Predictive reasoning for controlling speed of a vehicle

摘要

Methods and systems for predictive reasoning for controlling speed of a vehicle are described. A computing device may be configured to identify a first and second vehicle travelling ahead of an autonomous vehicle and in a same lane as the autonomous vehicle. The computing device may also be configured to determine a first buffer distance behind the first vehicle at which the autonomous vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the first vehicle and a second buffer distance behind the second vehicle at which the first vehicle will substantially reach a speed of the second vehicle. The computing device may further be configured to determine a distance at which to adjust a speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the first and second buffer distances and the speed of the autonomous vehicle, and then provide instructions to adjust the speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
identifying a first vehicle travelling ahead of an autonomous vehicle; identifying a second vehicle ahead of the first vehicle, the first and second vehicles travelling in substantially a same lane as the autonomous vehicle; determining a first buffer distance, the first buffer distance being a minimal distance behind the first vehicle at which the autonomous vehicle is predicted to substantially reach a speed of the first vehicle; determining a second buffer distance, the second buffer distance being a minimal distance behind the second vehicle at which the first vehicle is predicted to substantially reach a speed of the second vehicle; determining a distance at which to adjust a speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the first and second buffer distances and the speed of the autonomous vehicle; and providing instructions by a computing device to adjust the speed of the autonomous vehicle based on the distance.