Vulnerable Road User Warning via Mobile Device Intermediary
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, are at high risk of injury or death due to the lack of a protective shell, and existing warning systems are not efficient in alerting them to imminent dangers in real-time.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize surroundings signals and communication address signals to transmit warning messages to mobile communication devices carried by vulnerable road users via wireless communication networks, allowing for remote and efficient warning of imminent dangers, including action instructions to mitigate risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional warning systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the warning efficiency and real-time alert capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces mobile communication devices as intermediaries between the warning system and vulnerable road users. These devices receive warning signals via wireless communication networks and deliver them to users through visual, acoustic, and haptic outputs, thereby improving warning efficiency without requiring direct integration into the road user's equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes existing mobile communication devices that serve multiple functions (communication, navigation, entertainment) as warning delivery platforms. This multi-functionality approach allows the warning system to leverage already-deployed infrastructure rather than creating dedicated warning devices, thus improving efficiency while controlling complexity
2Loss of time
If remote warning transmission is implemented, then the warning reach and timeliness are improved, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Wireless communication networks serve as intermediaries that enable remote warning transmission without requiring direct line-of-sight or complex point-to-point communication infrastructure. The network handles the complex signal routing and transmission, allowing timely warnings to reach users anywhere within network coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing mobile communication infrastructure that users already carry and utilize for other purposes. The mobile devices automatically handle signal reception, processing, and multi-mode output without requiring additional specialized equipment or complex setup, thereby reducing infrastructure complexity while maintaining fast warning delivery
Data Source
AI summary
A method for warning a vulnerable road user. The method includes: receiving surroundings signals, which represent a surroundings of the road user and the road user, receiving communication address signals, which represent a communication address of a mobile communication device, which the road user is carrying, ascertaining on the basis of the surroundings signals whether there is an imminent danger to the road user, in the event of an imminent danger to a road user, generating communication message signals, which represent a communication message for the mobile communication device that is to be transmitted to the communication address of the mobile communication device, the communication message comprising a warning to the road user, outputting the generated communication message signals in order to transmit the communication message to the communication address of the mobile communication device. A device, a computer program, and a machine-readable storage medium, are also described.