Vehicle Warning System for Animate Object Collision Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle warning systems are limited in their ability to detect and alert animate objects, such as pedestrians and animals, of potential hazards posed by moving vehicles, particularly in scenarios where the probability of collision is high.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle-mounted warning system that utilizes sensors and cameras to detect the trajectory of both the vehicle and animate objects, evaluating the probability of intersection to autonomously issue warnings through horns, lights, or messages to alert the object of potential hazards and potentially take avoidance actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If vehicle warning systems use existing sensors and detection capabilities for their traditional functions, then the system reliability is maintained, but the system cannot detect and alert animate objects of potential hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling existing vehicle sensors (cameras, LIDAR, radar) to perform both their traditional functions and new functions of detecting animate objects. The sensor system is configured to detect trajectories of both vehicles and animate objects, evaluating probability of intersection to issue warnings to pedestrians and animals, thereby making the same hardware serve multiple purposes without requiring entirely new detection systems
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the warning system expands sensor usage to detect animate objects and evaluate collision probability, then the detection capability for hazards is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses existing multi-functional sensors that can detect both vehicles and animate objects, avoiding the need for separate dedicated sensors. The processor evaluates multiple parameters (trajectories, speeds, probabilities) using the same sensor data stream, thereby improving detection capability without proportionally increasing hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the detection of animate objects with the existing vehicle detection and collision warning functions. The same sensor array and processor that monitor for vehicle collisions are also configured to detect pedestrians and animals, combining multiple detection functions into a unified system rather than separate systems
3Ease of manufacture
If the system issues warnings to animate objects using existing vehicle warning components, then the implementation cost is reduced, but the warning effectiveness to external objects is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional warning direction by having the vehicle warn animate objects (pedestrians, animals) rather than only warning the driver about them. The system uses the vehicle's existing external warning components (horns, lights, speakers) to emit warnings outward toward detected animate objects, reversing the conventional inward-focused warning system
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure generally pertains to systems and methods for issuing a hazard warning to an animate object located in a vicinity of a vehicle. In an example method, a processor in a warning system of a vehicle, detects an animate object (a person or an animal) in the vicinity of a first vehicle and determines a hazard posed to the animate object. The hazard, which may be caused by the first vehicle or another vehicle that is moving in a collision course with the animate object, can be evaluated by determining a trajectory of the animate object and a trajectory of the vehicle. If the probability of intersection of the two trajectories exceeds a threshold intersection probability level, the processor recognizes a hazard and issues a warning to the animate object (a horn beep, flashing lights, or a text message to a smart device of the person).