Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11945367-B2
Application number	US-202117304539-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2021
Priority date	Jun 23, 2020
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

Systems and methods for deploying emergency roadside signaling devices are disclosed. In one aspect, a control system for an object placing device of an autonomous vehicle includes a processor, and a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to: receive a signal comprising instructions to activate the object placing device; and provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An emergency roadside signaling system of an autonomous vehicle, the system comprising:
a housing;
an object placing device to be stored in the housing; and
a control system for the object placing device, the control system including:
a communication system to communicate with an in-vehicle control system of the autonomous vehicle, a processor, and
a computer-readable memory in communication with the processor and having stored thereon computer-executable instructions to cause the processor to:
determine that communication between the control system for the object placing device and the in-vehicle control system of the autonomous vehicle using the communication system has been inhibited or lost; and
in response to determining that the communication between the control system for the object placing device and the in-vehicle control system of the autonomous vehicle has been inhibited or lost, provide instructions to the object placing device to place a plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprise at least one of:
a first set of criteria for placements of the plurality of signaling devices when the autonomous vehicle is stopped on a two-way or undivided highway;
a second set of criteria for the placements of the plurality of signaling devices when the autonomous vehicle is stopped on a hill, on a curve, or within a predetermined distance of a visual obstruction; or
a third set of criteria for the placements of the plurality of signaling devices when the autonomous vehicle is stopped on a divided or one-way roadway.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least the first set of criteria, and wherein the first set of criteria comprises:
a first location for a first one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed on a traffic side of a stopped location at which the autonomous vehicle is stopped and about 10 feet from the stopped location in a direction of approaching traffic;
a second location for a second one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed at about 100 feet from the stopped location in a center of a traffic lane or shoulder of the stopped location and in the direction of approaching traffic; and
a third location for a third one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed at about 100 feet from the stopped location in the center of the traffic lane or the shoulder of the stopped location and in a direction away from approaching traffic.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the first set of criteria further comprise criteria for placements of all of the first, second, and third signaling devices at the first, second, and third locations, respectively, within 10 minutes.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein:
each of the plurality of signaling devices comprises a reflective side having a reflective material; and
the first set of criteria further comprise criteria for placing the first, second, and third signaling devices such that the reflective side of the first, second, and third signaling devices faces the direction of approaching traffic.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein the object placing device comprises one or more signaling device ground transportation vehicles configured to transport the first, second, and third signaling devices to the first, second, and third locations, respectively.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the object placing device comprises one or more battery powered air vehicles configured to transport the first, second, and third signaling devices to the first, second, and third locations, respectively.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least the second set of criteria, and wherein the second set of criteria comprises:
a first location for a first one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed on a traffic side of a stopped location at which the autonomous vehicle is stopped and about 10 feet from the stopped location in a direction of approaching traffic; and
a second location for a second one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed at about 100 feet to about 500 feet from the stopped location in the direction of approaching traffic.

9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criteria comprises at least the third set of criteria, and wherein the third set of criteria comprises:
a first location for a first one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed on a traffic side of a stopped location at which the autonomous vehicle is stopped and about 10 feet from the stopped location in a direction of approaching traffic,
a second location for a second one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed at about 100 feet from the stopped location in a center of a traffic lane or shoulder of the stopped location and in the direction of approaching traffic, and
a third location for a third one of the plurality of signaling devices to be placed at about 200 feet from the stopped location in a center of the traffic lane or shoulder of the stopped location and in the direction of approaching traffic.

10. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined criteria further comprise a fourth set of criteria for the placements of the plurality of signaling devices when the autonomous vehicle is: i) stopped in a business district or residential area, ii) at a time when lighted lamps are required, and iii) when street or highway lighting is insufficient to make the autonomous vehicle clearly discernable at a distance of 500 feet from the autonomous vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the memory further has stored thereon computer executable instructions to cause the processor to:
determine that the autonomous vehicle is stopped on or near a roadway,
wherein the providing the instructions to the object placing device to place the plurality of signaling devices in accordance with predetermined criteria is further in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle is stopped on or near a roadway.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor located within the housing,
wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processor to, in response to determining that the communication between the control system for the object placing device and the in-vehicle control system of the autonomous vehicle has been inhibited or lost, determine that the autonomous vehicle has stopped based on a signal received from the sensor, and
wherein providing the instructions to the object placing device to place the plurality of signaling devices is further in response to determining that the autonomous vehicle has stopped based on the signal received from the sensor.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, cause at least one computing device of an emergency roadside signaling system to:
determine that communication between a communications system of the emergency roadside signaling system and an in-vehicle control system of an autonomous vehicle has been inhibited or lost, the emergency roadside signaling system comprising a housing, an object placing device to be stored in the housing, and a control system for the object placing device, the control system including the communication system configured to communicate with an in-vehicle control system of the autonomous vehicle; and
in response to determining that the communication between the control system for the object placing device of the autonomous vehicle and the in-vehicle control system of the autonomous vehicle has been in

Assignees

• Tusimple Inc

Inventors

• Price Charles A
• Skinner Todd B
• Ning Juexiao
• Liu Yishi
• Li Qiwei
• Thomas Raymond Alan
• Camyre Alan
• Giglio Jim
• Brown Robert Patrick

Classifications

• B60Q7/00 Primary

  Arrangement or adaptation of portable emergency signal devices on vehicles · CPC title

• B60W60/0015

  specially adapted for safety · CPC title

• E01F9/619

  with reflectors; with means for keeping reflectors clean · CPC title

• E01F9/629

  Traffic guidance, warning or control posts, bollards, pillars or like upstanding bodies or structures · CPC title

• E01F9/70

  Storing, transporting, placing or retrieving portable devices · CPC title