Active safety system and method for operating the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an active safety system and a method for operating the same. A method for use in an active safety system installed on a host vehicle is provided. The method comprises acquiring, for each of a plurality of target objects in the path of the host vehicle, a value of a parameter that is representative of a likelihood that the host vehicle will collide with the target object. In an exemplary embodiment, the parameter that is utilized comprises a time-to-collision between the host vehicle and the target object. The method further comprises evaluating one or more of the acquired parameter values to determine if the host vehicle is likely to collide with one or more of the target objects, and triggering one or more collision avoidance measures when it is determined that the host vehicle is likely to collide with one or more of the target objects. An active safety system configured to perform the methodology is also provided.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates generally to vehicle systems, and more particularly to active safety systems that account for objects in the path of a vehicle to avoid and / or mitigate collisions. Background technique [0002] Known active safety systems for use with vehicles - or they may also be referred to as collision avoidance systems - may include any number of features designed to help avoid, prevent and / or mitigate the vehicle (i.e. , a vehicle equipped with an active safety system) and other objects in the path of the own vehicle (eg, other vehicles referred to herein as "target vehicles"). For example, when it is determined that a collision between the host vehicle and an object is imminent, one or more collision avoidance measures, for example, providing an alert to the driver of the host vehicle and taking evasive actions related to the host vehicle itself (eg, automatically apply the vehicle's brakes), may be taken or performed to prevent or...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While this may help avoid collisions between the own vehicle and the closest target vehicle, in some cases the closest target vehicle may not pose the greatest collision threat to the own vehicle

More specifically, in certain situations where multiple target vehicles are in the path of the own vehicle, a hidden or unseen target vehicle in front of several vehicles may pose the greatest collision threat to the own vehicle

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