Overtaking assistance system for a vehicle, and method thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to an overtaking assistance system (100) for assisting a vehicle to efficiently perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to an obstacle or another vehicle, and a method thereof. The system (100) includes an obstacle detection device (102) configured to detect one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle, at least one imaging device (104) coupled to a side view mirror (206-1, 206-2) of the vehicle, and a control unit (106) configured to control the at least one imaging device (104) to capture a plurality of frames of the one or more obstacles based on detection of the one or more obstacles by the obstacle detection device (102). The control unit (106) is configured to notify a driver of the vehicle whether to perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the obstacles based on the plurality of frames captured by the imaging device (104).

Description

OVERTAKING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, AND METHOD THEREOFTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of vehicles, and more particularly to an overtaking assistance system for assisting a vehicle to efficiently perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to an obstacle or another vehicle, and a method thereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.

[0003] Overtaking is often a risky manoeuvre on national or rural two-lane roads with one lane per direction, causing a significant accident rate. Collision or accident rate may be pronounced when a vehicle shares the same preceding lane with several vehicles ahead at different speeds, and tries to overtake by temporally sharing the oncoming lane with a vehicle that comes in opposite direction.

[0004] When driving in a vehicle, it is very difficult for a driver of the vehicle to correctly evaluate the actual risk of overtaking another vehicle moving in a same direction of the vehicle. In particular when the vehicle is driving behind trucks, buses, minivans or minibuses, the overtaking manoeuvre is frequently made more difficult because the large automobile in front may make it impossible or difficult for the driver to see an opposite lane having oncoming traffic or any blind spots. Drivers must then frequently tilt their head to side windows before the overtaking manoeuvre, or must drive far into the opposite lane so as to be able to detect the oncoming traffic.

[0005] In modem vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) have been implemented to assist or instruct a driver to perform various driving manoeuvres. Overtaking assistance information may be collected either from rear view cameras or radars to avoid collisions into blind spot or with traffic coming from behind, or from front looking cameras or radars to avoid crashing into oncoming or preceding traffic.

[0006] However, such ADAS systems often involve intricate configurations of multiple sensors and electronic circuitries installed at various locations on body of the vehicle, thereby reducing reliability and availability of the vehicle. This also severely affects safety of passengers of the vehicle, since interference between signals of the electronic circuitries may lead to transmission of faulty or unresponsive information related to the overtaking manoeuvres to the driver. Such ADAS systems also fail to optimally function in low-light or inclement weather conditions. These conditions can make it difficult for the ADAS systems to detect and track the obstacles accurately, leading to false alarms or even missed warnings. Thus, the driver is always required to be prepared to control the vehicle in case of such missed warnings.

[0007] There is therefore a need to develop technologies, which are capable of addressing the above deficiencies associated with the conventional techniques for facilitating simple and cost-effective overtaking manoeuvres of vehicles. The present invention has been made in view of the need for overcoming such deficiencies.OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an overtaking assistance system for assisting a vehicle to efficiently perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to an obstacle or another vehicle, and a method thereof.

[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide an overtaking assistance system and a method for ensuring safety of the vehicle while performing an overtaking manoeuvre on a multi-lane road, by monitoring oncoming traffic as well as overtaking traffic at start of the overtaking manoeuvre.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide an overtaking assistance system and method for assisting a driver of the vehicle to efficiently perform the overtaking manoeuvre, in absence of a co-passenger, by alerting or notifying the driver of obstacles or vehicles present in a moving direction of the vehicle while performing the overtaking manoeuvre.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple and cost-efficient overtaking assistance system capable of notifying a driver of a vehicle of any obstacles present in blind spots located in the moving direction while performing the overtaking manoeuvre, and a method thereof.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to easily provide information regarding blind spots present in left or right side of the vehicle to the driver to prevent accidents and enhance safety of the vehicle.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide an overtaking assistance system capable of being retrofitted in existing vehicles, and a method thereof.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] An aspect of the present invention relates to an overtaking assistance system for a vehicle. The overtaking assistance system includes an obstacle detection device configured to detect one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle, at least one imaging device coupled to a side view mirror of the vehicle, and a control unit configured to control the at least one imaging device to capture a plurality of frames of the one or more obstacles based on detection of the one or more obstacles by the obstacle detection device. The control unit is configured to notify a driver of the vehicle whether to perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the one or more obstacles based on the plurality of frames captured by the at least one imaging device.

