151 results about "Time to collision" 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 vehicle-to-vehicle communication filtering system is provided to selectively process broadcast messages between a host vehicle and a remote vehicle. A processing unit evaluates a time-to-collision status between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle sending the message. The time-to-collision status is a function of a relative distance and a relative velocity between the host vehicle and the remote vehicle which are determined from data provided within a first portion of the message received from the remote vehicle. An attentive factor is assigned to each of the remote vehicles based on the time-to-collision with respect to each remote vehicle. The attentive factor identifies a proportion of messages broadcast from the remote vehicle to be targeted for security processing. Security processing of the message is performed based on a second portion of the message unless the attentive factor indicates the message should be ignored.

A system for collision course prediction includes a host vehicle sensor system detecting information relating to a target object including a position and a velocity relative to the host vehicle; a time-to-collision estimator control block calculating an estimated time-to-collision based on a longitudinal distance, longitudinal velocity and longitudinal acceleration of the target object relative to the host vehicle; a lateral distance estimator control block, which estimates the lateral distance between the centers of the host vehicle and target object at the estimated time-to-collision; and a collision course condition determination unit determining, at a determination instant prior to the estimated time-to-collision, a probability that the host vehicle will collide with the target object dependent at least in part upon whether the lateral distance is within a first interval, the first interval based on at least a lateral width of the host vehicle and a lateral width of the target object.

Collision detection and estimation from a monocular visual sensor is an important enabling technology for safe navigation of small or micro air vehicles in near earth flight. In this paper, we introduce a new approach called expansion segmentation, which simultaneously detects “collision danger regions” of significant positive divergence in inertial aided video, and estimates maximum likelihood time to collision (TTC) in a correspondenceless framework within the danger regions. This approach was motivated from a literature review which showed that existing approaches make strong assumptions about scene structure or camera motion, or pose collision detection without determining obstacle boundaries, both of which limit the operational envelope of a deployable system. Expansion segmentation is based on a new formulation of 6-DOF inertial aided TTC estimation, and a new derivation of a first order TTC uncertainty model due to subpixel quantization error and epipolar geometry uncertainty. Proof of concept results are shown in a custom designed urban flight simulator and on operational flight data from a small air vehicle.

A method for providing a forward collision warning using a camera mountable in a motor vehicle. The method acquires multiple image frames at known time intervals. A patch may be selected in at least one of the image frames. Optical flow may be tracked between the image frames of multiple image points of the patch. Based on the fit of the image points to a model, a time-to collision (TTC) may be determined if a collision is expected. The image points may be fit to a road surface model and a portion of the image points is modeled to be imaged from a road surface. A collision is not expected based on the fir of the image points to the road surface model.

A safety system for providing early warning notifications to an authorized track worker performing official duties along a rail road network is disclosed herein. The safety system determines the position of the authorized worker and determines an estimated time to collision between the authorized track worker and an approaching rail vehicle. The result of the safety system is that the track worker has enough time and sufficiently accurate warning that will enable the track worker to move to a point of safety so as to remain unharmed by the approaching rail vehicle.

An on-vehicle apparatus is provided to reduce damage from collisions. In the apparatus, an object located in a field in a travel direction of a vehicle is detected and a time to collision (TTC) is detected. A controller performs automatic intervention braking in the vehicle when it determined that the time to collision is equal to or shorter than a first threshold time. Further, when it determined that the time to collision is equal to or shorter than a second threshold time shorter than the first threshold time and meets a preset actuation condition, a protection controller makes a protection device active for vehicle protection. A collision speed is also estimated based on an deceleration of the vehicle caused by the automatic intervention braking. The preset actuation condition is a condition that the estimated collision speed is equal to or higher than a preset threshold speeds.

In a recognition system for a vehicle, forward vehicle information and infrastructural information are checked together and with respect to information that can be considered to pertain to one and the same vehicle. Pieces of information on position and speed are averaged to acquire the information of the vehicle. Pieces of information that can be considered to pertain to one and the same vehicle are searched for and integrated into one. Further, estimated values of speed and position in the future are corrected using traveling information. Then identical lane probability and collision time are estimated, and information of the subject vehicle is transmitted to a vehicle on a potential collision course.

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.

The invention relates to an early warning method for preventing rear-end collision with a rearward vehicle and an early warning system thereof, wherein the method comprises the following steps: 1) arranging an early warning system for preventing rear-end collision with the rearward vehicle, which comprises an information acquisition unit, a system control unit comprising a singlechip as well as an early warning execution unit; wherein, an early warning module for preventing rear-end collision with the rearward vehicle is prearranged inside the singlechip, a collision warning range and a formula calculating the collision time of the vehicles are prearranged inside the early warning module for preventing rear-end collision with the rearward vehicle; 2) acquiring the distance between the rearward vehicle and own vehicle and relative speed information and acquiring own speed information; 3) calculating time of collision TTC and a warning time threshold of collision TTC_W of the rearward vehicle and own vehicle; 4) generating a control instruction in accordance with the difference value between the calculated time threshold of collision TTC and the warning time threshold of collision TTC_W of the rearward vehicle and own vehicle as well as the prearranged collision warning range; 5) sending corresponding warning information according to the control instruction. The invention can real-timely and accurately monitor the relative motion state between own vehicle and the rear vehicle that travels in the same traffic lane, thus effectually preventing the rear-end collision of the vehicles that traveling at high speed.

A collision avoidance system for deciding whether an autonomous avoidance manoeuvre should be performed in order to avoid a mid-air collision between a host aerial vehicle equipped with the system and an intruding aerial vehicle. At least one electro-optical sensor captures consecutive images of an intruding vehicle such that the vehicle manifests itself as a target point in the images. An image processor estimates the azimuth angle, elevation angle and a first time-to-collision estimate of the time to collision between the host vehicle and the intruding vehicle. The first time-to-collision estimate is estimated based on scale change in the target point between at least two of said consecutive images. A tracking filter is arranged to estimate a second time-to-collision estimate using the azimuth angle, the elevation angle and the first time-to-collision estimate estimated by the image processor as input parameters. A collision avoidance module is arranged to decide whether or not an avoidance manoeuvre should be performed based on any of at least one parameter, of which at least one is indicative of said second time-to-collision estimate.

A collision avoidance system in a host vehicle that employs combined automatic braking and steering. The collision avoidance system defines thresholds that identify a time to collision with a target vehicle by the host vehicle that are based on the speed of the host vehicle, the acceleration of the host vehicle, the speed of the target vehicle, the acceleration of the target vehicle, the distance to the target vehicle from the host vehicle and a coefficient of friction of the roadway. The collision avoidance system provides full automatic collision avoidance braking if the time to collision is less than one threshold and the lane adjacent to the host vehicle is not clear. The collision avoidance system provides both automatic steering and braking of the host vehicle if the time to collision is less than another threshold and the lane adjacent to the host vehicle is clear.

The invention discloses an image-based vehicle anti-collision early warning method. An image sensor is utilized for collecting the images of a rod ahead; after a vehicle is detected successfully and tracked, according to the vehicle width variation in interframe images and combining with the influences of the relative vehicle speed and relative acceleration, the time to collision (TTC) of a target vehicle and the vehicle is calculated, the dangerous level is analyzed, and an alarm is given to a driver, and meanwhile, the relative driving state of the target vehicle and the current vehicle also can be determined. The method provided by the invention is applied to the technical field of vehicle active safety, can effective prevent rear-end collision with the vehicle ahead, also is not influenced by rugged topography, and has high safety performance.

A method of operating a vehicle includes determining a pre-crash collision confidence factor and estimating a time to collision. The method further includes deploying a reversible restraint in response to the confidence factor and the time to collision and deploying a non-reversible restraint in response to the confidence factor and the time to collision.

A method of displaying a captured image on a display device of a driven vehicle. A scene exterior of the driven vehicle is captured by an at least one vision-based imaging and at least one sensing device. A time-to-collision is determined for each object detected. A comprehensive time-to-collision is determined for each object as a function of each of the determined time-to-collisions for each object. An image of the captured scene is generated by a processor. The image is dynamically expanded to include sensed objects in the image. Sensed objects are highlighted in the dynamically expanded image. The highlighted objects identifies objects proximate to the driven vehicle that are potential collisions to the driven vehicle. The dynamically expanded image with highlighted objects and associated collective time-to-collisions are displayed for each highlighted object in the display device that is determined as a potential collision.

In a method for checking the plausibility of objects in driver assistance systems for motor vehicles is described, two measured variables are derived from position data from two object position-finding systems of the vehicle that operate independently of one another, for an object located by the two position-finding systems, one variable for each position-finding system, these variables representing one and the same physical parameter, and the two measured variables are then checked for consistency, which is characterized by the fact that the parameter is the time to collision of the vehicle with the object, which is calculated in advance.

A vehicle collision avoidance system is implemented in a host vehicle. A wireless communication module in the host vehicles wirelessly broadcasts vehicle information packages of the host vehicle and receives external vehicle information packages from other neighboring vehicles. Based on the received vehicle information packages, a collision avoidance process is performed. The process has steps of mapping coordinates system, categorizing collision zones, determining whether a possible collision position exists, calculating a collision time and outputting warning messages. The estimations of the possible collision position and the collision time are not affected by the positions of the neighboring vehicles. Therefore, the neighboring vehicles approaching the host vehicle from different direction are effectively monitored.

The vehicle-mounted safety control apparatus includes a first function of detecting an object ahead of the vehicle, a second function of acquiring, as a time to collision, a ratio of a relative speed to a relative distance between the vehicle and the object, a third function of performing an automatic brake operation when the time to collision is smaller than or equal to a predetermined time, a fourth function of detecting acceleration of the vehicle, and a fifth function of acquiring, as a collision acceleration, acceleration detected within a period having a predetermined duration and straddling a time at which the time to collision becomes 0, and operating to continue the automatic brake operation if the collision acceleration is larger than or equal to a collision threshold preset to a value larger than acceleration produced by the automatic brake operation, and otherwise terminate the automatic brake operation.

A parking assistance system for outputting parking instructions to the driver of a vehicle has a sensor device which is designed for performing a parking space measurement on the basis of parking space limits and generating parking space information on the basis of the parking space measurement; a program-controlled device which calculates the driving trajectory to be traveled on the basis of the parking space information generated and calculates a time to collision and / or a distance to collision, within which the vehicle will presumably collide with one of the parking space limits, from the parking space information generated and the calculated driving trajectory; and a warning signal transducer which generates a warning signal if the calculated period of time is less than a first limit value and / or the calculated distance to collision is less than a second limit value.

An apparatus and a method for preventing a vehicle collision are provided. The method includes collecting, by a controller, vehicle information of a traveling vehicle and calculating a last point to brake time to collision, a last point to steer time to collision, a front collision warning time to collision, and time to collision based on the collected vehicle information. The controller confirms whether the traveling vehicle enters a collision risk area in which there is a collision possibility between the traveling vehicle and a front vehicle. A vehicle driving support is controlled based on a direction in which a rear-side vehicle is present and whether steering is attempted when the traveling vehicle enters the collision risk area, thereby minimizing the collision between the traveling vehicle and the front vehicle and rear-side vehicle.

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.

The invention relates to an unmanned ship dynamic obstacle avoidance algorithm based on a speed obstacle method and a dynamic window method. On the basis of the speed obstacle method, the unmanned ship dynamic obstacle avoidance algorithm considers the characteristic of the ship's large length-width ratio, uses the ellipses to represent the unmanned ship and the obstacle, and gives a method for solving the ellipse tangents; considering the kinematic performance of the unmanned ship, only the speed and direction that the unmanned ship can reach in a given time is used to calculate obstacle avoidance; the starting time of obstacle avoidance is determined by comparing the time of collision with the time required for the unmanned ship to avoid the obstacle, and the obstacle avoidance is endedby determining that the unmanned ship is safely moving in the desired direction of the navigation and moving in the direction of the target point; and the virtual obstacle is added according to the speed and movement direction error of the obstacle to reduce the influence of the obstacle motion information error. The unmanned ship dynamic obstacle avoidance algorithm can ensure that the unmanned ship can effectively avoid the static and dynamic obstacles encountered during the autonomous navigation on the sea surface.

Disclosed are a collision damage mitigation system of a vehicle and a control method thereof. The collision damage mitigation system includes a forward sensor to detect a distance and relative speed between an owner's vehicle and a vehicle in front thereof, an electronic control unit to judge a degree of collision risk based on a Time-To-Collision (TTC) value upon receiving sensor information transmitted from the forward sensor, the TTC value being obtained by dividing the distance between the owner's vehicle and the vehicle in front thereof by the relative speed therebetewen, and to control implementation of at least one of collision warning, vehicle control, and inflation of an air bag based on the judged degree of collision risk, and an air bag drive unit to inflate the air bag, immediately before vehicle collision, in response to an air bag inflation signal from the electronic control unit.

