Collision mitigation and avoidance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016362104-A1
Application number	US-201615005037-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 25, 2016
Priority date	Jun 10, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An intersection of a host vehicle and a target vehicle is identified. Data relating to the target vehicle are collected. A map of a surrounding environment is developed. A driver intent probability is determined based at least in part on the map. A threat estimation is determined based at least in part on the driver intent probability. At least one of a plurality of safety systems is activated based at least in part on the threat estimation.

First claim

1 . A system, comprising:
a computer having a processor and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the computer to: identify a target object; identify a potential intersection of a host vehicle and the target object; identify one or more data collectors to provide data for analyzing the intersection; collect data relating to the host vehicle and the target object from the data collectors; develop a coordinate map of a surrounding environment based at least in part on the collected data; and activate at least one of a plurality of vehicle safety systems based at least in part on a threat estimation obtained by analyzing the map.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the data include a velocity and an acceleration of the object, wherein the velocity includes at least one of a lateral velocity and a longitudinal velocity, and the acceleration includes at least one of a lateral acceleration and a longitudinal acceleration, and wherein the threat estimation is based on at least one of a brake threat number, a steering threat number, and an acceleration threat number, the brake threat number being a measure of a change in the host vehicle longitudinal acceleration to allow one of the host vehicle to stop or the object to pass the host vehicle, the steering threat number being a measure of a change in the host vehicle lateral acceleration to allow one of the host vehicle and the object to clear a crossing zone, and the acceleration threat number is a measure of a specific longitudinal acceleration to allow one of the host vehicle and the object to pass the other of the host vehicle and the object.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one vehicle safety system is selectively activated based at least in part on at least one of the lateral velocity, the longitudinal velocity, the lateral acceleration, and the longitudinal acceleration.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle safety systems include at least one of brake assist, warning, steering assist, torque assist, passive safety, and head lamp systems.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions include instructions to adjust a brake sensitivity of the brake assist system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to adjust a steering wheel sensitivity of the steering assist system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

7 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to adjust an acceleration sensitivity of the torque assist system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

8 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to adjust at least one of a high beam activation, a head lamp aim, and a head lamp photometric pattern of the head lamp system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further include instructions to integrate the map into a digital road network map providing an X-Y-Z Cartesian road network coordinate map.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the target object is a target vehicle, wherein the instructions further include instructions to use the map to determine a target vehicle driver intent probability that is a measure of a probable trajectory of the target vehicle, and a host vehicle driver intent probability, being a measure of a probable trajectory of the host vehicle, and, based at least in part on the target vehicle driver intent probability, produce a threat estimation that is a measure of a probability of a collision between the host vehicle and the target vehicle.

11 . A method, comprising:
identifying a target vehicle; identifying a vehicle path intersection of a host vehicle and the target vehicle; determining a number of data collectors to use during the vehicle path intersection; collecting data relating to the host vehicle and the target vehicle from the data collectors; fusing the data from the data collectors; developing a map of a surrounding environment based at least in part on the data; using the map to determine a target vehicle driver intent probability, being a measure of a probable trajectory of the target vehicle, and a host vehicle driver intent probability, being a measure of a probable trajectory of the host vehicle; based at least in part on the target vehicle driver intent probability, producing a threat estimation that is a measure of a probability of a collision between the host vehicle and the target vehicle; and activating at least one of a plurality of vehicle safety systems based at least in part on the threat estimation.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the data include a velocity and an acceleration of the target vehicle, wherein the velocity includes at least one of a lateral velocity and a longitudinal velocity, and the acceleration includes at least one of a lateral acceleration and a longitudinal acceleration and wherein the threat estimation is based on at least one of a brake threat number, a steering threat number, and an acceleration threat number, the brake threat number being a measure of a change in the host vehicle longitudinal acceleration to allow one of the host vehicle to stop or the target vehicle to pass the host vehicle, the steering threat number being a measure of a change in the host vehicle lateral acceleration to allow one of the host vehicle and the target vehicle to clear a crossing zone, and the acceleration threat number is a measure of a specific longitudinal acceleration to allow one of the host vehicle and the target vehicle to pass the other of the host vehicle and the target vehicle.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one vehicle safety system is selectively activated based at least in part on the lateral velocity, the longitudinal velocity, the lateral acceleration, and the longitudinal acceleration.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle safety systems include at least one of brake assist, warning, steering assist, torque assist, passive safety, and head lamp systems.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusts a brake sensitivity of the brake assist system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

16 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusts a steering wheel sensitivity of the steering assist system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

17 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting an acceleration sensitivity of the torque assist system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising adjusting at least one of a high beam activation, a head lamp aim, and a head lamp photometric pattern of the head lamp system based at least in part on the threat estimation.

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising integrating the map into a digital road network map providing an X-Y-Z Cartesian road network coordinate map.

20 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising using the map to determine a target vehicle driver intent probability that is a measure of a probable trajectory of the target vehicle, and a host vehicle driver intent probability, being a measure of a probable trajectory of the host vehicle, and, based at least in part on the target vehicle driver intent probability, producing a threat estimation that is a measure of a probability of a collision between the host vehicle and the target vehicle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Miller Alex Maurice
• Trombley Roger Arnold
• Deng Kun
• Pilutti Thomas Edward
• Piastowski Patrick

Classifications

• G07C5/085

  using electronic data carriers · CPC title

• B60W30/085

  Taking automatic action to adjust vehicle attitude in preparation for collision, e.g. braking for nose dropping · CPC title

• B60W30/0956 Primary

  the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters · CPC title

• B60W2520/125

  Lateral acceleration · CPC title

• B60W2520/12

  Lateral speed · CPC title