Gm global technology operations llc (20240294167). VIRTUAL TETHERING FOR AUTONOMOUS CONVOY simplified abstract

VIRTUAL TETHERING FOR AUTONOMOUS CONVOY

Organization Name

gm global technology operations llc

Inventor(s)

Michael J. Reinker of Beverly Hills MI (US)

Ethan Thomas Dietrich of Oak Park MI (US)

Constandi J. Shami of Ann Arbor MI (US)

Reza Zarringhalam of Whitby (CA)

Milad Jalaliyazdi of Richmond Hill (CA)

Benjamin L. Williams of Milford MI (US)

VIRTUAL TETHERING FOR AUTONOMOUS CONVOY - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 20240294167 titled 'VIRTUAL TETHERING FOR AUTONOMOUS CONVOY

The method described in the patent application involves a vehicle providing indications and entering a tether operating mode to facilitate following another vehicle closely and maintaining a specific distance between them.

• Providing a request to be followed indication via the human-machine interface (HMI) in response to a request from a following vehicle.
• Sending a request to enter a tether operating mode via the HMI.
• Entering the tether operating mode and selecting a tether goal between the lead vehicle and the following vehicle.
• Displaying a tether mode indication on the HMI to show that the lead vehicle is in the tether operating mode.
• Monitoring the headway between the lead vehicle and the following vehicle.
• Adjusting a preplanned trajectory calculated by a driver assistance system to help the following vehicle reach and maintain the tether goal.
• Modifying the driver assistance system operation based on the headway compared to the tether goal.
• Generating control signals for vehicle actuators to control the lead vehicle and assist the following vehicle in maintaining the tether goal.

Potential Applications: - Autonomous driving systems - Vehicle platooning technology - Traffic management systems

Problems Solved: - Improving safety and efficiency in vehicle following scenarios - Enhancing communication between vehicles on the road - Optimizing traffic flow and reducing congestion

Benefits: - Increased fuel efficiency - Enhanced traffic safety - Improved traffic flow and reduced travel times

Commercial Applications: Title: "Enhanced Vehicle Following Technology for Safer and More Efficient Transportation" This technology can be used in autonomous vehicles, fleet management systems, and transportation logistics companies to improve efficiency and safety in vehicle following scenarios.

Questions about the technology: 1. How does this technology improve communication between vehicles on the road? - This technology enhances communication by providing clear indications and operating modes for vehicles to follow each other safely. 2. What are the potential implications of this technology on traffic management systems? - This technology could lead to more efficient traffic flow, reduced congestion, and improved overall transportation system performance.

Original Abstract Submitted

a method in a vehicle, includes: providing, via an hmi, a request to be followed indication responsive to receipt of a request to be followed from a following vehicle; providing, via the hmi, a request to enter a tether operating mode; entering the tether operating mode and selecting a tether goal between the lead vehicle and the following vehicle; providing, via the hmi, a tether mode indication that indicates that the lead vehicle is in the tether operating mode; monitoring a headway between the lead vehicle and following vehicle; adjusting a preplanned trajectory calculated by a driver assistance system to facilitate the following vehicle obtaining and maintaining the tether goal; modifying driver assistance system operation based on a level at which the headway is greater than the tether goal; and generating control signals for vehicle actuators to control the lead vehicle to facilitate the following vehicle maintaining the tether goal.