Vehicle Light-Pulse Detection for Early Vulnerable Road User Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle systems often fail to effectively detect and identify vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and bicyclists, leading to inadequate response time for drivers to perform necessary maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle system that utilizes an illumination device worn by vulnerable road users to emit a modulated light pulse conveying messages, which is received and demodulated by the vehicle's sensors to generate processed alerts for the driver, enabling proactive driving maneuvers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional vehicle detection systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the detection capability for vulnerable road users is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
An illumination device is introduced as an intermediary component attached to vulnerable road users. This device actively emits light and transmits identification information, enabling the vehicle's sensor system to detect VRUs that would otherwise be invisible or indistinguishable from the background environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces passive mechanical detection systems with an active optical communication system. Instead of relying on mechanical sensors to detect physical presence, the system uses modulated light pulses to transmit and receive identification data, enabling more precise and reliable detection of vulnerable road users.
2Loss of time
If no active identification system is used, then the device complexity is low, but the response time for drivers is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device continuously transmits identification information about the vulnerable road user before any collision risk arises. This preliminary transmission of data allows the vehicle system to identify and respond to VRUs in advance, providing sufficient response time for the driver to take evasive action.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination device acts as an intermediary that bridges the information gap between vulnerable road users and vehicle drivers. By actively transmitting identification data through modulated light, it enables the vehicle system to recognize VRUs early and respond appropriately, reducing the loss of time in critical situations.
3Reliability
If conventional sensors are used without active cooperation, then the system is simple, but the detection reliability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The vulnerable road user's illumination device performs self-service by automatically transmitting its own identification information. This active self-identification eliminates the need for the vehicle system to actively search for or interpret passive signals from VRUs, significantly improving detection reliability through a cooperative detection approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces unreliable passive mechanical detection with active optical signal transmission. The modulated light pulses carry encoded identification information that the vehicle's sensor system can reliably detect and decode, transforming the detection process from passive observation to active information exchange.
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
Enhances the conspicuity of vulnerable road users, allowing drivers to take timely actions to avoid collisions by providing advance notice and facilitating autonomous driving responses.
Implementation Method 1
an emitter configured to emit visible light
Implementation Method 2
modulate the message into a light pulse; and broadcast the light pulse together with the visible light via the emitter
Implementation Method 3
a light sensor configured to receive a light pulse emitted from an illumination device
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle including a human machine interface (HMI); a light sensor configured to receive a light pulse emitted from an illumination device, wherein the light pulse includes an original message in a modulated format; and one or more controllers programmed to demodulate the light pulse to obtain the original message, wherein the original message identifies an object on which the illumination device is attached, convert the original message into a processed message, and output the processed message via the HMI.