Vehicle Collision Avoidance via Sensor-Communication Cross-Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle collision mitigation systems face challenges in differentiating and evaluating sensor data effectively, leading to nuisance warnings and difficulties in implementing collision avoidance due to occluded vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A computer system in a vehicle is programmed to receive data from sensors and vehicle-to-vehicle communication, determining threat levels and actuating brakes based on projected trajectories and threat thresholds, while suppressing warnings when necessary to reduce nuisance alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system actuates alerts upon receiving data from sensors, then collision detection capability is improved, but nuisance warnings increase and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a secondary evaluation system that acts as an intermediary between sensor data and alert actuation. This secondary system cross-validates sensor detections by checking for occluded vehicles and assessing threat levels, thereby filtering out false positives that would otherwise cause nuisance warnings while maintaining reliable collision detection.
2Measurement precision
If the system uses data from a plurality of sensors, then threat assessment accuracy is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the collision mitigation system into distinct functional modules: sensor data acquisition, occluded vehicle detection, threat level assessment, and alert actuation. Each module processes specific aspects of the detection task independently, allowing the system to achieve high measurement precision through multiple sensors while managing complexity through modular architecture.
3Ease of operation
If the system suppresses warnings for occluded vehicles, then false alarm reduction is achieved, but collision risk with undetected vehicles increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively detecting occluded vehicles before they become a collision threat and suppressing warnings in advance. The system uses sensor data to identify vehicles that are occluded from direct detection, assesses their threat level, and preemptively prevents false alarms while maintaining awareness of potential risks through continuous monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication from a second vehicle is received. Upon failing to detect the second vehicle based on first vehicle sensor data, a message indicating a forward collision warning is sent. Upon detecting the second vehicle based on the first vehicle sensor data, the forward collision warning is suppressed and a first vehicle brake is actuated.