Vehicle underride impact detection systems and methods

• US 10,407,014 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ghannam, Mahmoud Yousef, Carremm, Swadad A., Bennie, Clara
• Primary Examiner(s): Sood, Anshul
• Application Number:
  US15/591,967
• Publication Number:
  US 20180326936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/56 Fittings damping bouncing force in truck collisions, e.g. bumpers; Arrangements on high-riding vehicles, e.g. lorries, for preventing vehicles or objects from running thereunder
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/002 Underrun collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01211 Expansion of air bags
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0134 responsive to imminent contact with an obstacle , e.g. using radar systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/301 combining image information with other obstacle sensor information, e.g. using RADAR/LIDAR/SONAR sensors for estimating risk of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/8093 for obstacle warning
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/15 having impact absorbing means, e.g. a frame designed to permanently or temporarily change shape or dimension upon impact with another body bumpers B60R19/02; shock absorbers in general F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/08 Component parts or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for detecting or predicting an underride impact. An example vehicle includes a camera for capturing an image of a target vehicle, sensors for detecting a speed and heading of the vehicle, and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a target vehicle classification, determine an open space of the target vehicle, determine a closing speed between the vehicle and target vehicle, predict an underride impact based on the classification, open space, and closing speed, and responsively execute an impact action.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a camera for capturing an image of a target vehicle;

sensors for detecting a speed and heading of the vehicle; and

a processor configured to;

determine a target vehicle classification;

determine an open space of the target vehicle;

responsive to determining the target vehicle classification as a semi-truck, determine a boundary of the open space without considering an underride guard of the target vehicle as the boundary of the open space;

determine a closing speed between the vehicle and target vehicle;

predict an underride impact based on the classification, open space, and closing speed; and

responsively execute an impact action.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the camera is a forward facing camera coupled to a rear view mirror of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the target vehicle classification is determined based on the image of the target vehicle captured by the camera.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the open space of the target vehicle is determined based on the image of the target vehicle captured by the camera.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the open space comprises an area extending from a base of the target vehicle to a ground, and from a first target vehicle wheel to a second target vehicle wheel.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein determining the closing speed comprises:

determining a speed and heading of the target vehicle;

comparing the determined speed and heading of the vehicle and the target vehicle; and

responsively determining the closing speed.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the impact action comprises:

alerting a driver of the vehicle of an imminent underride collision.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the impact action comprises transmitting a signal from the vehicle to the target vehicle.

9. The vehicle of claim 8, wherein the signal indicates an underride collision is predicted.

10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the impact action comprises modifying a collision system of the vehicle.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein modifying the collision system of the vehicle comprises changing which airbag(s) are activated upon detection of a crash.

12. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein a modified collision system is configured to:

determine that a crash has occurred based on one or more images captured by the camera; and

responsively activate a vehicle restraint.

13. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

estimate an underride impact energy; and

responsively execute the impact action based on the underride impact energy.

14. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining the target vehicle classification as a semi-truck, determining the boundary of the open space without considering at least one physical object disposed between front wheels of a tractor unit of the semi-truck and rear wheels of the tractor unit of the semi-truck as the boundary of the open space.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the at least one physical object comprises a fuel tank.

16. A method comprising:

capturing a target vehicle image with a camera of a vehicle;

detecting a speed and heading of the vehicle;

determining a target vehicle classification;

determining an open space of the target vehicle;

responsive to determining the target vehicle classification as a semi-truck, determining a boundary of the open space without considering an underride guard of the target vehicle as the boundary of the open space;

determining a closing speed between the vehicle and the target vehicle;

predicting an underride impact based on the classification, open space, and closing speed; and

responsively executing an impact action.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the target vehicle classification is determined based on the target vehicle image.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the open space of the target vehicle is determined based on the target vehicle image, and wherein the open space comprises an area extending from a base of the target vehicle to the ground, and from a first target vehicle wheel to a second target vehicle wheel.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the impact action comprises transmitting a signal from the vehicle to the target vehicle indicating an underride collision is predicted.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

estimating an underride impact energy; and

responsively executing the impact action based on the underride impact energy.