295 results about "Collision warning systems" patented technology

A method of estimating a time to collision (TTC) of a vehicle with an object comprising: acquiring a plurality of images of the object; and determining a TTC from the images that is responsive to a relative velocity and relative acceleration between the vehicle and the object.

A system for detecting a collision in an intersection. The system includes a plurality of vehicle detection sensors, a base station and a warning signal apparatus. The plurality of vehicle detection sensors are positioned preceding the intersection for detecting and transmitting velocity and position data of at least two vehicles. The base station is for receiving the velocity and position data of the vehicles so as to process the velocity and position data of the vehicles to determine the probability of the vehicles colliding. The base station transmits a warning signal when the probability exceeds a threshold. The warning signal apparatus is positioned preceding the intersection. The warning signal receives the warning signal from the base station to alert a driver of one of the vehicles of an imminent collision.

A trailer based collision warning system includes one or more side object detection sensors, one or more backup assist sensors, a driver vehicle interface, and trailer-mounted display units operating essentially independent of the tractor with all detection and warning system equipment mounted on the trailer. The trailer based collision warning system is coupled to industry-standard tractor to trailer wiring to provide the trailer with power and signals such as left turn indication and right turn indication. The side and rear sensors detect the presence and location of objects and transfer this information to a driver vehicle interface device located on the trailer. The system can also be equipped with video cameras with a means of automatically activating the camera in the area where a hazard condition has been detected. The driver vehicle interface determines the nature of the information and / or warning needed by the driver and provides this information in the form of signals sent to displays that can to assist the driver in safely maneuvering the trailer. The collision warning system can also operate in a security mode.

A method in a computerized system including an image sensor mounted in a moving vehicle. The image sensor captures image frames consecutively in real time. In one of the image flames, a spot is detected of measurable brightness; the spot is matched in subsequent image frames. The image frames are available for sharing between the computerized system and another vehicle control system. The spot and the corresponding spot are images of the same object. The object is typically one or more of headlights from an oncoming vehicle, taillights of a leading vehicle, streetlights, street signs and / or traffic signs. Data is acquired from the spot and from the corresponding spot. By processing the data, the object (or spot) is classified. producing an object classification. The vehicle control system controls preferably headlights of the moving vehicle based on the object classification. The other vehicle control system using the image frames is one or more of: lane departure warning system, collision warning system and / or ego-motion estimation system.

A method is provided for preventing a collision between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. The method uses a camera and a processor mountable in the motor vehicle. A candidate image is detected. Based on a change of scale of the candidate image, it may be determined that the motor vehicle and the pedestrian are expected to collide, thereby producing a potential collision warning. Further information from the image frames may be used to validate the potential collision warning. The validation may include an analysis of the optical flow of the candidate image, that lane markings prediction of a straight road, a calculation of the lateral motion of the pedestrian, if the pedestrian is crossing a lane mark or curb and / or if the vehicle is changing lanes.

The invention discloses an early warning method and a device for vehicle collision. The early warning method is characterized in that the method comprises the following steps: after a vehicle is fired, colliding an early warning system to begin initializing each parameter, using an OBD information collection module, a sensor information collection module and a GPS information collection module to collect information of the vehicle, using an inter-vehicle information exchange module to collect peripheral vehicle information, sending the information of the vehicle to the peripheral vehicles, calculating individualized collision probability according to self state of a driver, and warning the driver; and the device consists of the OBD information collection module, the sensor information collection module, the GPS information collection module, the inter-vehicle information exchange module, an information exchange module in the vehicles, a collision detection module and a vehicle collision warning module. Each module exchanges information in the vehicle through a wireless local area network in the vehicle, does not change an electric line of the vehicle and does not increase wire harness inside the vehicle, and can effectively reduce occurrence of traffic accidents, so as to reduce casualties.

