Wireless Emergency Vehicle Alerts for Path-Relevant Driver Warning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing alert systems for emergency vehicles, such as sirens and lights, are inadequate due to environmental and user-based factors that degrade the perception of alerts, leading to reduced awareness among road users and potential interference with the emergency vehicle's progress.
Innovation Solution
Emergency vehicles broadcast wireless alert signals using transmitters configured to provide information about their presence, location, and type, which are received by devices in vehicles or mobile devices to generate alerts through haptics, audio, and visual indicators, and determine the likelihood of the emergency vehicle affecting the user's path before generating alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless alert signals are broadcast to improve awareness, then road user awareness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless communication devices (transmitters in emergency vehicles, receivers in road user devices) as intermediaries to convey alert information. This mediator approach enables reliable awareness improvement through structured signal transmission while managing system complexity through standardized communication protocols and modular device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The alert signal system is designed to serve multiple functions: providing presence indication, direction information, distance data, and emergency vehicle identification. This multi-functionality improves reliability comprehensively while avoiding the need for separate specialized systems for each function, thereby managing overall system complexity.
2Loss of time
If alert signals are broadcast at greater distance, then early warning capability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmitter broadcasts alert signals periodically rather than continuously, providing early warning capability at extended distances while significantly reducing energy consumption. The periodic transmission allows road users to receive timely alerts while the transmitter conserves energy during non-transmission intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters including broadcast distance, signal power, and transmission frequency based on operational conditions. This enables the system to achieve early warning at greater distances when needed while reducing energy consumption during normal operating conditions.
3Reliability
If multiple alert modalities are used, then alert effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving device is designed with multi-functionality to process and respond to various alert modalities (visual, auditory, haptic) through a single integrated system. This universal approach improves alert effectiveness by providing multiple sensory channels while managing device complexity through consolidated processing architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes alert parameters such as intensity, frequency, and modality based on detected conditions and user preferences. This allows the system to improve effectiveness by adapting to different situations while managing complexity through parameter adjustment rather than requiring separate dedicated systems for each alert type.
4Loss of information
If alert information includes detailed characteristics, then information quality is improved, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of information detail transmitted based on operational needs, receiver capabilities, and channel conditions. This allows the system to maintain high information quality when necessary while reducing data transmission requirements and energy consumption during normal operations through selective information broadcasting.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to improving alerts for emergency vehicles. In one embodiment, a method includes, responsive to detecting, using an electronic device, an alert signal from a nearby vehicle, determining one or more characteristics of the nearby vehicle from at least the alert signal. The method further includes providing an alert according to the one or more characteristics.