Wearable VRU Collision Mitigation with Biosignal Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists, are at a higher risk of injury or fatality in traffic collisions due to lack of awareness of their presence by both themselves and vehicle drivers, leading to inadequate collision mitigation strategies.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that determines biosignal and physical movement parameters of vulnerable road users and vehicles to estimate the probability of collision, providing human-machine interface outputs on wearable devices, vehicle head units, or portable devices to alert both users and drivers of potential collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional collision detection systems are used, then vehicle-to-vehicle collision warning is provided, but vulnerable road users cannot be detected or warned
Solution Approach 1:
The wearable computing device serves multiple functions: it detects vulnerable road users, estimates collision probability, provides warnings to both VRUs and drivers, and integrates with vehicle systems. This multi-functional approach allows the same system to protect both vehicle occupants and vulnerable road users across different scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable computing device acts as an intermediary between vulnerable road users and the vehicle collision mitigation system. It equips VRUs with sensing and communication capabilities, enabling them to participate in the collision avoidance ecosystem without requiring modifications to vehicles or infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive biosignal and movement parameter monitoring is implemented, then collision probability estimation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the collision mitigation functionality across multiple components: wearable device for VRU monitoring, vehicle head unit for driver interaction, and cloud server for complex computations. This segmentation allows each component to have optimized complexity appropriate to its function.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable computing device autonomously monitors biosignal parameters and physical movement parameters, processes this data locally to determine VRU context, and communicates with the vehicle system. This self-service capability reduces the processing burden on the vehicle system while maintaining high measurement precision.
3Reliability
If real-time collision warning is provided to both VRUs and drivers, then collision prevention capability is enhanced, but information loss is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements bidirectional feedback: warnings are provided to VRUs through the wearable device and to drivers through the vehicle head unit. This feedback loop ensures both parties are informed of collision risks, enabling coordinated avoidance actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system estimates collision probability in advance and provides warnings before actual collision occurs. This preliminary action allows both VRUs and drivers to take preventive measures, such as changing trajectory or speed, to avoid the predicted collision.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for vehicle collision mitigation with vulnerable road user context sensing. The system and method include determining one or more biosignal parameters and one or more physical movement parameters associated with a vulnerable road user (VRU). The system and method also include determining a context of the VRU based on the one or more biosignal parameters and one or more physical movement parameters associated with the VRU. Additionally, the system and method include determining one or more physical movement parameters associated with a vehicle. The system and method further include estimating a probability of collision between the VRU and the vehicle. The system and method also include providing a human machine interface output response based on the estimation of probability of collision between the VRU and the vehicle.