ROAD COLLISION PROTECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE PREVENTION OF ROAD COLLISIONS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates in general to a system for preventing collisions among vehicles in road networks, and more specifically for preventing collisions among vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions.

[0002] As known, unfortunately many road accidents happen every day for different reasons.

[0003] In order to mitigate such issue, which causes several damages and often also casualties, there has been developed a countless number of solutions aimed at improving road safety from different points of view.

[0004] For example, one category of solutions is mainly devised to contrast and mitigate the results of accidents, while another category of solutions, of the type of the present invention, is conceived to prevent as much as possible any potential collision.

[0005] CN108417090 A discloses an automatic vehicle pre-warning system for an intersection without a traffic light at night.

[0006] Although many solutions currently available on the market, either mounted directly on board of the vehicle and / or installed along road networks, have allowed on average an overall increase of road safety, there is still further room and needs for further improvements, in particular in certain practical circumstances, such as the ones occurring where the direct field of visibility is reduced, namely at road intersections, and especially in view of the recent development of the so-called driverless, or autonomous or self-driving vehicles.

[0007] Hence, the present invention is aimed at fulfilling at least partially such needs by providing a solution suitable to reduce the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions.

[0008] Within such aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a solution for reducing the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions, which is extremely flexible and can be applied to any type of road intersection, and with any type of vehicles, be them of the type with or without drivers.

[0009] Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a solution for reducing the possibility of collisions among two or more vehicles approaching a road intersection from different directions, which is efficient, highly reliable, easy to realize and at competitive costs.

[0010] This aim, the above indicated objects and others which may become apparent from the following description are achieved by a road anti-collision system as defined in independent claim 1.

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, which can be taken alone or in whatever possible combination, either partial or complete, and whose subject matter is to be understood as forming an integral part of the present description.

[0012] Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive exemplary embodiments of a system and a method according to the present disclosure, illustrated only by way of nonlimitative examples with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a road anti-collision system according to the present invention Figure 2 is a flow chart schematically illustrating a method for preventing road collisions according to an example; Figure 3 is a view schematically showing an exemplary application of the system according to the invention to a four-direction crossroad.

[0013] It should be noted that in the detailed description that follows, identical or similar components, either from a structural and / or functional point of view, may have the same reference numerals, regardless of whether they are shown in different embodiments of the present disclosure or a distinct parts.

[0014] It should also be noted that in order to clearly and concisely describe the present disclosure, the drawings may not necessarily be to scale and certain features of the disclosure may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

[0015] Further, when the term "adapted" or "arranged" or "configured" or "shaped", or a similar term is used herein while referring to any component as a whole, or to any part of a component, or to a combination of components, it has to be understood that it means and encompasses correspondingly either the structure, and / or configuration, and / or form, and / or positioning.

[0016] In particular, for electronic and / or software means, each of the above listed terms means and encompasses electronic circuits or parts thereof, as well as stored, embedded or running software codes and / or routines, algorithms, or complete programs, suitably designed for achieving the technical result and / or the functional performances for which such means are devised.

[0017] In addition, when the term "substantial" or "substantially" is used herein, it has to be understood as encompassing an actual variation of plus or minus 5% with respect to an indicated reference value or position, and when the terms transversal or transversally are hereby used, they have to be understood as encompassing a direction non-parallel to the reference part(s) or direction(s) / axis they refer to, and perpendicularity has to be considered a specific case of transverse direction.

[0018] Finally, in the following description and claims, the numeral cardinals first, second, third et cetera..., will be used only for the sake of clarity of description and in no way they should be understood as limiting for whatsoever reason; in particular, the indication of a component referred to for instance as the "fourth ..." does not imply necessarily the presence or strict need of the preceding "first" or "second" or "third" ones, unless such presence is clearly evident for the correct functioning of the relevant embodiment(s) described, nor that the order should be the one exactly in the numerical sequence described with reference to the illustrated exemplary embodiment(s).

[0019] As illustrated in figure 1, the road anti-collision system according to the present invention, schematically indicated by the overall reference number 1, comprises at least: a signal transceiver apparatus 10 which is installed at or close to a road intersection 100; a signal transmitting apparatus, indicated by the reference number 20, which is configured at least to transmit, to the signal transceiver apparatus 10, one or more first signals S i indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A) and leading to the road intersection 100.