[0015] Another aspect of the present invention relates to an overtaking assistance method for a vehicle. The method includes detecting the one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle, controlling the at least one imaging device to capture the plurality of frames based on the detection, and notifying the driver whether to perform the overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the one or more obstacles based on the controlling.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the obstacle detection device is any of a proximity sensor or a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor. The obstacle detection device is coupled at a front portion of the vehicle.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit notifies the driver whether to perform the overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the one or more obstacles by displaying the plurality of frames captured by the imaging device on a display screen.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the side view mirror is any of a left-side view mirror or a right-side view mirror of the vehicle.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit controls the obstacle detection device to detect the one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle, based on actuation of a side indicator of the vehicle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[0020] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure.

[0021] In the figures, similar components and / or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

[0022] Fig. 1 illustrates exemplary schematic view representation of an overtaking assistance system for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate exemplary representations of hardware configuration of the overtaking assistance system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary representation of the vehicle provided with the overtaking assistance system travelling on a multi -lane road in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figs. 4A to 4D illustrate exemplary representations of the vehicle provided with the overtaking assistance system travelling on multi-lane roads while performing an overtaking manoeuvre, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0026] Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary flow chart representation of an overtaking assistance method for a vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0028] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.

[0029] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This disclosure may however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, all statements herein reciting embodiments of the disclosure, as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to encompass both structural and functional equivalents thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such equivalents include both currently known equivalents as well as equivalents developed in the future (i.e., any elements developed that perform the same function, regardless of structure).

[0030] Various terms as used herein are shown below. To the extent a term used in a claim is not defined below, it should be given the broadest definition persons in the pertinent art have given that term as reflected in printed publications and issued patents at the time of filing.

[0031] In some embodiments, the numerical parameters set forth in the written description and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by a particular embodiment. In some embodiments, the numerical parameters should be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques. Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of some embodiments of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as practicable. The numerical values presented in some embodiments of the invention may contain certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements.

[0032] The present invention relates to an overtaking assistance system for assisting a vehicle to efficiently perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to an obstacle or another vehicle, and a method thereof. The overtaking assistance system ensures safety of the vehicle while performing the overtaking manoeuvre on a multi-lane road, by monitoring oncoming traffic as well as overtaking traffic at start of the overtaking manoeuvre. The overtaking assistance system facilitates a driver of the vehicle to efficiently perform the overtaking manoeuvre, in absence of a co-passenger, by alerting or notifying the driver of obstacles or vehicles present in a moving direction of the vehicle while performing the overtaking manoeuvre.

[0033] Fig. 1 illustrates exemplary schematic view representation of an overtaking assistance system (100) for a vehicle. The system (100) includes an obstacle detection device (102) configured to detect one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle. The obstacle detection device (102) may include one or more distance measuring devices, such as, proximity sensors, Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors, and the like. The obstacle detection device (102) may be coupled at a front portion of the vehicle. The obstacle detection device (102) is capable of detecting presence of the obstacles, including any oncoming vehicle or overtaking vehicle in an adjacent lane, which would normally be present in a blind spot of any cameras installed at the front portion of the vehicle. The obstacle detection device (102) may be configured to detect the presence of the obstacles between distances of 30cm to 800cm from the front portion of the vehicle.

[0034] The system (100) includes at least one imaging device ( 104) coupled to a side view mirror of the vehicle. The side view mirror may be any of a left-side view mirror or a rightside view mirror of the vehicle. The imaging device (104) may include one or more cameras capable of capturing a plurality of frames of a point-of-view (POV) of the obstacles present in front of the vehicle. The imaging device (104) may have a POV of about 80° to 150°. Preferably, the imaging device (104) has a POV of about 100°.

[0035] The system (100) also includes a control unit (106) configured to control the imaging device (104) to capture the frames of the obstacles based on detection of the obstacles by the obstacle detection device (102). When the obstacle detection device (102) detects the presence of the obstacles before the front portion of the vehicle, the control unit (106) instructs the imaging device (104) to capture multiple frames of the obstacles, such as oncoming vehicle or overtaking vehicle in the adjacent lane. The control unit (106) is also configured to alert ornotify a driver of the vehicle whether performing an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the obstacles is possible or not, based on the frames captured by the imaging device (104). The control unit (106) may notify the driver by providing an audio-visual feedback or a tactile feedback to the driver. Preferably, the control unit (106) notifies the driver by displaying the frames captured by the imaging device (104) on a display screen (108) installed in a driver cabin of the vehicle. The control unit (106) may include a plurality of micro-processors and transceivers connected with the obstacle detection device (102), the imaging device (104) and the display screen (108) to carry out various operations for assisting the vehicle to perform successful overtaking manoeuvre. The display screen (108) may be a thin-film -transistor (TFT) display.

