Autonomous Warning Sign Placement via Visual Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manually placing a car breakdown warning triangle during a car accident poses a safety risk as it leaves the driver exposed to oncoming traffic, potentially leading to collisions.
Innovation Solution
A warning sign placing apparatus equipped with camera units and a control unit that captures images to identify road direction and objects, planning a route for a vehicle to automatically move the warning sign to a preset position with a safety distance, avoiding obstacles and ensuring safe placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual placement of warning sign is used, then simplicity and low cost are maintained, but driver safety deteriorates due to exposure to oncoming traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic warning sign placement through autonomous vehicle navigation. The control unit processes images from camera units to identify road features and obstacles, plans a safe route, and controls the vehicle to autonomously transport the warning sign to the designated location behind the accident vehicle, eliminating the need for manual placement and protecting driver safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical operation of carrying and placing the warning triangle with an automated system. The control unit substitutes human decision-making by automatically analyzing visual data, calculating routes, and controlling vehicle movement, thereby transforming a manual safety task into an automated protective mechanism.
2Reliability
If automatic vehicle-based placement is used, then driver safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to camera units and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle serves multiple functions: it acts as the accident vehicle, the warning sign carrier, and the automated placement mechanism. The camera units and control unit are integrated into the existing vehicle structure, allowing the vehicle to perform both its primary transportation function and the secondary function of autonomous warning sign deployment, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the warning sign placement function with the vehicle's existing navigation and control systems. The control unit integrates image processing from camera units, route planning algorithms, and vehicle control into a unified system that leverages existing vehicle infrastructure, minimizing the addition of separate complex subsystems.
3Reliability
If manual placement is used, then response time is fast, but safety deteriorates as driver is exposed to traffic dangers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary route planning and obstacle analysis immediately after the accident occurs, before the warning sign placement is completed. The control unit processes images and calculates the optimal path in advance, allowing the vehicle to begin autonomous movement without delay, thereby maintaining rapid response while ensuring safety through automated operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A warning sign placing apparatus and a control method thereof are provided. The warning sign placing apparatus includes at least two camera units, a control unit, and a vehicle. The camera unit captures a plurality of images in a preset direction. The vehicle carries at least two camera units and control unit. The control unit identifies a traveling direction of the road and distinguishes at least one object on the road based on the images, and plans a route along the road for the vehicle according to the at least one object, where the vehicle travels along the route. A warning sign is configured in the warning sign placing apparatus and is able to automatically move to a preset position with a preset distance in order to avoid the risk of dangers in a case of manually placing the warning sign.