Pre-collision Water Submersion Detection and Pressure Equalization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles submerged in water pose a safety risk for occupants due to increased external pressure making it difficult to open doors and escape, and occupants may panic or be unaware of the danger, necessitating an automatic sensing system to ensure occupant safety.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising sensors (IMU, GPS, RADAR/LIDAR, suspension, wheel rotation, and image sensors) that detect the vehicle's condition and an electronic control unit (ECU) to determine if the vehicle is falling into water, triggering actions like opening doors and windows, and pressure equalization to facilitate escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle doors remain closed during water submersion, then the structural integrity of the vehicle is maintained, but the occupants cannot escape due to increased external water pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically opening the vehicle doors and windows before the vehicle is fully submerged in water. The sensor detects water contact or submersion conditions and triggers the ECU to open doors and windows in advance, equalizing pressure and enabling occupant escape before the critical moment when water pressure makes door opening impossible
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by counteracting the harmful effect of water pressure buildup before it becomes critical. By opening doors and windows proactively upon detecting water contact, the system prevents the pressure differential from reaching levels that would make escape impossible, thereby neutralizing the harmful pressure effect in advance
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to accurately detect water submersion, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple sensor types (IMU, GPS, RADAR/LIDAR, suspension sensors, wheel rotation sensors, and image sensors) into a unified detection system controlled by a single ECU. This integration allows cross-validation of data from different sensors to accurately determine water submersion conditions while centralizing control logic, thereby achieving high detection accuracy without proportionally increasing system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The ECU serves as a universal control unit that processes data from multiple different sensor types and coordinates multiple vehicle functions (door opening, window opening, pressure equalization). This multi-functional approach allows a single control system to handle diverse sensor inputs and execute various safety actions, reducing the need for separate dedicated control circuits for each sensor or function
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system accurately detects water submersion and automatically adjusts vehicle features to equalize pressure, enhancing occupant safety and emergency responder safety by facilitating easier exit from submerged vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
an inertial measurement unit (IMU) configured to detect vertical acceleration
Implementation Method 2
a pressure equalization device configured to equalize a pressure differential between an interior of the vehicle and an exterior of the vehicle
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for automatically responding to a vehicle falling into water. The system includes a sensor configured to detect sensor data indicating whether the vehicle is falling into water. The system also includes an electronic control unit (ECU) connected to the sensor. The ECU is configured to determine that the vehicle is falling into water based on the sensor data. The ECU is also configured to adjust at least one feature of the vehicle in response to the determination that the vehicle is falling into water.