[0036] The control unit (106) controls the obstacle detection device (102) to detect the obstacles present in front of the vehicle, based on actuation of a side indicator of the vehicle. The control unit (106) assists the driver of the vehicle to perform the overtaking manoeuvre, in absence of any co-passenger, by notifying the driver of the obstacles or vehicles present in the blind spot located in moving direction of the vehicle. In this way, the control unit (106) facilitates the vehicle in a successful overtaking manoeuvre from a left side of the obstacles, without the requirement of the co-passenger.

[0037] Figs. 2A and 2B illustrate a top view and a right-side view of a vehicle (200) provided with components of the overtaking assistance system (100). The obstacle detection device (102) may be installed at the front portion (202) or in vicinity of a windshield (204) of the vehicle (200). The imaging devices (104) may be coupled to left-side view mirror (206-1) and right-side view mirror (206-1) of the vehicle. The display screen (108) may be installed on a dashboard of the vehicle (200) located near the windshield (204).

[0038] Referring now to Fig. 3, where the vehicle (200) provided with the overtaking assistance system (100) is shown travelling on a multi -lane road (302) having a first lane (302- 1) in which the vehicle (200) is travelling and a second lane (302-2) adjacent to the first lane (302-1) that may be used as an overtaking lane during the overtaking manoeuvre. The road (302) is separated by an adjacent road (304) for oncoming traffic by a divider (306). The obstacle detection device (102) continuously senses presence of any obstacles in front of the vehicle (200) moving in a forward direction. The imaging device (104) is normally switched off. As soon as an obstacle, such as a boulder or another vehicle, is detected by the obstacle detection device (102) in front of the vehicle (200) and the driver of the vehicle (200) actuatesthe side indicator for start of the overtaking manoeuvre, the obstacle detection device (102) sends a signal to the control unit (106) to switch on the imaging device (104) to capture the multiple frames of POV of the obstacles. Thereafter, the control unit (106) displays the frames on the display screen (108), in real-time, to provide the driver with necessary information for performing the overtaking manoeuvre. The information provided by the control unit (106) to the driver includes illustrations or POV of any blind spots present in left or right side of the vehicle to prevent accidents or collisions and ensure safety of the vehicle.

[0039] Fig. 4A illustrates the vehicle (200) provided with the overtaking assistance system (100), as shown in Fig. 3, travelling in the first lane (302-1) of the multi-lane road (302). When the vehicle (200) is required to move past any obstacle, such as another vehicle (also referred to as “obstacle vehicle” hereinafter) (400), the overtaking assistance system (100) facilitates the vehicle (200) in performing an overtaking manoeuvre involving moving into the second lane (302-1) and converging into the first lane (302-1) once the vehicle (200) has overtaken the obstacle vehicle (400). As shown in Fig. 4B, the obstacle detection device (102) continuously detects presence of the obstacle vehicle (400). When the driver of the vehicle (200) actuates or turns on a left-side indicator, the obstacle detection device (102) send a signal to the control unit (106) which switches the imaging device (104) installed in any of the left-side view mirror (206-1) or the right-side view mirror (206-2) of the vehicle (200) to capture images or frames of any blind spot not ordinarily visible to the driver of the vehicle (200). Conventionally, a copassenger is required to provide visual information regarding such blind spot to the driver. The control unit (106) displays the captured images showing the blind spot on the display screen (108) installed on the dashboard of the vehicle (200). In this way, the overtaking assistance system (100) provides relevant information regarding the blind spot to the driver of the vehicle (200) which allows the driver to perform successful overtaking manoeuvre by steering the vehicle (200) into the second lane (302-1) without the requirement of any visual information provided by the co-passenger, as shown in Fig. 4C, and converging the vehicle (200) into the first lane (302-1) once the vehicle (200) has overtaken the obstacle vehicle (400), as shown in Fig. 4D.