A potential collision is predicted by comparing estimates of the time-to-brake (TTB) and the time-to-turn (TTT) of a host vehicle with a computed time-to-collision (TTC). The collision is deemed to be unavoidable when the smaller of TTB and TTT is greater than TTC. The TTT estimate is based in part on the lateral acceleration capability of the vehicle, and the lateral acceleration is initialized to a low value corresponding to its instantaneous capability, and is set incrementally higher than the actual lateral acceleration when the driver initiates evasive turning. The TTT and TTB estimates are increased by the time required to pre-charge the vehicle brakes so that brake pre-charging can be automatically initiated when required to optimize collision mitigation due to braking.

A computer-implemented method for braking control of a host vehicle includes detecting a panic brake operation based on a change of a braking pressure of a braking system of the host vehicle with respect to time. The method includes detecting a second vehicle driving behind the host vehicle and in the same lane as the host vehicle, and determining a time-to-collision value between the host vehicle and the second vehicle. Further, the method includes determining a deceleration rate of the host vehicle based on a driver braking pressure provided by operation of a brake pedal of the braking system. The method includes controlling the braking system based on the time-to-collision value and the deceleration rate.

The invention discloses an obstacle prewarning method and device.The method comprises the steps that firstly, a scene image at the current sampling moment, a scene image at the previous sampling moment and first relative distance images from all view points in a view field range to a moving device are acquired separately, then the outline and calibration information of an obstacle and a second relative distance image from the obstacle to the moving device at the current sampling current are obtained, and a second relative distance image from the obstacle to the moving device at the previous sampling current is calculated according to the first relative distance image at the precious sampling current, the outline and calibration information of the obstacle at the current sampling current and a motion vector from the obstacle at the current sampling moment to a corresponding obstacle at the previous sampling moment; secondly, the relative speed of the obstacle and the moving device at the current sampling current is calculated; thirdly, the time when the obstacle collides with the moving device is prejudged.According to the obstacle prewarning method and device, the technical problem of how to quickly and accurately prejudge the obstacle is solved.

The invention discloses a vehicle lateral collision prevention method, device and system. The method includes: receiving a vehicle side collision prevention start signal; when the vehicle side collision prevention start signal is received, judging whether other vehicles are in a detection range or not; when other vehicles are in the detection range, measuring relative speed, relative distance and relative angle of the vehicle relative to other vehicles; calculating collision time of the vehicle with other vehicles according to the relative speed, relative distance and relative angle, and performing collision prevention operations according to the calculated collision time. The vehicle lateral collision prevention method, device and system has the advantages that safety accidents can be prevented effectively, driving the vehicles is safer and more intelligent, and practical value is high.

A collision avoidance system for deciding whether an autonomous avoidance maneuver should be performed in order to avoid a mid-air collision between a host aerial vehicle equipped with the system and an intruding aerial vehicle. At least one electro-optical sensor captures consecutive images of an intruding vehicle such that the vehicle manifests itself as a target point in the images. An image processor estimates the azimuth angle, elevation angle and a first time-to-collision estimate of the time to collision between the host vehicle and the intruding vehicle. The first time-to-collision estimate is estimated based on scale change in the target point between at least two of said consecutive images. A tracking filter is arranged to estimate a second time-to-collision estimate using the azimuth angle, the elevation angle and the first time-to-collision estimate estimated by the image processor as input parameters. A collision avoidance module is arranged to decide whether or not an avoidance maneuver should be performed based on any of at least one parameter, of which at least one is indicative of said second time-to-collision estimate.

Application data generated by an ECU is wireless transmitted by a transmission device in a subject vehicle so as to periodically change a communications distance by changing, every transmission timing, at least one of (i) a transmission rate, which is used in transforming a transmission packet into a transmission signal in a modulation section, and (ii) a transmission power, which is configured by an amplification section to amplify the transmission signal. As a result, the data transmission from the subject vehicle can be made (i) in high repetition times with respect to a nearby vehicle having a greater risk of collision (i.e., time to collision being shorter), and (ii) in low repetition times with respect to a distant vehicle having a less risk of collision (i.e., time to collision being longer).