Automobile Crash Hazard Detection and Protection System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart cars face challenges in protecting occupants when communicating with other vehicles that do not respond or are not equipped with communication technology, particularly in dangerous situations where the other vehicle is not acting properly.
Innovation Solution
The system in a 'good car' detects hazardous situations and sends wireless signals to a 'bad car', and if the bad car does not respond, it uses open-air communication methods like modulated light or sound signals to alert the driver and takes evasive actions, including pre-deploying airbags and raising protective cages, to prevent a collision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the good car uses wireless communication to alert the bad car of danger, then the bad car can be warned of the hazard, but the warning is ineffective if the bad car does not respond or is not equipped with communication technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces open-air communication as an intermediary medium to transmit hazard warnings from the good car to the bad car. This mediator (open-air signals) can reach vehicles regardless of their communication capabilities, bridging the gap between smart and non-smart vehicles while maintaining crash prevention reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into two independent channels: direct wireless communication between vehicles and open-air communication to human drivers. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different vehicle types - electronic warnings for smart cars and audible/visual signals for non-smart vehicles - thereby improving both reliability and versatility
2Reliability
If the good car waits for confirmation from the bad car before taking action, then communication protocol is maintained, but response time is delayed when the bad car does not respond
Solution Approach 1:
The good car performs preliminary actions by immediately activating open-air warning signals and preparing evasive maneuvers without waiting for confirmation from the bad car. This preliminary action ensures that safety measures are initiated as quickly as possible, reducing response time while maintaining communication reliability through the one-way warning system
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preliminary anti-action by pre-positioning the vehicle in an evasive trajectory and pre-deploying airbags before the actual collision occurs. This anticipatory response counteracts the potential harm without requiring confirmation from the bad car, thereby minimizing response time while ensuring reliable protection
3Loss of time
If the good car takes evasive action immediately upon detecting hazard, then response time is reduced, but the bad car has no opportunity to correct its behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by cycling through warning phases and evasive action phases. Open-air warnings are issued first, and if no correction is made within a predetermined time, the system transitions to evasive maneuvers. This periodic approach gives the bad driver opportunities to correct behavior while ensuring timely protection if correction does not occur
Solution Approach 2:
The good car performs preliminary evasive positioning and airbag deployment in anticipation of potential collision, rather than waiting for confirmation of inevitable crash. This preliminary action reduces response time and protects occupants while the open-air warnings continue to provide the bad driver with opportunities to correct their behavior
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the good car to take proactive measures to prevent a crash even if the other vehicle is not communicating, enhancing safety by using open-air communication and pre-deployment of safety features to mitigate potential impacts.
Implementation Method 1
The transmitter module can modulate lights, such as taillights, to transmit the emergency signal
Implementation Method 2
modulated sound from the horn of the other vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
A smart car system that determines when danger from another vehicle is likely, and addresses that danger. An embodiment signals the other car using open air communication. Another embodiment starts the deployment of anti-crash structure, e.g, airbag or an anti crash fencing.