Wireless Accident Alerts for Driverless Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing driverless vehicle systems face challenges in quickly responding to potential accidents, especially in heavy traffic conditions, as reliance on onboard sensors alone can result in delayed reaction times due to the time required for sensor detection and signal processing, which may lead to increased risk of collisions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where vehicles wirelessly transmit accident prediction data and alerts using non-visual electromagnetic radiation, allowing adjacent cars to respond proactively to potential hazards before sensors detect them, thereby reducing reaction time and the risk of accidents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If vehicles rely on onboard sensors to detect traffic events, then the system can identify hazards, but the reaction time is delayed due to sensor detection and signal processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by wirelessly transmitting accident prediction data before the actual hazard occurs. Vehicles send alerts about potential accidents to adjacent vehicles in advance, allowing receiving vehicles to prepare protective measures before the hazard materializes, thus reducing reaction time while maintaining detection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary mechanism that transfers hazard information between vehicles. Instead of relying solely on local sensor detection, vehicles use wireless alerts as intermediaries to receive advance notice of potential accidents from other vehicles, enabling faster response without compromising detection precision
2Reliability
If vehicles transmit accident prediction data wirelessly to adjacent cars, then reaction time is reduced and accident risk decreases, but system complexity increases due to additional communication infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless communication system is designed with multi-functionality, serving both accident prediction data transmission and general vehicle-to-vehicle communication needs. By making the communication infrastructure universal, the patent reduces the need for dedicated specialized hardware, thereby managing system complexity while enhancing accident avoidance capability
Solution Approach 2:
Each vehicle independently generates and transmits its own accident prediction data using its onboard sensors and processing systems. The system is self-service in that vehicles autonomously create and broadcast alerts without requiring centralized coordination, simplifying the overall system architecture while improving reliability through distributed intelligence
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the third vehicle receives and acts on accident alerts from first and second vehicles, then the likelihood and severity of collisions is reduced, but the complexity of decision-making and control actions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the effectiveness of protective measures taken in response to accident alerts. The third vehicle's onboard computer evaluates whether received alerts led to successful avoidance or mitigation, and uses this feedback to refine future decision-making, reducing collision severity while managing control complexity through learned optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing selective response strategies where the third vehicle takes protective measures based on the specific nature and urgency of received alerts. Not all alerts require full protective action, allowing the system to reduce collision severity proportionally to the actual risk level, thereby managing control complexity through graduated response levels
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
This approach enhances the ability of driverless vehicles to anticipate and mitigate potential accidents by enabling quicker responses to emerging hazards, reducing the likelihood and severity of collisions in complex traffic scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
vehicles wirelessly transmit accident prediction data and alerts using non-visual electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
AI summary
This patent application discloses methods and systems for alerting computerized motor-vehicles about predicted accidents. In an example method, a motor vehicle alerts another motor vehicle about a predicted accident, even though that accident is between the alerting car and a third motor vehicle—for example, the alert is transmitted by non-visual electromagnetic (EM) radiation. When an adjacent motor vehicle receives such accident alert and determines it might itself be hit, it will react so as to minimize its chances of being hit or at least to minimize the damage if it is being hit. Optionally, one or more of the motor vehicles has an onboard device for measuring a blood-alcohol level of a human driver thereof. The measured blood-alcohol level may be used to compute a probability of an occurrence of an accident and/or may be included in one or more of the transmitted accident alerts.