicle;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, determining driving conditions while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, providing to the data processor information pertaining to operation by the identified driver of the equipped vehicle while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, and responsive to processing data received at the data processor, creating a personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle based on how the identified driver operates the equipped vehicle during the determined driving conditions;   wherein the determined personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises how the equipped vehicle accelerates, decelerates and steers while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver during the determined driving conditions; and   when the control is operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle is not operating the equipped vehicle, and responsive to a current driving condition of the equipped vehicle, controlling the equipped vehicle (i) in accordance with the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle and (ii) in accordance with data processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein, when the control is operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle is not operating the equipped vehicle, controlling the equipped vehicle comprises controlling the equipped vehicle in accordance with information that has been provided to the data processor pertaining to operation by the identified driver of the equipped vehicle while the equipped vehicle was driven by the identified driver. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein creating the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises creating the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle by learning, while the identified driver is driving the equipped vehicle, at least one parameter indicative of the identified driver's preference for operation of or use of at least one accessory or system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, while the identified driver is driving the equipped vehicle, learning at least one parameter of the personalized parameter set in accordance with information that has been provided to the data processor pertaining to operation by the identified driver of the equipped vehicle while the equipped vehicle was driven by the identified driver. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control, when operating in the driving assist mode, provides at least one of (i) adaptive cruise control for the equipped vehicle, (ii) lane keep assist for the equipped vehicle and (iii) lane centering for the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control, when operating in the driving assist mode, is operable to at least in part control (i) acceleration of the equipped vehicle, (ii) braking of the equipped vehicle and (iii) steering of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, providing to the data processor information pertaining to (i) acceleration of the equipped vehicle by the identified driver, (ii) braking of the equipped vehicle by the identified driver and (iii) steering of the equipped vehicle by the identified driver. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the determined personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of (i) how rapidly the equipped vehicle, when driven by the identified driver, accelerates if a preceding vehicle changes lane and is no longer in the lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (ii) how aggressively the equipped vehicle, when driven by the identified driver, decelerates after a cut-in by another vehicle into the lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, and (iii) how the speed of the equipped vehicle, when driven by the identified driver, is adjusted responsive to approach of the equipped vehicle to road curves ahead of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors, determining (i) information pertaining to distance to other vehicles present exterior the equipped vehicle, (ii) information pertaining to traffic signs present in the field of sensing of the plurality of sensors, (iii) information pertaining to a road surface characteristic of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (iv) information pertaining to lane geometry of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling and (v) information pertaining to a width of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors, determining, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least the forward viewing image sensor of the plurality of sensors, information pertaining to lane geometry of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors, determining information pertaining to road curvature of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling ahead of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the data processor comprises an image processor, and wherein information pertaining to road curvature ahead of the equipped vehicle is established, at least in part, by processing by the image processor of image data captured by the forward viewing image sensor of the plurality of sensors, and wherein the forward viewing image sensor is disposed at a windshield of the equipped vehicle and views through the windshield and forwardly in the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set and in accordance with data processing by the data processor comprises controlling the equipped vehicle in a semi-autonomous mode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set and in accordance with data processing by the data processor comprises controlling the equipped vehicle in an autonomous mode. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized parameter set comprises an acceleration preference of the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle and a deceleration preference of the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set comprises at least one of (i) controlling a lane keep assist system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set, (ii) controlling a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set, (iii) controlling a lane centering system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set and (iv) controlling an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the personalized parameter set comprises a plurality of parameters, and wherein said method comprises selecting an appropriate one of the plurality of parameters responsive to a current driving condition of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the driving condition comprises a nighttime driving condition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the driving condition comprises one of (i) a rain driving condition and (ii) a snow driving condition. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a plurality of sensors comprises providing a plurality of radar sensors at the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing a plurality of sensors comprises providing a plurality of image sensors at the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         22 . A method for controlling a vehicle, said method comprising:
 providing a plurality of sensors at an equipped vehicle, the plurality of sensors sensing exterior of the equipped vehicle;   wherein providing a plurality of sensors comprises providing a plurality of radar sensors at the equipped vehicle;   wherein providing a plurality of sensors comprises providing a plurality of image sensors at the equipped vehicle;   wherein the plurality of image sensors comprises at least one forward viewing image sensor;   capturing, via the plurality of sensors, data;   providing a control at the equipped vehicle that is operable in a driving assist mode;   wherein the control, when operating in the driving assist mode, at least in part controls driving of the equipped vehicle;   wherein the control, when not operating in the driving assist mode, allows for driver control of driving of the equipped vehicle;   providing a data processor at the equipped vehicle for processing data captured by the plurality of sensors;   identifying to the data processor a driver present in the equipped vehicle and capable of operating the equipped vehicle;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, determining driving conditions while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, providing to the data processor information pertaining to operation by the identified driver of the equipped vehicle while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, and responsive to processing data received at the data processor, creating a personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle based on how the identified