System and method for detecting and communicating slipping of non-connected vehicles

• US 10,068,477 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Miller, Kenneth James, Miller, Charles James
• Primary Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Weeks, Martin A
• Application Number:
  US15/142,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20170316691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/14 Yaw
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2720/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2756/10 Involving external transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 40/114 Yaw movement
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096791 where the origin of the information is another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting and communicating slipping of non-connected vehicles are disclosed. An example disclosed vehicle includes a wireless communication module and a vehicle marker. The example wireless communication module is configured to determine whether a second vehicle in the vicinity of the vehicle is wireless communication enabled. The example vehicle marker is configured to, in response to detecting that the second vehicle is slipping, when the second vehicle is not wireless communication enabled, broadcast an alert including a location of the second vehicle. Additionally, the example vehicle marker is configured to, in response to detecting that the second vehicle is slipping, display a visual cue visible behind the vehicle.

Claims

1. A connected vehicle comprising:

sensors;

a wireless communication module configured to determine whether a second vehicle is wireless communication enabled; and

a vehicle marker configured to;

detect that the second vehicle is slipping using the sensors; and

when the second vehicle is not wireless communication enabled;

broadcast an alert including a location of the second vehicle; and

display a visual cue to a third vehicle trailing the connected vehicle.

2. The connected vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle marker is configured to compare the location of the second vehicle to locations that are identified in messages received by the wireless communication module to determine whether the second vehicle is wireless communication enabled.

3. The connected vehicle of claim 2, wherein, when the second vehicle is wireless communication enabled, the vehicle marker is configured to detect that the second vehicle is slipping based on messages received by the wireless communication module.

4. The connected vehicle of claim 3, wherein driving properties include a first trajectory of a center of the second vehicle and a second trajectory of a rear of the second vehicle, and wherein the vehicle marker is configured to detect that the second vehicle is slipping when the first trajectory does not match the second trajectory.

5. The connected vehicle of claim 3, wherein driving properties include an expected rotation of the second vehicle based on a present average forward velocity direction, and wherein the vehicle marker is configured to detect that the second vehicle is slipping when an actual rotation of the second vehicle does not match the expected rotation of the second vehicle.

6. The connected vehicle of claim 1, wherein the connected vehicle includes a body control unit, and wherein to display the visual cue, the vehicle marker instructs the body control unit to flash lights of the connected vehicle in a pattern.

7. The connected vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle marker is configured to, in response to detecting that the second vehicle is slipping, instructs a brake control unit of the vehicle to slow the connected vehicle.

8. The connected vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle marker is configured to, in response to detecting that the second vehicle is slipping, instructs an infotainment head unit to display a warning.

9. A method comprising:

determining, via a wireless communication module of a first vehicle, whether a second vehicle is wireless communication enabled; and

detecting, via sensors of the first vehicle, that the second vehicle is slipping; and

when the second vehicle is not wireless communication enabled;

broadcasting, via the wireless communication module of the first vehicle, an alert including a location of the second vehicle; and

displaying, via lights of the first vehicle, a visual cue to a third vehicle trailing the first vehicle.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the second vehicle is wireless communication enabled includes comparing the location of the second vehicle obtained by the sensors of the first vehicle to locations that are identified in messages received by the wireless communication module.

11. The method of claim 10, including, when the second vehicle is wireless communication enabled, detecting that the second vehicle is slipping based on messages received by the wireless communication module.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein driving properties include a first trajectory of a center of the second vehicle and a second trajectory of a rear of the second vehicle, and wherein detecting that the second vehicle is slipping includes detecting when the first trajectory does not match the second trajectory.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein driving properties include an expected rotation of the second vehicle based on a present average forward velocity direction, and wherein detecting that the second vehicle is slipping includes detecting when an actual rotation of the second vehicle does not match the expected rotation of the second vehicle.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the visual cue includes flashing the lights of the first vehicle in a pattern.

15. The method of claim 9, including, in response to detecting that the second vehicle is slipping, displaying a warning on an infotainment head unit of the first vehicle.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a first vehicle to:

determine whether a second vehicle is wireless communication enabled;

detect that the second vehicle is slipping using sensors; and

when the second vehicle is not wireless communication enabled;

broadcast an alert including a location of the second vehicle; and

display a visual cue to a third vehicle trailing the first vehicle.