The present invention involves methods and systems for issuing a collision warning to a driver at timing based on the driver's attitude level. The methods involve the steps of determining the driver attitude level based on the driver's actions in a plurality of driving conditions, determining timing for issuing warning based on the driver attitude level, and issuing warning based on the determined timing. The systems include a first device for collecting data associated with driver attitude, and a second device connected to the first device for determining a driver attitude level. The second device includes a processor for processing the data by applying pre-determined algorithm to determine the driver attitude level. The systems may further include a third device connected to the second device for determining timing for issuing warning corresponding to the driver attitude level, and issuing a warning according to the determined timing. Alternatively or additionally, the third device may include a software for enabling a determination of the rate of change in terms of acceleration and deceleration, and a control for affecting the rate of change. Further, the third device may include a software for enabling a determination of a safety distance and a distance control.

A method in a computerized system including an image sensor mounted in a moving vehicle. The image sensor captures image frames consecutively in real time. In one of the image flames, a spot is detected of measurable brightness; the spot is matched in subsequent image frames. The image frames are available for sharing between the computerized system and another vehicle control system. The spot and the corresponding spot are images of the same object. The object is typically one or more of headlights from an oncoming vehicle, taillights of a leading vehicle, streetlights, street signs and / or traffic signs. Data is acquired from the spot and from the corresponding spot. By processing the data, the object (or spot) is classified. producing an object classification. The vehicle control system controls preferably headlights of the moving vehicle based on the object classification. The other vehicle control system using the image frames is one or more of: lane departure warning system, collision warning system and / or ego-motion estimation system.

A system for detecting a collision in an intersection includes a plurality of vehicle detection sensors, a base station and a warning signal apparatus. The plurality of vehicle detection sensors are positioned preceding the intersection for detecting and transmitting velocity and position data of at least two vehicles. The base station is for receiving the velocity and position data of the vehicles so as to process the velocity and position data of the vehicles to determine the probability of the vehicles colliding. The base station transmits a warning signal when the probability exceeds a threshold. The warning signal apparatus is positioned preceding the intersection. The warning signal receives the warning signal from the base station to alert a driver of one of the vehicles of an imminent collision.

A system and method for detecting a collision is provided. The system includes a system vehicle equipped with onboard equipment directed towards gathering vehicle information necessary to predict the path of the vehicle, a roadside infrastructure having a plurality of roadside sensors selectively distributed throughout the infrastructure so as to detect objects and gather information about the detected objects necessary to predict the path of the detected objects. A path predicting circuit is in communication with the system vehicle and the roadside infrastructure. The path predicting circuit processes information from the system vehicle and roadside infrastructure to predict the path of the system vehicle and detected objects. The path predicting circuit is in communication with a path collision circuit and the predicted paths are mapped on the path collision circuit so as to determine if the system vehicle may possibly collide with a detected object.

A method is provided for preventing a collision between a motor vehicle and a pedestrian. The method uses a camera and a processor mountable in the motor vehicle. A candidate image is detected. Based on a change of scale of the candidate image, it may be determined that the motor vehicle and the pedestrian are expected to collide, thereby producing a potential collision warning. Further information from the image frames may be used to validate the potential collision warning. The validation may include an analysis of the optical flow of the candidate image, that lane markings prediction of a straight road, a calculation of the lateral motion of the pedestrian, if the pedestrian is crossing a lane mark or curb and / or if the vehicle is changing lanes.

Methods of assessing driver behavior include monitoring vehicle systems and driver monitoring systems to accommodate for a driver's slow reaction time, attention lapse and / or alertness. When it is determined that a driver is drowsy, for example, the response system may modify the operation of one or more vehicle systems. The systems that may be modified include: visual devices, audio devices, tactile devices, antilock brake systems, automatic brake prefill systems, brake assist systems, auto cruise control systems, electronic stability control systems, collision warning systems, lane keep assist systems, blind spot indicator systems, electronic pretensioning systems and climate control systems.

A method of estimating a time to collision (TTC) of a vehicle with an object comprising: acquiring a plurality of images of the object; and determining a TTC from the images that is responsive to a relative velocity and relative acceleration between the vehicle and the object.

