Rear-End Collision Handling Using Vehicle Motion and Exterior Airbags
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rear-end collisions between vehicles are dangerous and often cannot be effectively mitigated by existing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), leading to potential harm to drivers and passengers.
Innovation Solution
A computer system equipped with sensors and processing circuitry in a vehicle adjusts its motion or deploys airbags to avoid or mitigate collisions by estimating the risk based on the motion of an approaching vehicle, using techniques such as adjusting speed, applying yaw moments, and actuating exterior airbags.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the striking vehicle employs Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) with Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) to warn or automatically control steering or braking, then the ability to evade collision is improved, but collisions may still occur due to the striking vehicle not being able to evade in time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-positioning exterior airbags in a ready-to-deploy state before collision occurs. The airbags are stored in a retracted position during normal operation and can be rapidly deployed outward when collision risk is detected, eliminating the time delay associated with traditional internal airbag deployment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies beforehand cushioning by deploying exterior airbags that extend beyond the vehicle's exterior surface to create a protective cushion in the collision path. These airbags are positioned to make contact with the approaching vehicle first, absorbing impact energy before it reaches the vehicle's structural components.
2Reliability
If the first vehicle adjusts its motion or deploys airbags to avoid or mitigate collision, then collision risk reduction is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior airbags serve multiple functions: they act as protective cushions during collision, serve as motion control elements for active safety maneuvers, and can function as structural reinforcement components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbags transition from a static retracted state during normal operation to a dynamic deployed state when needed. The system continuously monitors collision risk and dynamically adjusts the airbag position and vehicle motion control based on real-time sensor data, creating an adaptive safety system.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computer system (500) comprising processing circuitry (502) configured to handle a first vehicle (1) is provided. The first vehicle (1) is travelling in a longitudinal travel direction (TD) on a road (100). The processing circuitry (502) is configured to obtain from a sensor (20), sensor data of a motion of a second vehicle (2) travelling towards the first vehicle (1) in the longitudinal travel direction (TD), and based on the sensor data, estimate a risk of collision between the first vehicle (1) and the second vehicle (2). When the estimated risk of collision is within a first predefined interval, the processing circuitry (502) is configured to trigger a safety action to be performed by the first vehicle (1) based on the motion of the second vehicle (2). The safety action comprises adjusting a motion of the first vehicle (1) and/or actuating airbags (30) of the first vehicle (1).