Vehicle Control Arrangement for Pedestrian Collision Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle safety systems are inadequate in effectively mitigating collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, and animals, and there is a need for a robust and reliable vehicle control arrangement that can automatically initiate braking and deploy protection measures to reduce injury and collision severity.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle control arrangement comprising a sensor system for detecting collisions or expected collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, or animals, a control unit that processes signals from the sensor system, and a pedestrian/cyclist/animal protection arrangement, which activates both the protection measures and the vehicle's brake system to initiate automatic braking and deploy airbags or other protective devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a brake control device is provided to mitigate collision consequences, then the safety in rear-on collisions is improved, but the system does not address front collisions with pedestrians, cyclists, or animals
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit is designed to handle multiple collision scenarios by integrating both rear-on collision detection (via acceleration sensors) and front collision detection (via sensor systems detecting pedestrians, cyclists, or animals). The same control unit manages both the brake control device for rear collisions and the pedestrian/cyclist/animal protection arrangement for front collisions, making the system universal and multi-functional.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is configured to detect pedestrians, cyclists, or animals in advance before a collision occurs. When these objects are detected in the vehicle's path, the control unit activates the pedestrian/cyclist/animal protection arrangement and vehicle control means preliminarily, before impact happens, enabling preventive safety measures rather than reactive ones.
2Reliability
If existing safety devices like airbags and brake control are provided, then basic vehicle safety is improved, but automatic initiation of protective measures upon detecting expected collisions is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system continuously monitors the environment in front of the vehicle and provides feedback to the control unit. When the sensor system detects a pedestrian, cyclist, or animal and determines that a collision is expected, this feedback triggers the control unit to automatically activate the pedestrian/cyclist/animal protection arrangement and vehicle control means, creating a closed-loop automated safety system.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle safety system is designed to automatically detect potential collisions and activate protective measures without requiring driver intervention. The sensor system, control unit, and protection arrangements work together in an automated manner where the system serves itself by autonomously initiating braking and deploying protection measures when needed.
3Speed
If the vehicle speed is not reduced before impact, then the response time is maintained, but the severity of pedestrian injury and subsequent collision risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
When the sensor system detects a pedestrian, cyclist, or animal in the vehicle's path and determines that a collision is expected, the control unit activates the vehicle control means preliminarily to reduce vehicle speed before impact occurs. This preliminary speed reduction minimizes the kinetic energy involved in the collision, thereby reducing pedestrian injury severity and the risk of subsequent collisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies a counter-action (braking force) in advance to offset the harmful effect of high-speed collision. By activating the vehicle control means to reduce speed before impact, the system creates an opposing force that counteracts the forward motion, thereby mitigating the harmful effects of the impending collision on pedestrians and reducing subsequent collision risks.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle control arrangement comprising a sensor system (1) for detecting a collision or an expected collision, a control unit (7) adapted to receive and process a signal from said sensor system (1), and a vehicle control means (5) being connected to said control unit (7). The sensor system (1) is adapted for detecting a pedestrian, a cyclist or an animal in front of the vehicle. The vehicle control arrangement further comprises a pedestrian, cyclist or animal protection arrangement (3) being connected to the control unit (7). The control unit (7) is configured to, upon receipt of a signal from the sensor system (1) indicative of a collision or an expected collision with a pedestrian, cyclist or animal, send an activation signal to each of the protection arrangement (3) and the vehicle control means (5), thereby activating the protection arrangement (3) and the vehicle control means (5).