[0040] Also, as shown in Figs. 4A to 4D, the overtaking assistance system (100) may be installed or configured into other vehicles (200) moving in the adjacent road (304), to assist drivers of such vehicles (200). It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that although Figs. 4A to 4D illustrate the vehicle (200) performing the overtaking manoeuvre froma left side of the obstacle vehicle (400), the overtaking assistance system (100) is capable of facilitating the vehicle (200) to perform another overtaking manoeuvre from a right side of the obstacle vehicle (400) with the help of imaging device (104) coupled with the right-side view mirror (206-2) of the vehicle (200). Furthermore, although, Figs. 4A to 4D illustrate overtaking manoeuvres for left-hand side driving vehicles, the overtaking assistance system (100) is capable of facilitating right-hand side driving vehicles to perform successful overtaking manoeuvres with respect to obstacles present in the forward direction thereof.

[0041] Fig. 5 illustrates a flow chart representation of an overtaking assistance method (500) for a vehicle. The method (500) includes, at step (S502), detecting one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle. The obstacles are detected by the obstacle detection device (102). The method (500) also includes, at step (S504), controlling, by a control unit (106), at least one imaging device (104) coupled to a side view mirror of the vehicle to capture a plurality of frames ofthe one ormore obstacles based on the detection (S502), and at step (S506), notifying, by the control unit (106), a driver of the vehicle whether to perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the one or more obstacles based on the controlling (S504). The notifying step (S506) may include displaying the plurality of frames captured by the imaging device (104) on a display screen (108). The controlling step (S504) may include switching of the obstacle detection device (102) to detect the obstacles present in front of the vehicle, based on actuation of a side indicator of the vehicle.

[0042] The present invention provides for a simple, efficient and cost-efficient technique to facilitate safe and easy overtaking of vehicles. The overtaking assistance system and method of the present invention assist a vehicle to efficiently perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to an obstacle or another vehicle. The overtaking assistance system ensuring safety of the vehicle while performing the overtaking manoeuvre on a multi-lane road, by monitoring oncoming traffic as well as overtaking traffic at start of the overtaking manoeuvre. The overtaking assistance system allows a driver of the vehicle to perform the overtaking manoeuvre, even in absence of a co-passenger, by notifying the driver of obstacles or vehicles present in blind spots in a moving direction of the vehicle.

[0043] While embodiments of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the disclosure is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as described in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An overtaking assistance system (100) for a vehicle, comprising: an obstacle detection device (102) configured to detect one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle; at least one imaging device (104) coupled to a side view mirror (206-1, 206-2) of the vehicle; and a control unit (106) configured to control the at least one imaging device (104) to capture a plurality of frames of the one or more obstacles based on detection of the one or more obstacles by the obstacle detection device (102), wherein the control unit (106) is configured to notify a driver of the vehicle whether to perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the one or more obstacles based on the plurality of frames captured by the at least one imaging device (104).

2. The overtaking assistance system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obstacle detection device (102) is any of a proximity sensor or a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) sensor.

3. The overtaking assistance system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (106) notifies the driver whether to perform the overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the one or more obstacles by displaying the plurality of frames captured by the imaging device (104) on a display screen (108).

4. The overtaking assistance system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the obstacle detection device (102) is coupled at a front portion of the vehicle.

5. The overtaking assistance system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the side view mirror (206-1, 206-2) is any of a left-side view mirror (206-1) or a right-side view mirror (206- 2) of the vehicle.

6. The overtaking assistance system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (106) controls the obstacle detection device (102) to detect the one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle, based on actuation of a side indicator of the vehicle.

7. A overtaking assisting method (500) for a vehicle, comprising: detecting (S502), by an obstacle detection device (102), one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle; controlling (S504), by a control unit (106), at least one imaging device (104) coupled to a side view mirror of the vehicle to capture a plurality of frames of the one or more obstacles based on the detection (S502); and notifying (S506), by the control unit (106), a driver of the vehicle whether to perform an overtaking manoeuvre with respect to the one or more obstacles based on the plurality of frames.

8. The overtaking assistance method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the notifying (S506) comprises displaying the plurality of frames captured by the imaging device (104) on a display screen (108).

9. The overtaking assistance method (500) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controlling (S504) comprises switching of the obstacle detection device (102) to detect the one or more obstacles present in front of the vehicle, based on actuation of a side indicator of the vehicle.

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