A collision warning system (10) discriminates between objects which pose a threat of collision from those which do not by measuring the relative sightline rate of the object, this being a measure of the rate of change of angular position of the object if the sightline rate is above a threshold value, there is little risk of collision. To measure the sightline rate, a radar source (20) emits microwave frequency radiation which is received by two detectors (22 and 24) after reflection from a target. Signals from the detectors are processed by processing means (26). The processing means determines if the sightline rate of an object is below a certain threshold. If it is, and the relative velocities of the object and the system are such that a collision is likely, a warning buzzer (28) sounds.

A system for detecting a pedestrian is provided. The system includes a base and a mast extending from the base, and a plurality of sensors mounted on the mast, the plurality of sensors for detecting objects and pedestrians within a predetermined range, and wherein the sensors include a GPS antenna, at least one camera, an alert mechanism, a radio with an integrated directional antenna, and a short range communication antenna. A path predicting circuit is in communication with a system vehicle and the pedestrian detection system. The path predicting circuit processes information from the system vehicle and pedestrian detection system to predict the path of the system vehicle and detected objects. The path predicting circuit is in communication with a path collision circuit and the predicted paths are mapped on the path collision circuit so as to determine if the system vehicle may possibly collide with a detected object.

An apparatus for facilitating avoidance of a vehicle collision with an object, comprises a vision sensor providing image data, and an image analyzer, operable to provide an estimated time to collision of the vehicle with the object. The estimated time to collision is determined from a rate of expansion of an image element corresponding to the object within the image data, and the apparatus provides a warning if the estimated time to collision is less than or approximately equal to a predetermined time.

The invention discloses a pedestrian detection method based on machine vision and a pedestrian anti-collision warning system based on machine vision. The method includes: acquiring an image of a place in front of an automobile, pre-positioning pedestrians in the processed image, judging a pre-positioned pedestrian area to position the pedestrian area accurately, measuring the distance between the pedestrians and the automobile and judging whether the pedestrians are in a dangerous area or not, and warning the pedestrians in the collision dangerous area. The anti-collision warning system comprises an image acquisition unit, a pedestrian positioning unit, a pedestrian distance measuring unit, and a collision possibility analyzing unit. By using a pedestrian classifier to detect the pedestrians on roads, individual characteristics of the pedestrians are blurred, influence of individual differences and illumination to detecting results is reduced, detection efficiency of the pedestrians is improved. The anti-collision warning system is further used to judge possibility of accidents so as to give warning signals to a driver, so that safety of automotive vehicle driving on the roads is improved.

The invention relates to a pedestrian anti-collision early warning system which comprises a vehicle-mounted terminal and a pedestrian smartphone, wireless communication is conducted between the vehicle-mounted terminal and the pedestrian smartphone through a wireless communication module, a positioning unit and an alarm unit are embedded in the vehicle-mounted terminal, and a GPS module and an alarm module are embedded in the pedestrian smartphone. The invention further discloses an early warning method of the pedestrian anti-collision early warning system using the smartphoone. According to the pedestrian anti-collision early warning system and the early warning method thereof using the smartphone, through the wireless communication, the vehicle-mounted terminal acquires the longitude and latitude, the speed, the ground heading angle and altitude height information of the pedestrian handheld smartphone in real time, calculates and judges the position relation between a vehicle and a pedestrian according to vehicle positioning information and the motion state, and further judges whether collision danger exists or not, and meanwhile, the vehicle-mounted terminal synchronously sends collision alarm information to the smartphone through the wireless communication,, and achieves alarm to the pedestrian in a sound and image mode.

The invention relates to a vehicle collision warning system based on optical communication, which comprises optical indicators and optical detectors and is used for the safety monitoring and the information interaction among running vehicles. The optical indicators are distributed around or on the top of a vehicle and can transmit modulated optical signals in different directions, wherein the optical signals carry the angle indication information, mounting position information and other information of the vehicle which are corresponding to the optical signals, thereby forming optical antennae. The optical detectors mounted on another vehicle can detect optical pulse signals transmitted by a certain light emitting diode (LED) of the optical indicators and then extract the carried indication angle information, mounting position information and the like; and a processing unit of the optical detector analyzes and processes the information, estimates whether an abnormal running state exists based on the change rate of light indication angle, the change rate of light intensity and the like, and outputs the result to other systems of the vehicle by a controller.

