Control and systems for autonomously driven vehicles

Abstract

An autonomous controller for a vehicle. The controller has a processor configured to receive position signals from position sensors and to generate operation control signals defining an updated travel path for the vehicle. The controller has a programmable interface providing communication among the position sensors, the operation control mechanisms, and the processor. The controller is configured to normalize inputs to the processor from the position sensors and to generate compatible operation control signals applied as the inputs to the operation control mechanisms. The processor and the programmable interface define a self-contained unit configurable for operation with a variety of different remote sensors and different remote operation control mechanisms.

1 . A navigation system for an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
 an object sensor configured to generate object signals indicative of objects in a vicinity of the vehicle; and   a processor programmed with a route planning algorithm to   identify from said object signals a moving object in the vicinity of the vehicle,   identify in the vicinity of the vehicle a blind area where a field of view of the object sensor is blocked,   predict movement of the moving object in the blind area, and   calculate based on the predicted movement of the moving object in the blind area and a planned velocity of the vehicle an avoidance path of the vehicle to avoid collision with the moving object.