Vehicle Vision Safety Control for Pre-Impact Rear Collision Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle imaging systems lack the capability to detect imminent rear collisions in time to deploy effective safety measures, as impact-based sensors react too late to prevent occupant harm.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle vision system utilizing rearward-facing cameras and image processing to detect approaching objects or vehicles, triggering safety features like adjustable headrests and seat restraints before an impact occurs, thereby reducing potential harm to occupants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If impact-based sensors are used to detect collisions, then the detection is reliable, but the response time is too late to prevent occupant harm
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of approaching vehicles using rearward-facing cameras and image processing algorithms before impact occurs. The control system calculates time-to-collision and triggers safety features (headrest adjustment, seat restraints) in advance, allowing preventive action rather than reactive response after impact detection.
2Loss of time
If vision systems with image processing are implemented, then early collision detection is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The rearward-facing camera system serves multiple functions: it provides backup viewing assistance for the driver and simultaneously enables advanced collision detection and safety feature activation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors, thereby limiting the increase in overall system complexity while achieving early detection capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicular safety system includes a rearward-viewing camera, a forward-viewing camera and an interior-viewing camera configured to be disposed at a vehicle. Image data captured by the forward-viewing camera is processed for (i) headlamp control, (ii) lane departure warning and/or (iii) object detection. Image data captured by the interior-viewing camera is processed for internal cabin surveillance. Responsive at least in part to processing of image data captured by at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rearward-viewing camera, (ii) the forward-viewing camera and (iii) the interior-viewing camera, and when reverse gear of the vehicle is not engaged, and responsive to determination of a potential collision involving the vehicle, a safety feature of the vehicle is triggered before actual collision occurs. If actual collision does not occur, the triggered safety feature returns to its condition that existed prior to determination of the potential collision.