Automated vehicle control and guidance based on real-time blind corner navigational analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9983013-B1
Application number	US-201615205046-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jul 8, 2016
Priority date	Jul 8, 2016
Publication date	May 29, 2018
Grant date	May 29, 2018

Abstract

Methods, computer-readable media, systems and apparatuses for determining a blind corner navigational score based on real-time or near real-time navigational analysis using sensor data, digital image data, and a map database are discussed. In some arrangements, detection of a blind sensor may be performing using sensor data, digital image data, and navigational data from a map database system. In at least some arrangements, a warning signal or a vehicle control signal may be transmitted to a vehicle in response to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a threshold. In at least some arrangements, route correction and/or route modification based on an upcoming blind corner may be performed if a blind corner navigational score is above a threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A blind corner navigation system, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the
at least one processor, cause the blind corner navigation system to:
receive predefined navigational data from a map database system;
process the predefined navigational data to detect an upcoming blind corner;
receive dynamic navigational data from a digital imaging device;
process the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score, the blind corner navigational score indicating a likelihood that the upcoming blind corner is visible from a vantage point of a vehicle;
determine whether the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold; and
responsive to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold, transmitting one or more of a warning signal or a vehicle control signal to the vehicle.

2. The blind corner navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the digital imaging device is mounted on the vehicle and wherein the dynamic navigational data comprises one or more digital images transmitted from the digital imaging device.

3. The blind corner navigation system of claim 2 , wherein processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score comprises performing image analysis on the one or more digital images.

4. The blind corner navigation system of claim 3 , wherein the predefined navigational data includes information indicative of a location of a landmark.

5. The blind corner navigation system of claim 4 , wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score further comprises determining whether the landmark is visible within the one or more digital images.

6. The blind corner navigation system of claim 1 , wherein the transmitting the one or more of a warning signal or a vehicle control signal to the vehicle comprises:
responsive to determining that the blind corner navigational score is above a second threshold, transmitting a first audio signal to the vehicle; and
responsive to determining that the blind corner navigational score is above a third threshold, transmitting a first vehicle control signal to the vehicle.

7. The blind corner navigation system of claim 6 , wherein the first vehicle control signal is associated with a vehicle control event that is adjusted based on a response time of the vehicle.

8. The blind corner navigational system of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is initially determined based on a driving profile of a driver of the vehicle and is dynamically modified based on weather conditions.

9. The blind corner navigational system of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is dynamically modified based on a condition of a road on which the vehicle is currently located.

10. A blind corner navigation system, comprising:
a blind corner navigation server comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the blind corner navigation server to:
receive predefined navigational data from a map database system;
process the predefined navigational data to detect an upcoming blind corner;
receive dynamic navigational data from a digital imaging device;
process the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score, the blind corner navigational score indicating a likelihood that the upcoming blind corner is visible from a vantage point of a vehicle;
determine whether the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold; and
responsive to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold, transmitting a warning signal to the vehicle; and

an on-board vehicle computing device associated with the vehicle, the on-board vehicle computing device comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the on-board vehicle computing device to:
receive, from the blind corner navigation server, the warning signal; and
provide, via a display of the on-board vehicle computing device, an audio or video message associated with the warning signal.

11. The blind corner navigation system of claim 10 , wherein the digital imaging device is mounted on the vehicle and wherein the dynamic navigational data comprises one or more digital images transmitted from the digital imaging device.

12. The blind corner navigation system of claim 11 , wherein the one or more digital images are transmitted in real-time.

13. The blind corner navigation system of claim 11 , wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score comprises performing image analysis on the one or more digital images.

14. The blind corner navigation system of claim 13 , wherein the predefined navigational data includes information indicative of a landmark.

15. The blind corner navigation system of claim 14 , wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score further comprises determining whether the landmark is visible within the one or more digital images.

16. A method of determining a blind corner navigational score, comprising:
receiving predefined navigational data from a map database system;
processing the predefined navigational data to detect an upcoming blind corner;
receiving dynamic navigational data from a digital imaging device;
processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score, the blind corner navigational score indicating a likelihood that the upcoming blind corner is visible from a vantage point of a vehicle;
determining whether the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold; and
responsive to a determination that the blind corner navigational score is above a first threshold, transmitting one or more of a warning signal or a vehicle control signal to the vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the digital imaging device is mounted on the vehicle and wherein the dynamic navigational data comprises one or more digital images transmitted from the digital imaging device.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score comprises performing image analysis on the one or more digital images.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the predefined navigational data includes information indicative of a location of a landmark.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the processing the dynamic navigational data to determine a blind corner navigational score further comprises determining whether the landmark is visible within the one or more digital images.

Assignees

• Allstate Insurance Co

Inventors

• Krunic Veljko
• Chintakindi Sunil
• Gibson Timothy W
• Hayes Howard
• Kumar Surender

Classifications

• G01C21/3629

  Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech (text to speech systems per se G10L13/00) · CPC title

• G01C21/3644

  Landmark guidance, e.g. using POIs or conspicuous other objects · CPC title

• G01C21/3697 Primary

  Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level (G01C21/3679 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01C21/3407 Primary

  specially adapted for specific applications · CPC title

• G06F18/2415

  based on parametric or probabilistic models, e.g. based on likelihood ratio or false acceptance rate versus a false rejection rate · CPC title