driver operates the equipped vehicle during the determined driving conditions;   wherein the determined personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises how the equipped vehicle accelerates, decelerates and steers while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver during determined driving conditions;   when the control is operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle is not operating the equipped vehicle, and responsive to a current driving condition of the equipped vehicle, controlling the equipped vehicle (i) in accordance with the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle and (ii) in accordance with data processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors;   wherein creating the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises creating the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle by learning, while the identified driver is driving the equipped vehicle, at least one parameter indicative of the identified driver's preference for operation of or use of at least one accessory or system of the equipped vehicle; and   wherein learning the at least one parameter comprises learning the at least one parameter in accordance with information that has been provided to the data processor pertaining to operation by the identified driver of the at least one accessory or system of the equipped vehicle while the equipped vehicle was driven by the identified driver.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the determined personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of (i) how rapidly the equipped vehicle, when driven by the identified driver, accelerates if a preceding vehicle changes lane and is no longer in the lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (ii) how aggressively the equipped vehicle, when driven by the identified driver, decelerates after a cut-in by another vehicle into the lane along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, and (iii) how the speed of the equipped vehicle, when driven by the identified driver, is adjusted responsive to approach of the equipped vehicle to road curves ahead of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors, determining (i) information pertaining to distance to other vehicles present exterior the equipped vehicle, (ii) information pertaining to traffic signs present in the field of sensing of the plurality of sensors, (iii) information pertaining to a road surface characteristic of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (iv) information pertaining to lane geometry of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (v) information pertaining to a width of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling and (vi) information pertaining to lane geometry of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , comprising, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors, determining information pertaining to road curvature of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling and ahead of the equipped vehicle, and wherein information pertaining to road curvature ahead of the equipped vehicle is established, at least in part, by processing by the processor of image data captured by the forward viewing image sensor of the plurality of image sensors, and wherein the forward viewing image sensor is disposed at a windshield of the equipped vehicle and views through the windshield and forwardly in the direction of forward travel of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein controlling the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set comprises at least one of (i) controlling a lane keep assist system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set, (ii) controlling a lane departure warning system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set, (iii) controlling a lane centering system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set and (iv) controlling an adaptive cruise control system of the equipped vehicle in accordance with the personalized parameter set. 
     
     
         27 . A method for controlling a vehicle, said method comprising:
 providing a plurality of sensors at an equipped vehicle, the plurality of sensors sensing exterior of the equipped vehicle;   wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one forward viewing image sensor;   capturing, via the plurality of sensors, data;   providing a control at the equipped vehicle that is operable in a driving assist mode;   wherein the control, when operating in the driving assist mode, at least in part controls driving of the equipped vehicle;   wherein the control, when not operating in the driving assist mode, allows for driver control of driving of the equipped vehicle;   providing a data processor at the equipped vehicle for processing data captured by the plurality of sensors;   identifying to the data processor a driver present in the equipped vehicle and capable of operating the equipped vehicle;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, determining driving conditions while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, providing to the data processor information pertaining to operation by the identified driver of the equipped vehicle while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver;   when the control is not operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver is operating the equipped vehicle, and responsive to processing data received at the data processor, creating a personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle based on how the identified driver operates the equipped vehicle during the determined driving conditions;   determining, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors, approach of the equipped vehicle to road curves ahead of the equipped vehicle;   wherein the determined personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises how the equipped vehicle accelerates, decelerates and steers while the equipped vehicle is driven by the identified driver during the determined driving conditions;   wherein the determined personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises how the speed of the equipped vehicle, when driven by the identified driver, is adjusted responsive to approach of the equipped vehicle to road curves ahead of the equipped vehicle;   when the control is operating in the driving assist mode and the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle is not operating the equipped vehicle, and responsive to a current driving condition of the equipped vehicle, controlling the equipped vehicle (i) in accordance with the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle and (ii) in accordance with data processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors;   wherein the control, when operating in the driving assist mode, is operable to at least in part control (i) acceleration of the equipped vehicle, (ii) braking of the equipped vehicle and (iii) steering of the equipped vehicle; and   wherein the control, when operating in the driving assist mode, provides at least one of (i) adaptive cruise control for the equipped vehicle, (ii) lane keep assist for the equipped vehicle and (iii) lane centering for the equipped vehicle.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , comprising, via processing by the data processor of data captured by at least some of the plurality of sensors, determining (i) information pertaining to distance to other vehicles present exterior the equipped vehicle, (ii) information pertaining to traffic signs present in the field of sensing of the plurality of sensors, (iii) information pertaining to a road surface characteristic of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (iv) information pertaining to lane geometry of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling, (v) information pertaining to a width of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling and (vi) information pertaining to lane geometry of the lane of the road along which the equipped vehicle is traveling. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein creating the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle comprises creating the personalized parameter set for the identified driver present in the equipped vehicle by learning, while the identified driver is driving the equipped vehicle, at least one parameter indicative of the identified driver's preference for operation of or use of at least one accessory or system of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the personalized parameter set comprises a plurality of parameters, and wherein said method comprises selecting an appropriate one of the plurality of parameters responsive to a current driving condition of the equipped vehicle.