Modulated Warning Lights for Vehicle Carrier Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing warning lights fail to convey information that determines a response to potential hazards, especially in low-visibility scenarios, and autonomous vehicles struggle to identify carriers such as pedestrians or bicycles due to attenuated LIDAR reflections.
Innovation Solution
A modulated warning light system that emits a visible spectrum light, modulated to a specific pattern to convey messages about the carrier it is attached to, allowing computer vision systems to identify the carrier and extend the range of LIDAR systems by providing a modulated LIDAR response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a constant or blinking warning light is used, then the visibility to human observers is improved, but the ability to convey specific information to autonomous vehicles is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The warning light is modulated at different frequencies to convey information about the carrier identity. The light periodically changes its intensity or pattern, allowing autonomous vehicles to decode specific information while remaining visible to human observers as a warning signal.
Solution Approach 2:
The modulation frequency or pattern of the warning light is changed based on the carrier identity. By varying parameters such as flash rate, duty cycle, or temporal pattern, the system encodes information about the carrier type (e.g., pedestrian, bicycle, animal) without affecting the overall visibility function.
2Length of moving object
If LIDAR is used for carrier identification, then the detection range is extended, but the reliability is reduced in low-visibility scenarios due to attenuated reflections
Solution Approach 1:
The warning light acts as an intermediary between the carrier and the autonomous vehicle's sensors. Instead of relying solely on passive LIDAR reflection from the carrier, the warning light actively emits modulated signals that enhance detectability and provide additional information channels for carrier identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The modulated warning light serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides visible warning to human observers, encodes carrier identity information for autonomous vehicles, and enhances LIDAR detection capability. This multi-functionality addresses both the detection range and reliability requirements.
3Loss of information
If a modulated warning light system is implemented, then the information conveyance capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modulation functionality is integrated into the existing warning light system rather than adding separate communication devices. The same light-emitting components used for visibility are also used for information encoding, merging warning and communication functions into a single system.
Solution Approach 2:
The warning light system serves dual purposes: it provides the primary warning function while simultaneously encoding carrier identity information. The system is self-sufficient, using its own operational characteristics (modulation) to convey additional information without requiring separate dedicated communication hardware.
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
Improves carrier identification by autonomous vehicles and enhances visibility to human observers, reducing the likelihood of accidents and network traffic, while providing a visual warning in both visible and invisible spectrums.
Implementation Method 1
an emitter to emit a warning light. The warning light may be in a visible spectrum
Implementation Method 2
a modulator to modulate the warning light to generate a modulated warning light. The modulated warning light may be modulated to a particular pattern selected to convey a message
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to modulated warning lights for vehicles. In some aspects, a device may include an emitter to emit a warning light. The warning light may be in a visible spectrum. The device may include a modulator to modulate the warning light to generate a modulated warning light. The modulated warning light may be modulated to a particular pattern selected to convey a message. The message may be used to identify a carrier to which the device is attached such that the carrier is identifiable by a computer vision system that receives the modulated warning light.