US 12,358,503 B2
Method for operating an automated vehicle
Christoph Keller, Stuttgart (DE); and Holger Mielenz, Ostfildern (DE)
Assigned to MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG, Stuttgart (DE)
Appl. No. 18/265,487
Filed by MERCEDES-BENZ GROUP AG, Stuttgart (DE)
PCT Filed Oct. 12, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/078189
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 6, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/122223, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 16, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2020 007 444.8 (DE), filed on Dec. 7, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0034317 A1, Feb. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B60Q 1/46 (2006.01); B60W 30/16 (2020.01); B60W 30/18 (2012.01); B60W 40/04 (2006.01); B60W 50/14 (2020.01); B60W 60/00 (2020.01)
CPC B60W 30/16 (2013.01) [B60W 50/14 (2013.01); B60W 2050/143 (2013.01); B60W 2050/146 (2013.01); B60W 2554/4041 (2020.02); B60W 2554/4045 (2020.02); B60W 2554/406 (2020.02); B60W 2754/30 (2020.02)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating an automated vehicle, the method comprising:
recording, by the automated vehicle, an area in front of the automated vehicle;
determining, based on the recording of the area in front of the automated vehicle, that traffic congestion lies ahead of the automated vehicle;
determining, when it is determined that the traffic congestion lies ahead of the automated vehicle, whether hazard lights of a following vehicle following the automated vehicle in a same lane as the automated vehicle are switched on; and
determining that a rear collision risk is lower when the hazard lights of the following vehicle are switched on than when the hazard lights of the following vehicle are switched off,
wherein when the hazard lights of the following vehicle are switched on, the automated vehicle increases its spacing from a vehicle driving ahead of the automated vehicle.