Presented are embedded control systems with logic for computation and data sharing, methods for making/using such systems, and vehicles with distributed sensors and embedded processing hardware for provisioning automated driving functionality. A method for operating embedded controllers connected with distributed sensors includes receiving a first data stream from a first sensor via a first embedded controller, and storing the first data stream with a first timestamp and data lifespan via a shared data buffer in a memory device. A second data stream is received from a second sensor via a second embedded controller. A timing impact of the second data stream is calculated based on the corresponding timestamp and data lifespan. Upon determining that the timing impact does not violate a timing constraint, the first data stream is purged from memory and the second data stream is stored with a second timestamp and data lifespan in the memory device.

A method for training a deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm. The method includes: providing training data for training the deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm, wherein the training data comprise sensor data; training, by a machine learning method, the deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm based on the training data; and subsequently optimizing at least one parameter of the trained deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm based on a non-differentiable cost function.

A method for training a deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm. The method includes: providing training data for training the deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm, wherein the training data comprise sensor data; training, by a machine learning method, the deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm based on the training data; and subsequently optimizing at least one parameter of the trained deep-learning-based machine learning algorithm based on a non-differentiable cost function.

A method for operating a driver assistance system, performing a driver assistance function of a motor vehicle. The driver assistance function is activable by the driver only if at least one activation criterion is satisfied and is automatically deactivated if at least one deactivation criterion is satisfied. If the driver assistance system is activable, then a piece of activability information indicating the activability is output to the driver and a projected activity time before the onset of a deactivation criterion is ascertained and is output together with the activability information. A reliability value for the activity time is determined at the projected activity time and the output of the activability information and/or of the activity time is adjusted on the basis of the reliability value.

Provided is a vehicle control method that performs basic self-driving control configured to automatically control the travel of a host vehicle based on an intervehicle distance between the host vehicle and a preceding vehicle. When a traffic jam on a travel lane of the host vehicle is detected, low torque travel control configured to cause the host vehicle to travel by a drive torque lower than a drive torque determined based on the basic self-driving control is performed, and when the intervehicle distance exceeds, in the low torque travel control, a predetermined upper limit distance larger than a set during-vehicle-stop intervehicle distance serving as a reference for the start or the stop of the host vehicle in the basic self-driving control, the low torque travel control is switched to the basic self-driving control.

Provided is a vehicle control method that performs basic self-driving control configured to automatically control the travel of a host vehicle based on an intervehicle distance between the host vehicle and a preceding vehicle. When a traffic jam on a travel lane of the host vehicle is detected, low torque travel control configured to cause the host vehicle to travel by a drive torque lower than a drive torque determined based on the basic self-driving control is performed, and when the intervehicle distance exceeds, in the low torque travel control, a predetermined upper limit distance larger than a set during-vehicle-stop intervehicle distance serving as a reference for the start or the stop of the host vehicle in the basic self-driving control, the low torque travel control is switched to the basic self-driving control.

A vehicle controller includes: a recognizer (121,122) configured to recognize a distance to a stop position as a first distance on the basis of an image captured by an imaging unit that images the front of a vehicle; and a braking distance estimator (123B) configured to estimate a braking distance to the stop position on the basis of the first distance recognized by the recognizer at a predetermined time point and a second distance acquired on the basis of a speed of the vehicle and to adjust a degree of reflection of the second distance in the braking distance on the basis of the first distance recognized by the recognizer after the predetermined time point.

A vehicle controller includes: a recognizer (121,122) configured to recognize a distance to a stop position as a first distance on the basis of an image captured by an imaging unit that images the front of a vehicle; and a braking distance estimator (123B) configured to estimate a braking distance to the stop position on the basis of the first distance recognized by the recognizer at a predetermined time point and a second distance acquired on the basis of a speed of the vehicle and to adjust a degree of reflection of the second distance in the braking distance on the basis of the first distance recognized by the recognizer after the predetermined time point.

Herein is disclosed a slack distribution system comprising one or more sensors, configured to deliver sensor data to one or more processors in a first vehicle; a wireless communication circuit, configured to wirelessly transmit to a second vehicle; one or more processors, configured to determine from at least the sensor data, during first vehicle deceleration, a slack distance between the first vehicle and the second vehicle; and when the slack distance is less than a predetermined threshold, to cause the wireless communication circuit to transmit to the second vehicle a slack request message, wherein the slack request message is a request to change the slack distance.

Vehicles may have the capability to navigate according to various levels of autonomous capabilities, the vehicle having a different set of autonomous competencies at each level. In certain situations, the vehicle may shift from one level of autonomous capability to another. The shift may require more or less driving responsibility from a human operator. Sensors inside the vehicle collect human operator parameters to determine an alertness level of the human operator. An alertness level is determined based on the human operator parameters and other data including historical data or human operator-specific data. Notifications are presented to the user based on the determined alertness level that are more or less intrusive based on the alertness level of the human operator and on the urgency of an impending change to autonomous capabilities. Notifications may be tailored to specific human operators based on human operator preference and historical performance.