Vehicle On-Board Unit Proactive Brake Light Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle safety communication systems, such as the Emergency Electronic Brake Light application, only provide information about hard braking events after the brakes have been applied, failing to aid in maintaining a safe distance between vehicles without visible brake lights, especially in obstructed views.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle on-board unit equipped with a vehicle traveling condition detecting section, an automatic brake light triggering section, and a brake light activating section that outputs a brake light activation signal to activate the host vehicle's brake lights without a braking operation when a potentially inadequate safety zone is detected, using DSRC technology for communication with other vehicles and roadside units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the Emergency Electronic Brake Light application is used to communicate hard braking events, then following vehicles are notified of braking events, but the system does not aid in maintaining a safe distance between vehicles without visible brake lights
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting potentially inadequate safety zones before hard braking events occur. The vehicle traveling condition detecting section continuously monitors safety zones using DSRC communications, and the automatic brake light triggering section is ready to activate brake lights proactively when safety zone thresholds are approached, rather than waiting for actual braking events to be detected and communicated.
2Loss of information
If brake lights are activated without braking operation, then following vehicles are alerted of potential safety issues, but the host vehicle does not actually brake
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by proactively activating brake lights to prevent the harmful condition of inadequate safety zones before they lead to collisions. The automatic brake light triggering section activates brake lights as a preventive measure when safety zone thresholds are approached, counteracting the potential harm of following vehicles closing in too closely, rather than waiting for actual collision risk to materialize.
Solution Approach 2:
The brake light system serves as an intermediary communication mechanism between the host vehicle and following vehicles. When the vehicle traveling condition detecting section identifies potentially inadequate safety zones, the automatic brake light triggering section uses the brake lights as an intermediary signal to convey safety zone status to following drivers, enabling them to adjust their following distance without requiring direct communication hardware in following vehicles.
3Speed
If DSRC technology is used for vehicle-to-vehicle communication, then real-time safety information is exchanged, but the system requires wireless communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies universality by utilizing DSRC technology's multi-functionality for both safety zone detection and brake light control. The vehicle traveling condition detecting section uses DSRC communications to gather information from multiple sources (other vehicles, roadside units) about vehicle positions, speeds, and trajectories, then processes this universal communication data to determine safety zone status and trigger brake light activation, consolidating multiple functions into a unified system.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle on-board unit of a host vehicle is configured to activate its brake lights upon determining a vehicle traveling condition exists that is indicative of a potentially inadequate safety zone between the host vehicle and a following vehicle. The vehicle on-board unit has a vehicle traveling condition detecting section, an automatic brake light triggering section and a brake light activating section. The vehicle traveling condition detecting section detects the vehicle traveling condition indicative of a potentially inadequate safety zone. The automatic brake light triggering section outputs a brake light activation signal upon determining a predetermined condition has been satisfied based upon the detected vehicle traveling condition. The brake light activating section activates the brake lights without a braking operation being performed upon receiving the brake light activation signal from the automatic brake light triggering section.