COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100063736A1
• Filed: 09/05/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH, Robert Bosch LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Hoetzer, Dieter
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,796 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/301
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Systems and methods for avoiding a collision. A first sensor is located, for example, in a front portion of a vehicle and is configured to monitor a first area. A second sensor is located, for example, in a top portion of the vehicle and is configured to execute a 360-degree sweep of the area surrounding the vehicle. In a first position, the second sensor is retracted below an outer surface of the vehicle. In a second position, the second sensor is protracted above the outer surface of the vehicle. A controller is configured to detect a critical situation using the first sensor, detect zero or more additional critical situations using the second sensor, and initiate an evasive driving maneuver to avoid each of the critical situations.

Claims

1. A collision avoidance system comprising:

a first sensor configured to be coupled to a vehicle at a first location and monitor a first area;

a second sensor configured to be coupled to the vehicle at a second location that is different than the first location and monitor a second area;

wherein the second sensor is configured to be movable with respect to the vehicle; and

a controller configured to be coupled to the first and second sensors, detect a primary critical situation using the first sensor, move the second sensor from a first position to a second position, generate a control signal to cause the second sensor to sweep an area surrounding the vehicle, identify zero or more secondary critical situations, and initiate an evasive driving maneuver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sweep of the area surrounding the vehicle is a radial sweep.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is protracted from the first position to the second position.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is a light detection and ranging sensor.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first area is in front of the vehicle.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first area is behind the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the evasive driving maneuver is a braking maneuver.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the evasive driving maneuver is a steering maneuver.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the evasive driving maneuver is an acceleration maneuver.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is positioned below an outer surface of the vehicle when in the first position.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is positioned above an outer surface of the vehicle when in the second position.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to generate a signal to warn an operator about the primary critical situation.

13. A method of avoiding a vehicle collision, the method comprising:

coupling a controller to a first sensor and a second sensor;

monitoring a first area with the first sensor;

identifying a primary critical situation using the first sensor;

moving, with respect to a vehicle, the second sensor from a first position to a second position;

monitoring a second area using the second sensor;

identifying zero or more secondary critical situations using the second sensor; and

initiating an evasive driving maneuver to avoid the primary and secondary critical situations.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring the second area includes executing a radial sweep of the second area.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the second sensor from the first position to the second position includes protracting the second sensor from the first position to the second position.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein coupling the controller to the second sensor includes coupling the controller to a light detection and ranging sensor.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring the first area with the first sensor includes monitoring an area in front of the vehicle.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein monitoring the first area with the first sensor includes monitoring an area behind the vehicle.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the evasive driving maneuver includes initiating a braking maneuver.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the evasive driving maneuver includes initiating a steering maneuver.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein initiating the evasive driving maneuver includes initiating an acceleration maneuver.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the second sensor from the first position includes moving the second sensor from a position below an outer surface of the vehicle.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein moving the second sensor to the second position includes moving the second sensor to a position above an outer surface of the vehicle.

24. The method of claim 13, further comprising warning an operator about the primary critical situation.

25. A system for avoiding a critical situation, the system comprising:

a first vehicle subsystem configured to generate a first signal related to a condition of a vehicle;

a sensor configured to radially scan an area;

wherein the sensor is configured to be movable, with respect to the vehicle, from a first position to a second position; and

a controller configured to be coupled to the first vehicle subsystem and the sensor, identify a primary critical situation, identify zero or more secondary critical situations, and initiate an avoidance maneuver.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the sensor is protracted from the first position to the second position.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the sensor is a light detection and ranging sensor.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the avoidance maneuver is a braking maneuver.

29. The system of claim 25, wherein the avoidance maneuver is a steering maneuver.

30. The system of claim 25, wherein the avoidance maneuver is an acceleration maneuver.

31. The system of claim 25, wherein the sensor is positioned below an outer surface of the vehicle when in the first position.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the sensor is positioned above an outer surface of the vehicle when in the second position.