Vehicle Collision Avoidance Activation Lights
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current collision avoidance systems do not effectively communicate to external personnel or other vehicle operators that a command has been issued or acknowledged, leading to potential unsafe conditions and catastrophic events.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using vehicle-mounted lights actuated by an electronic control unit to indicate commands and acknowledgments, with different lighting modes signaling the status of collision avoidance system commands and errors to external observers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If collision avoidance systems use internal warning signals only, then the system complexity is reduced, but external personnel and other vehicle operators are not made aware of the system status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces external warning lights as an intermediary device that communicates collision avoidance system status to external personnel and other vehicle operators. These lights serve as a mediator between the internal CAS and external observers, transmitting system activation information without requiring complex direct communication systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic communication systems with a simpler optical signaling system using visible lights. Instead of using complex data transmission protocols or displays, the system uses straightforward visual indicators that can be perceived by external personnel without requiring technical knowledge or specialized equipment.
2Reliability
If the system provides detailed status indications to all personnel, then safety awareness is improved, but the device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs different colored lights or light patterns to indicate different collision avoidance system statuses. This allows multiple pieces of information (system active, system inactive, hazard detected, command executed) to be communicated through simple color or pattern changes, maintaining low complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic or flashing light patterns to indicate specific system states, such as when a collision avoidance command has been executed. This periodic action draws attention to critical status changes without requiring continuous complex displays, thereby improving safety awareness while keeping the indication system simple.
3Loss of information
If the system activates warning signals continuously, then external awareness is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent activates external warning lights periodically or only during specific events such as when a collision hazard is detected or when a CAS command is executed. This event-driven activation maintains external awareness of critical system status while minimizing energy consumption by keeping lights off during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent activates specific warning lights based on the local system state - only the relevant lights corresponding to current CAS status are activated. For example, only activate external lights when a hazard is detected or command executed, rather than continuous activation, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining necessary external awareness.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic control unit (ECU) is disclosed. The ECU may receive a command associated with a vehicle. The ECU may actuate one or more lights on the vehicle in a first mode based on receiving the command. The ECU may transmit, while actuating the one or more lights in the first mode, the command to a vehicle controller associated with the vehicle. The ECU may actuate the one or more lights in a second mode based on receiving an acknowledgement of the command from the vehicle controller.