[0020] In practice, the signal transmitting apparatus 20 is configured to provide one or more first signals S i indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along a first direction leading to the road intersection 100, be the first device stopped along the first direction (A) e.g. at a traffic light, or moving towards the road intersection 100.

[0021] The signal transceiver apparatus 10 is configured, based on the one or more first signals S i which are received in input from the first signal transmitting apparatus 20, to emit one or more corresponding first light signals LS 1 carrying information indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A), and in particular of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A); such first light signals LS 1 are transmitted at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is located along a second direction leading to the road intersection 100 transversally with respect to the first direction.

[0022] The control system 1 according to the present invention further comprises a signal receiving apparatus 30 which is installed on board of the second vehicle 102 and is configured at least first to detect and then to process the one or more first light signals LS 1 in order to extract from the detected signals, the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).

[0023] In practice, according to the invention, the intensity of the first light signals LS 1 is suitably modulated and the modulated light signals LS 1 are emitted at least in a second direction, indicated in figure 3 by the arrow (B), which is different from the first direction indicated in figure 3 by the arrow (A), and in particular towards a second vehicle 102 which is for example stopped at or is approaching the road intersection 100 along the second direction (B), while the first vehicle 101 is stopped at or is approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), and hence there is the possibility that the vehicles may intersect their paths when entering the road intersection 100.

[0024] The information indicative of the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A) can include static and or dynamic parameters, for example data related, but not limited, to only the actual presence of the first vehicle 101, and / or about its actual status, e.g. stopped / moving, and / or about its speed, distance from the road intersection, et cetera.

[0025] According to a possible embodiment of the control system 1, and as schematically illustrated in figure 1, the signal transceiver apparatus 10 comprises at least: at least one first light emitting source 11 which is installed at or close to the road intersection 100 and which is suitably oriented to emit in the second direction (B) towards the second vehicle 102, the one or more corresponding first light signals LS 1 ; and at least one first electronic device 12 which is configured, based on the one or more first signals S i received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus 20, to drive the first light emitting source 11 to emit the one or more first light signals LS 1 ; in particular, the electronic device 12 suitably modulates the intensity of the emitted signals LS 1 so that they carry out the information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A)

[0026] In one possible embodiment, the signal transceiver apparatus 10 is part, at least partially, of one or more traffic lights 120 installed at the road intersection 100.

[0027] In particular, the first light emitting source 11 is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps 125 of a traffic light 120 installed at the road intersection 100.

[0028] According to a possible embodiment, the first light emitting source 11 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.

[0029] Accordingly, the one or more lamps 125 are conveniently LED-based lamps.

[0030] According to a possible embodiment, the whole signal transceiver apparatus 10 is part of the structure of a traffic light structure 120 installed at the road intersection 100.

[0031] According to an alternative embodiment, the first light emitting source 11 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source.

[0032] According to this embodiment, the one or more lamps 125 can be laser-based lamps.

[0033] In turn, the signal receiving apparatus 30 comprises at least: an optical detector 32 which is mounted on-board of the second vehicle 102 and is configured to detect the one or more first light signals LS 1 emitted by the signal transceiver apparatus 10; and at least one second electronic device 34, also mounted on board of the second vehicle 102, which is configured to process said one or more first light signals LS 1 received in input by the on-board optical detector 32 and to extract from there the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 present along the first direction (A).

[0034] Usefully, in one embodiment, the at least one second electronic device 34 is further configured to generate a control signal S c suitable for triggering an action by a driver or by an automatic on-board control system 103 of the second vehicle 102, based on the information extracted from the intensity modulated signals LS 1 received in input by the on-board optical detector 32.

[0035] For instance, the control signal Sc can be provided for example to the control and / or navigation system installed on-board of the second vehicle 102, or to the driver thereof, and it can trigger any needed action, such a slowing down or a braking action actuated by the driver or automatically by the mentioned on-board system.

[0036] According to a possible embodiment, the control system 1 comprises a second light emitting source 36 which is mounted onboard of the second vehicle 102 and is oriented to emit one or more second light signals LS 2 towards a further vehicle, schematically represented in figure 3 by a dotted box 103, trailing the second vehicle 102 along the second direction (B).

[0037] Accordingly, the at least one second electronic device 34 is further configured to drive the second light emitting source 36 to emit one or more second light signals LS 2 whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).

[0038] In practice, according to this embodiment, the second electronic device 34 modulates properly the intensity of the second light signals LS 2 in order to convey to the trailing vehicle 103 the relevant information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the direction (A).