The present invention involves methods and systems for issuing a collision warning to a driver at timing based on the driver's attitude level. The methods involve the steps of determining the driver attitude level based on the driver's actions in a plurality of driving conditions, determining timing for issuing warning based on the driver attitude level, and issuing warning based on the determined timing. The systems include a first device for collecting data associated with driver attitude, and a second device connected to the first device for determining a driver attitude level. The second device includes a processor for processing the data by applying pre-determined algorithm to determine the driver attitude level. The systems may further include a third device connected to the second device for determining timing for issuing warning corresponding to the driver attitude level, and issuing a warning according to the determined timing. Alternatively or additionally, the third device may include a software for enabling a determination of the rate of change in terms of acceleration and deceleration, and a control for affecting the rate of change. Further, the third device may include a software for enabling a determination of a safety distance and a distance control.

The invention discloses an intelligent vehicle-mounted GPS (global positioning system) navigation anti-collision warning system which consists of a GPS navigation module, a speed computation module, a central processing unit, an early warning signal module, an environment sensing module, an infrared distance measuring module, a radar speed distance module, a laser distance measuring module, an ultrasound distance measuring module, an image collecting module, an information processing module, an image processing module, a tail warning device, an audio video system, a display screen and an early warning power amplifier, wherein the speed is detected by the GPS, and the distance is detected by the distance measuring module, dangers which can cause tailgating at the front and at the back of a vehicle can be founded in time, so that a driver can be warned to travel normally and drive safely, functions of GPS navigation and audio video are realized, and no part of a vehicle control system needs to be changed.

The invention discloses a vehicle anti-collision early warning system and method based on vehicle-road cooperation. The early warning system comprises a vehicle device, a roadside device, a control module, a communication module and a roadside prompting device; the vehicle device and the roadside device are subjected to data exchange through the communication module, the various collected data are converged to the control module through the established data channel to perform collision risk assessment, and early warning information or control instructions formed after risk assessment information are issued to a vehicle terminal or the roadside prompting device to prompt the vehicle to take corresponding measures to avoid vehicle collision. According to the invention, the accurate collision risk value of the vehicle can be obtained by means of a vehicle-road cooperation technology and a collision early warning model, the vehicle device can remind the vehicle to take corresponding anti-collision measures through voice and images after receiving early warning information, and the roadside prompting device performs collision risk prompting through lamplight or display device.

The invention discloses a vehicle anti-collision early warning system, which includes a basic information collection module: to obtain vehicle size data related to the vehicle type; a direction information collection module: to obtain the turning angle of the vehicle when turning; a speed measurement module: to obtain the driving speed of the vehicle; distance measurement Module: when the vehicle is going straight, detect the distance between the vehicle's front or rear obstacles and the vehicle, and when the vehicle is turning, detect the distance between the vehicle's side obstacles and the vehicle; collision risk calculation module: evaluate the vehicle based on the data provided by the above modules Risk of collision with obstacles; early warning and reminder module: when the vehicle is at risk of collision with obstacles, an early warning is issued to the driver. The present invention can accurately and effectively evaluate and remind possible collision risks under various driving states of the vehicle, and can effectively avoid the occurrence of collision accidents.

The present invention is a system for use, for example, in motorized vehicles to provide a warning signal directed to the attention of the driver of the equipped vehicle and also to the operator of a target vehicle, as well as possibly other drivers in the vicinity of the system-equipped vehicle of impending danger. The system senses the presence of obstacles that can be identified by scanning and subsequently tracked. Obstacles may be fixed objects or other vehicles either also moving or still. The system detects and determines the distance separating the object from the sensor location, its ground velocity and rate of closure. The system's signaling sound and light emitters are able to be positioned and adjustable to face a target receiver and are able to signal with varying sound and light patterns and output amplitudes.

