Methods and systems for moving traffic obstacle detection

• US 10,176,389 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2017
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Tatsubori, Michiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilliard, Delomia L
• Application Number:
  US15/464,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20170357862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0088 characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours using knowledge based models G06N5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0238 using obstacle or wall sensors G05D1/0246 and G05D1/0289 take precedence; lidar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S17/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/48 by mapping characteristic values of the pattern into a parameter space, e.g. Hough transformation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0112 from the vehicle, e.g. floating car data [FCD]
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0129 for creating historical data or processing based on historical data
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0133 for classifying traffic situation
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0141 for traffic information dissemination
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/04 using optical or ultrasonic detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096725 where the received information generates an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09675 where a selection from the received information takes place in the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/164 Centralised systems, e.g. external to vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees

Abstract

The disclosure provides systems and methods for detecting, characterizing, and predicting moving traffic obstacles. The systems and methods are suitable for densely populated areas in resource-constrained regions. With the characterizations and predictions of moving traffic obstacles, a variety of benefits can accrue to individuals and devices that use traffic information.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor coupled to a memory, the memory comprising machine-readable instructions configured to cause the processor to carry out operations comprising;

(a) receiving a plurality of data elements, each data element corresponding to a time and a location of an observation and representing an associated obstacle probability assigned based on data from a sensor;

(b) applying a modified Probabilistic Hough Transform to the plurality of data elements to obtain a Hough Transform space, wherein each value in the Hough Transform space is a log likelihood supported or opposed by each observation; and

(c) identifying a potential moving traffic obstacle path by identifying a linear arrangement of locally maximum peak values in the Hough Transform space;

a communications module coupled to the processor and configured to establish a communications link between the processor and a device in a vehicle and further configured to transmit an alert to the device, the alert generated by the processor based on the vehicle position and the alert containing instructions configured to cause the vehicle to maneuver based on the potential moving traffic obstacle path.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a mobile device comprising a sensor and configured to be positioned in the vehicle and communicate with the server.