SYSTEM AND METHOD TO INCREASE CONSPICUOUSNESS OF VEHICLES

• US 20150048934A1
• Filed: 08/05/2014
• Published: 02/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Conduent Business Services, LLC (Conduent, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Loce, Robert P., Bala, Raja, Furst, Michael R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,865,170 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/435
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/166 for active traffic, e.g. moving vehicles, pedestrians, bikes

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for real time dynamic triggering of a conspicuous signal for a vehicle on a path of travel. A sensor array detects environmental factors presenting a predetermined risk to the vehicle. A decision module assesses the environmental factors and the associated risks and determines if the conspicuousness signal is warranted and a type of signal to be made. An actuating module actuates the conspicuousness signal based on the determining of the decision module.

Claims

1. A system for real time, dynamic triggering of a conspicuousness signal for a vehicle on a path of travel comprising:

a sensor for detecting an environmental factor presenting a predetermined risk to the vehicle;

a decision module for assessing the environmental factor and the predetermined risk and determining if the conspicuousness signal is warranted and a type of signal to be made; and

,

an actuation module for actuating the conspicuousness signal based on the determining of the decision module.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises multiple sensors exclusive of vehicle operator control including a proximity sensor comprising a video, a radar, an IR, and an inductive device to detect presence of a nearby vehicle/pedestrian/object;

a geo-location sensor and a video sensor to detect proximity to a busy traffic location; and

, a photo sensor to detect ambient light;

an acoustic sensor to detect ambient sound; and

a clock/calendar for time and day of week.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the decision module includes a processor for generating variations in weighting/fusing inputs from the multiple sensors, for real time adjusting decision thresholds for actuating alerts, and for determining the type and characteristics of the conspicuousness signal.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuation module includes light comprising selected spatio-temporal patterns, LEDs, incandescent and fluorescent, and sound comprising different frequencies and patterns.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the decision module further determines that the conspicuousness signal should be deactivated upon an assessment that the risk is no longer present.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an intersection proximity sensor, an object proximity sensor and a nearby traffic density sensor.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the sensor communicates the predetermined risk to a weighted data fusion processor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the weighted data fusion processor computes an overall risk factor comprising a plurality of predetermined risk factors generated from multiple sensors.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the decision module compares the overall risk factor to a predetermined threshold.

10. A method of generating a conspicuousness signal associated with an object on a path of travel comprising:

(a) monitoring a first object on a path of travel in relation to at least one of a second object and a location, the monitoring corresponding to an indicia based on a relative distance between the first object and the at least one of a second object and a location;

(b) actuating the conspicuousness signal associated with the first object when the indicia reaches a first threshold, thereby causing an increase in at least one of acoustic and light energy emanating in a direction away from the first object; and

(c) adjusting the conspicuousness signal associated with the first object when the indicia reaches a second threshold, thereby changing the level of the at least one of acoustic and light energy emanating from the first object.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the monitoring includes sensing object proximity with at least one of a video, radar, infrared or inductive device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the monitoring further includes sensing proximity of the first object to an intersection.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the monitoring further includes sensing nearby traffic density to the first object.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the actuating includes assessing a risk associated with the indicia relative to the first threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the assessing includes sensing a plurality of risk factors comprising intersection proximity, object proximity and nearby traffic density and communicating the plurality of risk factors to a weighted data fusion processor.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the assessing includes determining an overall risk factor relative to the first threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the adjusting includes disabling the conspicuousness signal.