MOTORCYCLE AND HELMET PROVIDING ADVANCE DRIVER ASSISTANCE

• US 20130311075A1
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Tran, Vinh H, Muscat, David, Cruz, Juan Rivera, Carrillo, Antonio Moya, Alvarez Alonso, Diego Alejandro, Chavez, Enrique
• Application Number:
  US13/897,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20130311075A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/535 to prevent rear-end collisions, e.g. by indicating safety distance at the rear of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/095 Predicting travel path or likelihood of collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/09623 Systems involving the acquisition of information from passive traffic signs by means mounted on the vehicle G08G1/0967 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/167 Driving aids for lane monitoring, lane changing, e.g. blind spot detection

Abstract

A safety system for motorcycle comprises at least one sensor mounted to the motorcycle to sense a feature of an environment surrounding the vehicle. An electronic control unit is configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor and determine a probability that a safety incident may occur based upon the at least one feature. The probability is compared to at least a first threshold and the electronic control unit is configured to send at least one indicator signal when the at least one feature is above the first threshold. The indicator signal may be displayed on a helmet display. The safety system may be one of blind spot detection, forward collision alert, rear collision alert, cross-traffic alert, merging-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition.

Claims

1. A method of improving safety for a motorcycle comprising:

sensing at least one feature of an environment surrounding the motorcycle with at least one sensor mounted to the motorcycle, wherein sensing at least one feature includes sensing with one of a lidar, a radar, and a camera;

determining with an electronic control unit for the safety system a probability that a safety incident may occur based upon the at least one feature;

comparing the probability to at least a first threshold; and

providing an indicator that is capable of being sensed by at least one of an operator of the motorcycle, and a person in proximity to the motorcycle when the probability meets the at least first threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator is at least one of an audio warning, a visual warning, and a haptic warning.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing the indicator further comprises increasing the severity of the indicator based upon the probability exceeding a second threshold.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein increasing the severity of the indicator further comprises increasing at least one of:

the number of warnings, the frequency of the warning and the intensity of the warnings.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein providing an indicator further comprises at least a visual warning on a head unit that is linked to the motorcycle.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold is detection of an object within a blind spot area, wherein the indicator is a visual warning displayed on a screen supported the head unit to indicate the presence of the object in the blind spot area.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting an operating parameter of the motorcycle when the at least one feature meets the first threshold for safety awareness.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the indicator further comprises providing one of blind spot detection, forward collision alert, rear collision alert, cross-traffic alert, merging-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing at least one feature includes sensing with one of a lidar, a radar, and a camera.

10. A safety system for motorcycle comprising:

at least one sensor mounted to the motorcycle to sense at least one feature of an environment surrounding the vehicle, wherein the at least one sensor is one of a radar, a lidar and a camera;

an electronic control unit connectable for the safety system, wherein the electronic control unit is configured to receive a signal from the at least one sensor, to determine a probability that a safety incident may occur based upon the at least one feature, and to compare the probability to at least a first threshold; and

wherein the electronic control unit is configured to send at least one indicator signal when the at least one feature is above the at least first threshold for safety awareness.

11. The safety system of claim 10, further comprising a head unit in electronic communication with the electronic control unit, and wherein the at least one indicator signal is sent to the head unit.

12. The safety system of claim 10, wherein the safety system is one of blind spot detection, forward collision alert, rear collision alert, cross-traffic alert, merging-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and traffic sign recognition.

13. A method of improving safety for a motorcycle comprising:

sensing at least one of a feature of a vehicle proximate to the motorcycle with at least one sensor mounted to the motorcycle;

determining with an electronic control unit for the safety system a probability that the vehicle is preparing to perform one of crossing the path of the motorcycle and moving into the path of the motorcycle;

comparing the probability to a threshold; and

providing an indicator that is capable of being sensed by at least one of an operator of the motorcycle and a person in proximity to the motorcycle when the probability is greater than the threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing an indicator further comprises at least one of:

communicating a signal to a helmet to provide a visual indicator, flashing the motorcycle headlight, wirelessly communicating a message to the other vehicle from the motorcycle.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising adjusting an operating parameter of the motorcycle when the probability is above the first threshold for safety awareness.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein sensing at least one feature includes sensing with one of a lidar, a radar, and a camera.