Server Vehicle Imaging for Accident Assessment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional emergency notification systems rely on images from vehicles involved in accidents, providing a limited viewpoint, which hinders the control center's ability to accurately assess the situation.

Innovation Solution

A server and vehicle communication system that transmits an imaging start command to vehicles within a predetermined range of an accident site, allowing them to capture and transmit images to the server, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the accident scenario.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If images are collected only from the vehicle involved in the accident, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the viewpoint is limited and the control center cannot accurately grasp the accident situation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of accident situation assessmentVSAvoidcomplexity of image collection system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The image collection function is segmented between multiple vehicles in the vicinity of the accident site. Each vehicle independently captures images of different aspects of the accident, and the server aggregates these segmented viewpoints to form a comprehensive accident scene assessment, resolving the contradiction between limited single-vehicle viewpoints and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple vehicles in the vicinity are utilized not only for their primary transportation function but also as mobile imaging devices. This multi-functionality allows the system to gather comprehensive accident scene images without adding dedicated imaging equipment, thereby improving assessment accuracy while maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Speed

If the server waits for images to be transmitted from vehicles, then energy consumption is reduced, but the response time is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speed of emergency notificationVSAvoidenergy consumption of vehicles

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Vehicles in the vicinity are pre-positioned and ready to capture images upon receiving a trigger signal. The imaging function is activated in advance preparation state, allowing immediate image capture and transmission when an accident occurs, thus achieving fast response without continuous energy consumption during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic or event-driven image capture rather than continuous imaging. Vehicles transmit images only when triggered by accident notifications or periodic checks, reducing energy consumption while maintaining rapid response capability when accidents occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11694547B2Server, server control method, server control program, vehicle, vehicle control method, and vehicle control program

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

A server includes a server communication unit, a server control unit, and a server storage unit, and is connected in a communicable manner to a first vehicle and a second vehicle via the server communication unit. The server control unit transmits an imaging start command to the second vehicle, which runs within a predetermined range from an accident site, in response to the reception of an accident notification associated with positional information on the accident site from the first vehicle, receives an imaged image from the second vehicle, and stores the imaged image into the server storage unit.