METHOD FOR PREVENTING OR REDUCING COLLISION DAMAGE TO A PARKED VEHICLE

• US 20140197939A1
• Filed: 01/14/2014
• Published: 07/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: STEFAN, Frederic, GUSSEN, Uwe, ARNDT, Christoph, WEGNER, Goetz-Philipp
• Granted Patent: US 10,479,273 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/007 providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/09 Taking automatic action to avoid collision, e.g. braking and steering
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 30/0956 the prediction being responsive to traffic or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/165 for passive traffic, e.g. including static obstacles, trees
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/168 Driving aids for parking, e.g. acoustic or visual feedback on parking space

Abstract

A method for avoiding or reducing damage to a parked vehicle caused by a collision with an approaching vehicle performing a parking operation included determining, by the parked vehicle, a risk of collision, transmitting a warning signal if the risk of collision is sufficiently high, monitoring whether the approaching vehicle reacts to the warning signal, and performing a maneuver by the parked vehicle to avoid or reduce collision damage if there is no reaction. The maneuver may permit a controlled contact between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle to minimize the force of the contact. After such a controlled contact, a braking torque exerted by the parked vehicle is increased. Following completion of the damage avoidance maneuver, an estimate of the extent of the completed damage prevention is made and provided to the owner of the parked vehicle (including information about potential saved repair costs).

Claims

1. A method for avoiding or reducing damage to a parked vehicle caused by a collision with an approaching vehicle performing a parking operation, comprising:

determining, by the parked vehicle, a risk of collision with the approaching vehicle;

transmitting a warning signal by the parked vehicle if the risk of collision is sufficiently high;

monitoring whether there is a reaction to the warning signal by the approaching vehicle; and

performing a maneuver by the parked vehicle to avoid or reduce collision damage if there is no reaction to the warning signal by the approaching vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the maneuver is performed such that a distance between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle does not fall below a minimum distance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the maneuver is performed such that a controlled contact between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle occurs.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

following the controlled contact between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle a braking torque exerted by the parked vehicle is increased.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transmission of the warning continues until the maneuver is completed.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a characteristic of the warning signal is determined based upon on an estimated probability of a collision and/or upon an expected extent of collision damage.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after completion of the maneuver, estimating an extent of damage avoided by performing the maneuver.

8. A method for reducing a likelihood and/or severity of damage to a parked vehicle caused by a collision with an approaching vehicle performing a parking operation, comprising:

operating a system on-board the parked vehicle to detect the approaching vehicle;

determining a risk of collision between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle;

transmitting at least one of an audible and a visible warning signal from the parked vehicle if the risk of collision is sufficiently high;

operating the system to monitor whether the approaching vehicle reacts to the warning signal; and

if the approaching vehicle does not react to the warning signal, moving the parked vehicle away from the approaching vehicle.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the parked vehicle is moved to prevent a distance between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle from falling below a minimum distance.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the parked vehicle is moved to create a controlled contact between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

following the controlled contact between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle a braking torque exerted by the parked vehicle is increased.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein transmission of the warning continues until the movement of the parked vehicle is complete.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein a characteristic of the warning signal is determined based upon on an estimated probability of a collision and/or upon an expected extent of collision damage.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

after completion of the maneuver, estimating an extent of damage avoided by the movement of the parked vehicle.

15. A method for reducing a severity of damage to a parked vehicle, comprising:

monitoring at least one parking space adjacent to the parked vehicle using a system on-board the parked vehicle to detect an approaching vehicle performing a parking operation;

determining a risk of a collision between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle;

transmitting at least one of an audible and a visible warning signal from the parked vehicle if the risk of collision is sufficiently high;

monitoring whether the approaching vehicle reacts to the warning signal by reducing the risk of collision;

determining whether sufficient space exists adjacent to the parked vehicle to permit the parked vehicle to avoid the collision by moving away from the approaching vehicle; and

if the approaching vehicle does not react to the warning signal and sufficient space to avoid the collision does not exist, moving the parked vehicle away from the approaching vehicle by an amount to permit a controlled contact between the parked vehicle and the approaching vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein a characteristic of the warning signal is determined based upon on an estimated probability of a collision and/or upon an expected extent of collision damage.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

after completion of the movement of the parked vehicle, estimating an extent of damage avoided by the movement of the parked vehicle.