Vehicle Hazard Warning System Using Distributed Peer-to-Peer Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle safety warning systems are inadequate for high-speed racing and motorsport events, as they lack a reliable and timely mechanism to alert drivers of hazards and potential dangers, particularly in situations where vehicles are traveling at close proximity and high speeds.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle rally safety warning system that uses removable communication devices with signal transmission and reception means, along with interactive display units, to provide persistent visual indicators corresponding to international safety and racing convention colors, which can be automatically or manually activated to alert drivers of hazards or safety conditions, utilizing UHF, Satellite, or GSM communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a master control station generates transmissions to vehicles, then hazard information can be communicated to vehicles, but the system complexity increases and response time is delayed as the master control must first receive hazard information before transmitting warnings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehazard information communication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the centralized master control system into distributed peer-to-peer communication units in each vehicle. Each vehicle independently transmits and receives hazard warnings directly from other vehicles, eliminating the need for a central control station to relay information. This segmentation reduces system complexity while maintaining reliable hazard communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-positions communication devices and warning indicators in each vehicle before hazards occur. When a hazard is detected by any vehicle, the warning is immediately transmitted to all other vehicles without requiring master control processing. This preliminary setup enables instant response while reducing operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If visual indicators persist until deactivated, then drivers have sufficient time to react to hazards, but the system requires manual deactivation which increases operational complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedriver reaction reliabilityVSAvoidindicator deactivation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The warning indicators operate in periodic cycles - automatically activating when hazards are detected and automatically deactivating when hazards are resolved or acknowledged. This periodic operation ensures drivers have adequate reaction time while eliminating manual intervention requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates automatic feedback mechanisms where the persistence of visual indicators is dynamically controlled based on hazard status. When hazards are detected, indicators activate and remain persistent until the hazard condition changes, at which point they automatically deactivate. This feedback loop provides sufficient reaction time without requiring manual deactivation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2609582B1A vehicle safety warning and information system
Publication Date: 2019.10.09 STATUS TECH
  • EP2609582B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2609582B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2609582B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c

AI summary

The present invention provides an improved vehicle safety warning system which enables a warning of a potential or an actual hazard to be transmitted via a signal between two or more vehicles, a device for use in such a system and an improved vehicle rally safety warning and information system.