[0039] According to an embodiment, the second light emitting source 36 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.

[0040] In a possible embodiment, the second light emitting source 36 is part of or is constituted by one or more of the backlights of the second vehicle 102, and in particular such backlights can be LED-based.

[0041] Alternatively, the second light emitting source 36 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source, be it part of or forming the backlights 104, or an additional device.

[0042] According to a possible embodiment, and in particular when the road intersection 100 includes more than two roads leading thereto, such as in the case of the fourroad cross-road 100 illustrated in figure 3, the signal transceiver apparatus 20 comprises a plurality of first light emitting sources 11 which are all installed at or close to the road intersection 100.

[0043] Conveniently, each of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11 is associated to, and in particular is oriented each to emit the respective first light signals LS 1 in a corresponding direction (B), (C), (D) et cetera, leading to the road intersection 100 transversally with respect to the first direction (A).

[0044] In one possible embodiment, each first light emitting source 11 is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps 125 of a corresponding traffic light 120 installed at the road intersection 100, and in particular each is associated to a corresponding traffic light signal 120 assigned to a dedicated direction heading to the road intersection 100.

[0045] In the example illustrated in figure 3 there are represented only two traffic lights 120; clearly similar traffic lights can be associated to the other two directions (C) and (D) therein indicated.

[0046] According to a possible embodiment, some of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11, preferably all, comprise or are constituted each by a LED-based light emitting source.

[0047] Accordingly, the one or more lamps 125 playing also the function of light emitting sources 11 are conveniently LED-based lamps.

[0048] According to an alternative embodiment, some of the plurality of second light emitting sources 11, preferably all, comprise or are constituted each by a laser-based light emitting source, and the one or more lamps 125 playing also the function of light emitting sources 11 can be conveniently laser-based lamps.

[0049] According to this embodiment, the at least one first electronic device 12 comprises one or more electronic devices configured, based on the one or more first signals S i received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus 20, to drive the plurality of first light emitting sources 11 to emit, along the associated direction (B), (C), (D) et cetera, each the respective first light signals LS 1 whose intensity is modulated to carry out the information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).

[0050] As those skilled in the art would easily appreciate, the at least one first electronic device 12 can comprise a unique electronic device 12 driving all light emitting sources 11, or it can comprises two or more substantially identical first electronic devices 12, each driving one or more associated light emitting sources 11.

[0051] In this way, the relevant information relative to the presence of a vehicle 101 stopped at or moving towards the road intersection 100 along the direction (A), is made available to the vehicles that are stopped or are approaching the same road intersection 100, along the other directions (B), (C), (D), et cetera.

[0052] According to a first possible embodiment, the signal transmitting apparatus 20 comprises a detector 22 which is installed in a fixed position, namely outside the first vehicle 101 and is configured to detect the presence of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A) and to send, in input to the first transceiver apparatus 10, the first signals S 1 indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the first direction (A).

[0053] In particular, the detector 22 comprises a sensor selected from the group comprising, but not limited to, a proximity sensor, a speed sensor, a radar or any other sensor providing relevant information about the dynamical status of the vehicle.

[0054] According to this embodiment, the detector 22, as well an any circuitry associated therewith, can be mounted off board of the first vehicle 101, at any suitable position relative to the vehicle, for instance at the level of the road surface as illustrated in the example of figure 3, or on a side along the direction (A), e.g. on a pole 106, or elsewhere.

[0055] Accordingly, the first signals S 1 indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 can be transmitted to the signal transceiver apparatus 10 by means of any suitable technology implemented by the type of detector 25 used, either wireless or wired depending on the specific application and / or needs.

[0056] According to the invention, the first signal transmitting apparatus 20 is installed at least partially, preferably completely, on board of the first vehicle 101.

[0057] In this case, for example the role of the detector 22 can be played by the odometer or by any GPS device installed on board.

[0058] According to the invention, the first signal transmitting apparatus 20 comprises at least: a further light emitting source, indicated in figure 1 by the dotted box 24; and a further electronic device, indicated in figure 1 by the dotted box 26, which is configured to drive the further light emitting source 24 to emit, towards the signal transceiver apparatus 10, one or more further light signals LS 3 whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 along the direction (A).

[0059] According to the invention, the further light emitting source 24 of the first signal transmitting apparatus 20 is part of or is constituted by one or more of the headlights 108 of the first vehicle 101.

[0060] In particular, according to an embodiment, the further light emitting source 24 comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.

