System and method of avoiding collisions

Abstract

A collision avoidance system including a control module, a first transmitting device connected to the control module, wherein the first transmitting device transmits a signal, a first receiving device connected to the control module, wherein the first receiving device receives a return of the signal transmitted from the first transmitting device and transmits a first return signal representative of the return to the control device, a second transmitting device connected to the control module, wherein the second transmitting device transmits a signal, and a second receiving device connected to the control module device, wherein the second receiving device receives a return of the signal transmitted from the second transmitting device and transmits a second return signal representative of the return to the control device, wherein the control module includes measurement circuitry used to measure the first and second return signals and display means for displaying a transverse location of an object as a function of said first and second return signals.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to sensor-based systems, and more particularly to a multi-sensor collision avoidance system which combines data from two or more sensors to provide range, range rate, or location information. [0003] 2. Background Information [0004] The roads are becoming more and more congested with vehicular traffic. As traffic congestion has increased, the number of accidents has also increased. Some of these accidents can be traced to driver inattentiveness or to the failure of the driver to see another vehicle. What is needed is a system and method for warning drivers of possible problems before the problems result in an accident. [0005] Systems for making drivers aware of objects external to their vehicle have been around for a long time. Mirrors, and sometimes combinations of mirrors, are being used to reveal locations hidden to the driver's view (i.e. “blind spots”). Mirrors, however, h...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The roads are becoming more and more congested with vehicular traffic.

As traffic congestion has increased, the number of accidents has also increased.

Some of these accidents can be traced to driver inattentiveness or to the failure of the driver to see another vehicle.

Mirrors, however, have a deficiency in that the driver can only look in one spot at any one time.

There is a similar problem with changing lanes.

Mirrors don't work well in changing lanes, particularly in tractor-trailer rigs, since, as soon as the rig begins to turn, the mirror that looked down along the side of the vehicle is directed into the side of the trailer and the driver is blinded to activity on that side of his truck.

The problem with backup alarms is that if you have somebody with a hearing problem, or if you had an immovable object such as a car or a trash container, the alarm isn't going to move that object out of the way.

The problem with the video system approach is that such systems are expensive (even if you use an inexpensive approach, it would likely cost into the $1,000-$1,500 price range) and video monitors mounted in the cab can distract the driver from what is happening outside his vehicle.

Finally, video lenses do not give depth perception.

So, when drivers are backing a vehicle, they don't know how close they are to an object they are trying to avoid.

A common problem with rear-mounted sensors to date is that sensors mounted on the rear of the vehicle detect the distance from the sensor to the object, not the perpendicular distance from the vehicle to the object.

In addition, these systems do not communicate to the driver the transverse location of the object (i.e., is the object directly behind the vehicle, off to the side, or far enough to the left or right that the driver will not hit it).

Furthermore, range measurement often does not exist, or is inaccurate.

The collision avoidance systems used to date are deficient in other ways as well.

That is, they either lack a forward-looking detection capability, lack range and range rate measurement capability or they lack sufficient detection capability around the periphery of the vehicle to eliminate blind spots.

Furthermore, even if present, range measurement often is inaccurate.

Finally, those systems which do have forward-looking detection are prone to a high rate of false alarms from the environment or to distracting off-the-road clutter.

Systems to date do not provide an adequate solution for the combination tractor-trailer rig.

This does not address the need in which tractors often are required to pull a multitude of trailers, some of which are owned by different companies, which are not likely to be equipped with any sensors.

Finally, systems to date lack the programmability to address the configuration and installation variables that influence the integrity of the sensor data.

Images