A vehicle computer includes a memory a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include commanding a lighting system controller to flash tail lamps of a host vehicle toward a follow vehicle immediately behind the host vehicle, receiving a response from the follow vehicle, and commanding the host vehicle to autonomously proceed to a loading area upon receipt of the response from the follow vehicle.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for detection of lane conditions vehicles in adaptive cruise control systems. An example vehicle includes a communication module for V2V communication, a camera for capturing images, and a controller. The controller is to identify a vehicle type of a lead vehicle based upon the images and determine a lead vehicle speed. The controller also is to send, via the communication module, an alert to the lead vehicle responsive to determining the lead vehicle is a passenger vehicle and the lead vehicle speed is less than a speed setting for activated adaptive cruise control.

A vehicle speed control device includes: a parallel running vehicle detection sensor; and an electronic control unit configured to perform (i) cruise control, (ii) parallel running vehicle detection processing, (iii) blind zone avoidance control for controlling the speed of the vehicle such that the vehicle is moved to a position behind a blind zone of the parallel running vehicle when the parallel running vehicle is detected, (iv) blind zone getting-out determination processing for determining whether the vehicle can move to a position ahead of the blind zone by traveling according to the cruise condition, and (v) avoidance cancellation processing for prioritizing the control of the speed by the cruise control over the control of the speed by the blind zone avoidance control when it is determined by the blind zone getting-out determination processing that the vehicle can move to the position ahead of the blind zone.

An adaptive cruise control system and method for controlling a speed of a vehicle includes determine a distance between a controlled vehicle a target vehicle with a distance sensor. An input sensor senses an input from a driver of the controlled vehicle in relation to the desired distance between the controlled vehicle and the target vehicle. An adaptive cruise control module receives a data set of a plurality of data points regarding the operation of the controlled vehicle. An artificial neural network is configured to receive the data set in response to the input from the driver being sensed and calculate a change in the desired distance in response to a change in at least one of the data points. A requested distance between vehicles is then changed based on at least one of the input from the driver and the calculated change in the desired distance by the artificial neural network.

A broadcasting system for an autonomous vehicle is disclosed and includes an antenna, a plurality of sensors, one or more processors, and a memory coupled to the processors. The antenna is configured to send and receive wireless communication, and the antenna receives publically available wireless signals. The sensors are configured to generate signals indicating a real-time velocity and a real-time direction of travel of the autonomous vehicle. The processors are in communication with the antenna and the plurality of sensors. The memory stores data comprising program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to receive as input the publically available wireless signals and the signals indicating the real-time velocity and the real-time direction of travel of the autonomous vehicle. The system is further caused to determine a real-time velocity and real-time direction of travel of autonomous vehicle.

The present invention relates to a method for determining an optimal speed to be reached for a first vehicle preceded by a second vehicle. For this method, the position, the speed and the acceleration of the second vehicle are measured (MES) in order to determine the trajectory thereof (POS), and a dynamic model (MOD) of the first vehicle is constructed. The speed to be reached (VIT) is then determined by minimizing (MIN) the energy consumption of the vehicle by means of the dynamic model (MOD), the minimization being constrained by the trajectory (POS) of the second vehicle.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for detection of lane conditions vehicles in adaptive cruise control systems. An example vehicle includes a communication module for V2V communication, a camera for capturing images, and a controller. The controller is to identify a vehicle type of a lead vehicle based upon the images and determine a lead vehicle speed. The controller also is to send, via the communication module, an alert to the lead vehicle responsive to determining the lead vehicle is a passenger vehicle and the lead vehicle speed is less than a speed setting for activated adaptive cruise control.

A vehicle computer includes a memory a processor programmed to execute instructions stored in the memory. The instructions include commanding a lighting system controller to flash tail lamps of a host vehicle toward a follow vehicle immediately behind the host vehicle, receiving a response from the follow vehicle, and commanding the host vehicle to autonomously proceed to a loading area upon receipt of the response from the follow vehicle.

A vehicle's accelerator pedal depression amount is detected; a speed limit of a road on which the vehicle is traveling is determined; a start of a lane change is estimated; an upper-limit speed is determined each time when the speed limit changes; and the travelling speed is controlled to not exceed the upper-limit speed even if the accelerator pedal depression amount increases to cause the speed of the vehicle to exceed the upper-limit speed. The speed of the vehicle is controlled, until a predetermined timing, to not exceed the upper-limit speed determined before the start of a lane change is estimated, if (i) the start of a lane change is estimated, and (ii) a reduction in the speed limit is determined. After the predetermined timing, the speed of the vehicle is controlled to not exceed the currently determined upper-limit speed.

A method is provided to control a first vehicle when the first vehicle is being overtaken. The method comprises determining whether a rear vehicle is overtaking; and controlling a speed of the first vehicle when it is determined that the rear vehicle is overtaking.