[0061] Accordingly, and hence such headlights 108 can be LED-based.

[0062] Alternatively, the further light emitting source 24 comprises or is constituted by a laser-based light emitting source, be it part of or forming a headlight 108 of the first vehicle 101, or an additional device, the latter no constituting matter within the scope of the claimed invention Further, according to this embodiment, and as those skilled in the art can easily appreciate, it is possible to install on board of the first vehicle 101 also an additional signal receiving apparatus, like the apparatus 30 mounted on board of the second vehicle 102, in order to receive light signals carrying information about the presence of the second vehicle 102 along the direction (B); the additional signal receiving apparatus can be also equipped with the same components described above for the second vehicle 2 and needed to further propagate the information received along the direction (A) to a respective trailing vehicle.

[0063] Figure 2 illustrates a method 200 for preventing road collisions at a road intersection 100, according to an example, which can be executed for example by the various parts of the system 1 previously described.

[0064] In particular, the method 200 comprises at least the following steps: 210: transmitting, for example by means of a first signal transmitting apparatus 20, one or more first signals S i indicative of the dynamical status of a first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along a first direction (A) leading to the road intersection 100; 220: emitting, for example by means of a signal transceiver apparatus 20 which is installed at or close to said road intersection 100 and based on the transmitted one or more first signals S i , one or more first light signals LS 1 carrying information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle 102 which is located along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A), and leading to the road intersection (100); and, by means of a signal receiving apparatus 30 which is installed on board of said second vehicle 102: 230: detecting, the one or more first light signals LS 1 ; and then 240: processing the one or more first light signals LS 1 detected extracting the information carried indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 located along the first direction (A).

[0065] In particular, the step 220 of emitting comprises modulating the intensity of the one or more first light signals LS 1 to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).

[0066] In one embodiment, the step 240 of processing comprises demodulating the one or more first signals LS 1 and extracting the information carried indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle 101 approaching the road intersection 100 along the first direction (A).

[0067] Conveniently, in one embodiment, the method 200 comprises the further step 250 of generating, based on the information extracted from the processed one or more first light signals LS 1 , a control signal Sc suitable for triggering an action by a driver by of an automatic on-board control system of the second vehicle 102.

[0068] Clearly, in case of a road intersection with more than two roads involved, the various steps above indicated can be functionally replicated for each and any direction leading to the road intersection 100, likewise it was described for the system 1.

[0069] Further, the method 200 can implement in term of steps each of the functionalities described in connection with the various parts of the system 1, which are not hereby replicated and described again as part of the method 200, for the sake of conciseness.

[0070] Hence, it is evident from the foregoing description that the control system 1 according to the present invention allows achieving the intended aim and objects since they make possible to properly and timely inform and warn any vehicle of the presence of another vehicle in proximity of a road intersection, thus mitigating the possibility of accidents.

[0071] These results are achieved according to a solution which can be applied to any type of road intersection, and with any type of vehicles, be them of the type with drivers, with autonomous guide, or with mixed type of control. Further, it can exploit components already used for other functionalities, such as the lamps of traffic lights and the lights of the vehicles.

[0072] In particular, the use of visible light communication, is efficient, highly reliable, easy to realize and at competitive costs. Indeed, the first light signals LS 1 can be emitted precisely in a selected direction, and in particular only towards the recipient that needs to receive the relevant information, namely the second vehicle 102 which is the first one in proximity of the road intersection, thus inherently increasing the safety of communication; further, thanks to the intrinsic large width of the transmission band of such type of communication, relevant data are transferred at very high speed and processed at very low latencies.

[0073] The system 1 thus conceived is susceptible of modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept as defined by the appended claims.

[0074] For example, in connection to a specific application, one or more of the described apparatuses can be realized each as a whole, unique and stand-alone device, or some of the components can be positioned remotely from each other, e.g. as separated devices operatively associated to each other to realize the relevant apparatus; the first traffic lights can be of any type other than pole-mounted, for instance they can be suspended above the central part of the road intersection 100; any light emitting source which might be used on board of a vehicle can be a light source additional to the headlights or backlights of the vehicle; for instance, the first light source can be any light source with sufficient modulation bandwidth. Further, the various electronic devices previously described can be constituted by, or comprise, any suitable processor-based device, e.g. a processor of a type commercially available, suitably programmed and provided to the extent necessary with circuitry, in order to perform the innovative functionalities devised for the system 1 according to the present invention; in addition, the electronic devices mounted on board of a vehicle can be part of the control system installed on-board of the vehicle itself, or each can be a separated unit specifically dedicated to the functionalities provided for it.

