Systems and methods for hazard mitigation
First Claim
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing environment to perform a method for mitigating vehicle collisions, the method comprising:
- detecting, with a sensor mounted on a subject vehicle, a second vehicle;
calculating whether a collision is avoidable or unavoidable, wherein the collision is avoidable if the collision can be avoided by accelerating or decelerating or steering the subject vehicle according to a first calculated set of one or more sequential accelerations or decelerations or steering actions, and wherein the collision is unavoidable if the collision cannot be avoided by accelerating or decelerating or steering the subject vehicle;
if the collision is unavoidable, calculating wherein on each vehicle a contact is projected to occur, and estimating, based on the calculated contact locations of each vehicle, the number of fatalities or a number of injuries expected to occur in the projected collision;
calculating, according to a formula, an amount of harm expected according to the projected collision; and
calculating and implementing a second set of one or more sequential accelerations or decelerations or steering actions to adjust the point of contact on each vehicle, such that the calculated amount of harm due to the collision is minimized.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to avoid collisions on highways, and to minimize the fatalities, injury, and damage when a collision is unavoidable. The system includes sensor means to detect other vehicles, and computing means to evaluate when a collision is imminent and to determine whether the collision is avoidable. If the collision is avoidable by a sequence of controlled accelerations and decelerations and steering, the system implements that sequence of actions automatically. If the collision is unavoidable, a different sequence is implemented to minimize the overall harm of the unavoidable collision. The system further includes indirect mitigation steps such as flashing the brake lights automatically. An optional post-collision strategy is implemented to prevent secondary collisions, particularly if the driver is incapacitated. Adjustment means enable the driver to set the type and timing of automatic interventions.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing environment to perform a method for mitigating vehicle collisions, the method comprising:
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detecting, with a sensor mounted on a subject vehicle, a second vehicle; calculating whether a collision is avoidable or unavoidable, wherein the collision is avoidable if the collision can be avoided by accelerating or decelerating or steering the subject vehicle according to a first calculated set of one or more sequential accelerations or decelerations or steering actions, and wherein the collision is unavoidable if the collision cannot be avoided by accelerating or decelerating or steering the subject vehicle; if the collision is unavoidable, calculating wherein on each vehicle a contact is projected to occur, and estimating, based on the calculated contact locations of each vehicle, the number of fatalities or a number of injuries expected to occur in the projected collision; calculating, according to a formula, an amount of harm expected according to the projected collision; and calculating and implementing a second set of one or more sequential accelerations or decelerations or steering actions to adjust the point of contact on each vehicle, such that the calculated amount of harm due to the collision is minimized. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing environment to perform a method for mitigating vehicle collisions, the method comprising:
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detecting, with a sensor mounted on a subject vehicle, a second vehicle; determining whether the subject vehicle is projected to collide with the second vehicle; if the subject vehicle is projected to collide with the second vehicle, calculating whether the collision can be avoided by accelerating the subject vehicle according to a first sequence of actions; if the first sequence of actions avoids the collision, then implementing the first sequence of actions; if the first sequence of actions fails to avoid the collision, then calculating how much harm would be caused by the collision, and calculating whether the collision could be avoided by any of a plurality of sequences of actions, and calculating how much harm would be caused by collisions according to each of the plurality of sequences of actions; and implementing a particular sequence of actions that would cause the least harm; wherein each sequence of actions includes a plurality of actions, each action comprising activating a brake or a steering mechanism or a throttle of the subject vehicle, and each action being applied at a predetermined time and with a predetermined intensity and for a predetermined time interval. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computing environment to perform a method for mitigating vehicle collisions, the method comprising:
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detecting a second vehicle; determining whether a collision is projected to occur between the subject vehicle and the second vehicle; if a collision is projected to occur, then calculating a first set of sequential actions to avoid the collision between the subject vehicle and the second vehicle; if the first set of sequential actions avoids the collision, implementing the first set of sequential actions; and if the first set of sequential actions fails to avoid the collision, calculating a second set of sequential actions, if the first and second sets of sequential actions both fail to avoid the collision, then calculating how much harm would be caused by the first set and by the second set of sequential actions, and implementing whichever set of sequential actions would cause the least harm, and continuing to control the subject vehicle according to the least harm sequence during the collision and after the collision. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification