Smart road system for vehicles

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016036917-A1
Application number	US-201514814882-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 31, 2015
Priority date	Aug 1, 2014
Publication date	Feb 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A communication system for vehicles includes a plurality of communication devices integrated into a road. The communication devices are operable to wirelessly communicate with communication systems of vehicles traveling on the road. The communication devices may be electrically powered by solar power. The communication devices wirelessly communicate with a remote server of the communication system. The remote server receives information via the communication devices pertaining to the vehicles traveling on the road and, responsive at least in part to the received information, the remote server communicates information to the vehicles traveling on the road via the communication devices.

First claim

1 . A communication system for vehicles, said communication system comprising:
a plurality of communication devices integrated into a road; wherein said communication devices are operable to wirelessly communicate with communication systems of vehicles traveling on the road; wherein said communication devices are electrically powered by solar power; wherein said communication devices wirelessly communicate with a remote server of said communication system; and wherein said remote server receives information via said communication devices pertaining to the vehicles traveling on the road and, responsive at least in part to the received information, said remote server communicates information to the vehicles traveling on the road via said communication devices.

2 . The communication system of claim 1 , comprising a charging device disposed at the road for charging a battery of an electric vehicle traveling on the road, and wherein, responsive to a communication indicative of an electric vehicle traveling on the road, said charging device charges the battery of the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle travels on the road.

3 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein, responsive to a communication from an autonomous vehicle traveling on the road, said system communicates signals to an automated driving system of the autonomous vehicle to control the autonomous vehicle as it travels on the road.

4 . The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the communication from the autonomous vehicle includes information about a destination location and route that is entered for the autonomous vehicle to follow, and wherein, responsive to the communication from the autonomous vehicle, said remote server, which has environment information and road information pertaining to the destination location and route, transmits commands to the autonomous vehicle to control the autonomous vehicle from its current geographical location along the route and to the destination location.

5 . The communication system of claim 4 , wherein, responsive to information pertaining to at least one of (i) traffic condition information and (ii) weather information, said remote server is operable to adjust the route.

6 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein, responsive to a hazardous condition of a vehicle traveling on the road, said system communicates signals to a vehicle control system of the vehicle to control at least one of the throttle of the vehicle, the brakes of the vehicle and the steering of the vehicle as the vehicle travels on the road.

7 . The communication system of claim 1 , comprising a plurality of sensors disposed along the road for sensing the location of vehicles traveling on the road.

8 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein said communication devices comprise a plurality of receivers that receive communications from vehicles traveling on the road.

9 . The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle communications are substantially continuously transmitted by a vehicle communication system and wherein the vehicle communication identifies the particular vehicle traveling on the road.

10 . The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle communications communicate information pertaining to at least one of (i) sensors of the vehicle, (ii) actuators of the vehicle and (iii) driver intent information of the driver of the vehicle.

11 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the information received by said remote server includes driver intent information pertaining to the driver of one of the vehicles traveling on the road, and wherein, responsive to the driver intent information, said remote server communicates information pertaining to the driver intent information to other vehicles in the vicinity of the one of the vehicle traveling on the road.

12 . The communication system of claim 11 , wherein the driver intent information is input to driver assistance systems of the other vehicles.

13 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein said communication devices of the road communicate information to a vehicle traveling on the road pertaining to one of (i) the vehicle geographical location and (ii) a destination location and route for the vehicle, and wherein the information is communicated at least during situations where a GPS satellite reception at the vehicle is lost or interrupted.

14 . The communication system of claim 1 , wherein said communication devices of the road communicate lane information to a vehicle traveling on the road irrespective of image data captured by a camera of the vehicle.

15 . A communication system for vehicles, said communication system comprising:
a plurality of sensors integrated into a road for sensing the location of vehicles traveling on the road; a plurality of communication devices integrated into the road; wherein said communication devices comprise a plurality of receivers that receive communications from vehicles traveling on the road; wherein said communication devices are operable to wirelessly communicate with communication systems of vehicles traveling on the road; wherein said communication devices wirelessly communicate with a remote server of said communication system; wherein said remote server receives information via said communication devices pertaining to the vehicles traveling on the road and, responsive at least in part to the received information, said remote server communicates information to the vehicles traveling on the road via said communication devices; and wherein, responsive to a hazardous condition of a vehicle traveling on the road, said system communicates signals to a vehicle control system of the vehicle to control at least one of the throttle of the vehicle, the brakes of the vehicle and the steering of the vehicle as the vehicle travels on the road.

16 . The communication system of claim 15 , comprising a charging device disposed at the road for charging a battery of an electric vehicle traveling on the road, and wherein, responsive to a communication indicative of an electric vehicle traveling on the road, said charging device charges the battery of the electric vehicle as the electric vehicle travels on the road.

17 . The communication system of claim 15 , wherein the information received by said remote server includes driver intent information pertaining to the driver of one of the vehicles traveling on the road, and wherein, responsive to the driver intent information, said remote server communicates information pertaining to the driver intent information to other vehicles in the vicinity of the one of the vehicle traveling on the road.

18 . A communication system for vehicles, said communication system comprising:
a plurality of sensors integrated into a road for sensing the location of vehicles traveling on the road; a plurality of communication devices integrated into the road; wherein said communication devices comprise a plurality of receivers that receive communications from vehicles traveling on the road; wherein said communication devices are operable to wirelessly communicate with communication systems of vehicles traveling on the road; wherein said communication devices wirelessly communicate with a remote server of said communication system; wherein said remote server receives information via said communication devices pertaining to the vehicles traveling on the road and, responsive at least in part to the received information, said remote server communicates information to the vehicles traveling on the road via said c

Assignees

• Magna Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Koravadi Krishna
• Vanophem Paul A

Classifications

• G08G1/096783

  where the origin of the information is a roadside individual element · CPC title

• G08G1/096708

  where the received information might be used to generate an automatic action on the vehicle control · CPC title

• Y02T90/14

  Plug-in electric vehicles · CPC title

• G01C21/3415

  Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents · CPC title

• G05D1/0027

  involving a plurality of vehicles, e.g. fleet or convoy travelling (fleet control of land vehicles from a control room G05D1/0297; traffic control systems for road vehicles G08G1/00; for marine craft G08G3/00; for aircraft G08G5/00) · CPC title