[0075] All the details may furthermore be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. A road anti-collision system (1), comprising at least: - a signal transceiver apparatus (10) which is installed at or close to a road intersection (100); - a signal transmitter apparatus (20) which is configured at least to transmit, to said signal transceiver apparatus (10), one or more first signals (Si) indicative of the dynamical status of a first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along a first direction (A) leading to the road intersection (100); wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) is configured, based on the one or more first signals (Si) received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus (10), to emit one or more corresponding first light signals (LS1) carrying information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A), at least towards a second vehicle (102) which is along a second direction (B) different from the first direction (A) and leading to the road intersection (100); and - a signal receiving apparatus (30) which is installed on board of said second vehicle (102) and is configured at least first to detect and then to process the one or more first light signals (LS1) for extracting the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A); the road anti-collision system (1) being characterized in that said first signal transmitting apparatus (20) comprises at least: - a light emitting source (24); and - an electronic device (26) which is configured to drive the light emitting source (24) to emit one or more further light signals (LS3) whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A) leading to the road intersection (100), wherein said light emitting source (24) of the first signal transmitting apparatus (20) is part of or is constituted by one or more of the headlights (108) of the first vehicle (101).

2. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) comprises at least: - at least one first light emitting source (11) which is installed at or close to said road intersection (100) and is oriented to emit towards said second vehicle (102) along the second direction (B), the one or more corresponding first light signals (LS1); and - at least one first electronic device (12) which is configured, based on the one or more first signals (Si) received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus (20), to drive said at least one first light emitting source (11) to emit one or more first light signals (LS1) whose intensity is modulated to carry out said information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).

3. The system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one first light emitting source (11) of the signal transceiver apparatus (10) is part of or is constituted by one or more lamps (125) of a traffic light (120) installed at said road intersection (100).

4. The system (1) according to one or more of the claims 2 and 3, wherein said at least one first light emitting source (11) of the signal transceiver apparatus (10) comprises or is constituted by a LED-based light emitting source.

5. The system (1) according to one or more of the claims 2 to 4, wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) is integrated in the structure of one or more traffic lights (120) installed at said road intersection (100).

6. The system (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said signal receiving apparatus (30) comprises at least: - an optical detector (32) which is mounted on board of the second vehicle (102) and is configured to detect the one or more first light signals (LS1) emitted by the signal transceiver apparatus (10); and - at least one second electronic device (34) which is configured to process said one or more first light signals (LS1) received in input from said on board optical detector (32) and to extract there from the carried information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).

7. The system (1) according to claim 6, wherein said at least one second electronic device (34) is further configured to generate, based on the information extracted from the one or more first light signals (LS1) received in input from the onboard optical detector (32), a control signal (Sc) suitable for triggering an action by a driver or by an on-board control system of said second vehicle (102).

8. The system (1) according to one or more of the claims 5 and 6, wherein it further comprises a second light emitting source (36) which is mounted on board of the second vehicle (102) and is oriented to emit one or more second light signals (LS2) towards a further vehicle (103) trailing the second vehicle (102) along the second direction (B); and wherein the at least one second electronic device (34) is further configured to drive said second light emitting source (36) to emit the one or more second light signals (LS2) whose intensity is modulated to carry out information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).

9. The system (1) according to claim 8, wherein said second light emitting source (36) is a LED-based light emitting source.

10. The system (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said signal transceiver apparatus (10) comprises a plurality of first light emitting sources (11) which are installed at or close to said road intersection (100) and are oriented each to emit one or more corresponding first light signals (LS1) in an associated direction (B, C, D) leading to the road intersection (100) transversally with respect to the first direction (A); and wherein the at least one first electronic device (12) comprises one or more electronic devices configured, based on the one or more first signals (Si) received in input from the signal transmitting apparatus (20), to drive the plurality of first light emitting sources (11) to emit the respective one or more first light signals (LS1) whose intensity is modulated to carry out said information indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101) approaching the road intersection (100) along the first direction (A).

11. The system (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein the signal transmitting apparatus (20) comprises a detector (22) which is installed in a fixed position and is configured to detect the presence of the first vehicle (101) and to send in input to said first transceiver apparatus (10) said one or more first signals (Si)indicative of the dynamical status of the first vehicle (101).