Vehicle Incident Response Control for Automated Warning Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying and responding to vehicle incidents rely heavily on manual observations and vehicle-to-vehicle communications, which are limited to reporting accident information and do not facilitate automated responses or coordinated actions by vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for motor vehicles that include communication, autonomous control, and signaling systems, enabling vehicles to autonomously respond to incident messages by providing visual warnings and autonomously driving to designated locations to form protective barriers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual observations and vehicle-to-vehicle communications are used to identify and report vehicle incidents, then accident information can be conveyed between vehicles, but automated responses and coordinated actions by vehicles cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the incident response function into separate modular components: communication system for receiving incident messages, autonomous control system for decision-making and coordination, and signaling system for visual warnings. Each component operates independently but integrates through standardized interfaces, enabling automated response while maintaining manageable system complexity through functional segmentation.
2Reliability
If vehicles autonomously drive to incident locations to form protective barriers, then safety is enhanced by providing physical protection and facilitating emergency access, but vehicle control and coordination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple vehicle functions into a coordinated autonomous response system. The communication system, autonomous control system, and signaling system are merged into an integrated incident handling system that processes incident information, coordinates vehicle movements, and activates warnings simultaneously. This merging enables comprehensive safety responses while managing complexity through unified system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where vehicles continuously monitor incident conditions, track their own and other vehicles' positions, and adjust their responses accordingly. The autonomous control system receives feedback from the communication system about incident status and from sensors about environmental conditions, then adjusts vehicle routing and signaling actions to optimize safety outcomes while managing control complexity through adaptive decision-making.
3Loss of information
If vehicles autonomously activate signaling systems to provide visual warnings, then nearby vehicles are alerted to incidents, but energy consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The signaling system operates using periodic action by activating visual warnings only during specific periods when incident information needs to be disseminated. The system monitors incident conditions and activates signaling periodically based on the relevance and urgency of incident information, rather than continuous operation. This approach maximizes information dissemination effectiveness while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during periods when warnings are not required.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems that allow one or more vehicles to take automated actions in response to a vehicle incident. Vehicle-to-vehicle communications are used to convey information about a vehicle incident to other vehicles in the vicinity of the incident site. The automated actions include warning nearby drivers of the incident by deploying a visual signal or beacon, such as engaging hazard lights on nearby vehicles. The automated actions may also include routing one or more vehicles to various locations around the incident site to provide a protective barrier and/or to facilitate guiding vehicles to and/or around the incident site.