The invention discloses a cooperative vehicle overtaking collision warning system. The warning system comprises a DSRC signal receiving module, a DSRC signal transmitting module, a sensor module, a human-computer interface module and a controller, wherein the DSRC signal receiving module is used for receiving a DSRC signal transmitted by a vehicle ahead and converting the DSRC signal into traveling data for the vehicle ahead; the DSRC signal transmitting module is used for transmitting the traveling data of the vehicle of the driver to a back vehicle through the DSRC signal; the sensor module is used for sensing the travelling movement of vehicles; the human-computer interface module accepts a user to operate and set the system and provides the functions of displaying information and giving sound alarm; and the controller is used for processing the sensing result of the sensor and controlling system operation flow, informing the human-computer interface module to warn the driver of the vehicle through lamplight and sound according to the brake event of the vehicle ahead or the vehicle at the back, and informing the DSRC signal transmitting module to warn the driving of the back vehicle. The warning system adopts a specific short distance wireless communication technology with propagation directional property to transmit travelling information to rearward rapidly, eliminates the response delay time of the driver in the vehicle stream, and further avoids the overtaking collision accident.

A method for determining a threshold distance for a collision warning system includes receiving, from at least one sensing device, data indicative of a change of position of a target object relative to a host machine. The method further includes receiving data indicative of a velocity of the host machine and determining a closing rate associated with a rate of change of distance between the host machine and the target object based on the data indicative of a change of position of the target object relative to the host machine. The method also includes calculating a velocity of the target object based on the velocity of the host machine and the closing rate. The method further includes determining a threshold distance between the host machine and the target object, wherein the threshold distance is a function of the velocity of the target object, the velocity of the host machine, and a reaction time associated with one or more of the host machine velocity, the target object velocity, or an environmental condition. The method also includes providing a signal indicative of the threshold distance to an alarm system associated with a collision warning system.

In an intelligent forward collision warning system that takes into account not only a first preceding vehicle traveling immediately ahead of the ego vehicle but also a second preceding vehicle traveling immediately ahead of the first preceding vehicle, a warning signal is produced upon detecting a critical state of the first or second preceding vehicle or an external condition that is predicted to cause the first preceding vehicle and the ego vehicle to be in a same lane with the first time to collision (TTC) below a prescribed value.

A collision warning system and method for a motor vehicle. A measuring device in the vehicle is provided for measuring the distance dx to a second vehicle traveling ahead, the distance signal being delivered to an evaluation device in the first vehicle. The evaluation device continuously calculates a deceleration asubject vehicle demand, which is applied by the vehicle after expiration of a driver reaction time Treaction in order that a remaining distance dxremaining to the second vehicle traveling ahead can be maintained. If asubject vehicle demand exceeds an instantaneous deceleration that can be achieved by an adaptive cruise control (“ACC”) system, a system limit warning is transmitted, prompting the vehicle driver to brake with additional appropriate force. If asubject vehicle demand exceeds an assumed vehicle deceleration that can be generated by braking on the part of the driver, a collision warning signal is transmitted independently of the ACC system.

The invention discloses a vehicle and pedestrian anti-collision early warning system based on an intelligent wearable device. The vehicle and pedestrian anti-collision early warning system is characterized in that the system comprises the intelligent wearable device and an intelligent vehicle-mounted terminal, and the intelligent wearable device and the intelligent vehicle-mounted terminal are in wireless communication. The system is operated in the following steps that: 1, pedestrians hold the intelligent wearable devices, vehicles are provided with the intelligent vehicle-mounted terminals, and the intelligent wearable devices and the intelligent vehicle-mounted terminals are in wireless communication; 2, the intelligent wearable devices obtain present position, speed and direction information of the pedestrians, communicate with all vehicles around the pedestrians in real-time and obtain position, speed and direction information of the vehicles; 3, the intelligent wearable devices carry out integral analysis and calculation on obtained information and intelligent wearable device pedestrian information and judge whether there are vehicles influencing pedestrian safety; and 4, if yes, the pedestrians are prompted in a voice mode through the intelligent wearable devices, and the travelling safety of the pedestrians and the driving safety of drivers are improved.