US 11,988,525 B2
Autonomous vehicle with automated following of person outside vehicle
Stuart C. Salter, White Lake, MI (US); Brendan F. Diamond, Grosse Pointe, MI (US); Marguerite Kimball, Brighton, MI (US); Annette L. Huebner, Highland, MI (US); and John R. Van Wiemeersch, Novi, MI (US)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 23, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/678,381.
Prior Publication US 2023/0266145 A1, Aug. 24, 2023
Int. Cl. G01C 21/00 (2006.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01); G06V 20/58 (2022.01)
CPC G01C 21/387 (2020.08) [B60W 60/001 (2020.02); G06V 20/58 (2022.01); B60W 2554/4041 (2020.02)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Apparatus for controlling movement of a vehicle,
comprising:
an exterior monitoring system comprising at least one sensor to monitor an exterior region and to detect a location of a target user;
a controller configured to A) interactively map an activity zone having a selected expanse in the exterior region relative to the vehicle, wherein the activity zone is interactively adapted to a task being performed by the target user by selecting a boundary size and shape for the activity zone according to movements associated with the task, B) compare a monitored location of the target user to the activity zone, C) detect a relocation event when the comparison of the monitored location of the target user to the activity zone exceeds a predetermined deviation, D) send a navigation command in response to detecting the relocation event in order to autonomously reposition the vehicle so that a relative location of the target user is restored to the activity zone, and E) maintain the vehicle stationary when the relocation event is not detected.