Vehicle Observability System Blind Spot Zone Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle safety systems fail to adequately enhance observability in traffic situations, particularly in blind spots and areas hidden by vehicle pillars, leading to increased collision risks due to inadequate monitoring of surrounding vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle observability enhancing system comprising a processing unit and sensors that determine the position of a host vehicle within observable, unsafe unobservable, or safe unobservable zones relative to detected vehicles, generating control signals to maintain the host vehicle in observable zones for a predefined time before entering unsafe zones, thereby reducing collision risks through semi-autonomous or autonomous control and alert mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are added to cover blind spots and unobservable zones, then observability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensor types (cameras, radar, lidar) into an integrated sensor system that collectively monitors all zones around the host vehicle. By merging these sensing capabilities into a unified system with centralized processing, the patent achieves comprehensive observability while managing device complexity through integration rather than separate independent systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting vehicles in blind spots, monitoring unobservable zones, determining zone classifications (observable, unsafe unobservable, safe unobservable), and providing data for both warning alerts and autonomous control decisions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems for each function.
2Reliability
If the system maintains the host vehicle in observable zones for a predefined time, then collision risk is reduced, but loss of time occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary classification of zones around the host vehicle into observable, unsafe unobservable, and safe unobservable zones before executing maneuver decisions. By pre-determining which zones are safe for immediate entry and which require delayed entry, the system prepares advance guidance for the autonomous drive system, reducing reaction time during critical moments while maintaining safety through the predefined time duration requirement for unsafe zones.
3Reliability
If the system provides detailed zone classification and control signals, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the surrounding environment into distinct zone segments: observable zones, unsafe unobservable zones, and safe unobservable zones. Each zone is independently classified and assigned specific control strategies. This segmentation allows the processing unit to apply simplified decision rules to each zone type rather than evaluating all possible scenarios globally, managing processing complexity through structured division of the monitoring space.
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
A vehicle (50), a method (100) and a vehicle observability enhancing system (1) are provided. The system (1) is arranged to determine if the host vehicle (50) is positioned within selectively one of; an observable zone (A) of at least one detected vehicle (60), or an unsafe unobservable zone (B) of the at least one detected vehicle (60), and, if the host vehicle (50) is positioned within the observable zone (A) the system (1) is arranged to generate a control signal indicative of maintaining the host vehicle (50) in the observable zone (A) of the at least one detected vehicle (60) for at least a predefined time duration before the host vehicle (50) is allowed to enter an unsafe unobservable zone (B) of the at least one detected vehicle (60).