BOUNDARY DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20150348417A1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Published: 12/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Ignaczak, Brad, Neubecker, Cynthia M., Bennie, Brian, Miller, Thomas Lee, Freiburger, Randy Michael, Reed, Eric L., Watkins, Scott Alan
• Granted Patent: US 9,437,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• 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 provide for tracking objects around a vehicle, analyzing the potential threat of the tracked objects, and implementing a threat response based on the analysis in order to keep occupants of the vehicle safe. Embodiments include a boundary detection system comprising a memory configured to store threat identification information, and a sensor unit configured to sense the object outside the vehicle and obtain sensor information based on the sensed object. The boundary detection system further includes a processor in communication with the memory and sensor unit, the controller configured to receive the sensor information, and control a threat response based on the sensor information and the threat identification information.

Claims

1. A vehicle boundary detection system, comprising:

a memory configured to store threat identification information;

a sensor unit configured to sense an object outside the vehicle and obtain sensor information based on the sensed object; and

a processor in communication with the memory and the sensor unit, the processor configured to;

receive the sensor information, and

control a threat response based on at least one of the sensor information or the threat identification information.

2. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

analyze the sensor information;

determine a threat level for the object based on the sensor information and the threat identification information, and

control the threat response based on the threat level.

3. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to control the threat response to:

activate a vehicle capability corresponding to at least one of a haptic capability, audio capability, or visual capability based on the threat level.

4. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor information to classify the object into an object type class based on the analysis of the sensor information;

and

wherein the processor is further configured to determine the threat level for the object based on the object type class.

5. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor information to:

determine a distance of the object from the vehicle based on the analysis of the sensor information;

determine a rate of approach of the object towards the vehicle based on the analysis of the sensor information; and

wherein the processor is further configured to determine the threat level for the object based on the distance of the object from the vehicle and the object'"'"'s rate of approach.

6. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to:

increase the threat level when the analysis of the sensor information identifies the object as being located within a predetermined distance from the vehicle or determines the object'"'"'s rate of approach towards the vehicle is greater than a predetermined rate threshold.

7. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor information to:

determine a predicted future location of the object based on the sensor information;

determine whether the object is predicted to collide with the vehicle based on the predicted future location of the object; and

increase the object threat level if the predicted future location of the object is determined to collide with the vehicle.

8. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to analyze the sensor information to:

determine a predicted future location of the object based on the sensor information;

determine whether the object is predicted to collide with the vehicle based on the predicted future location of the object;

determine an estimated time to collision of the object with the vehicle based on whether the object is predicted to collide with the vehicle, and

increase the object threat level if the estimated time to collision is less than a predetermined time.

9. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a location of the object relative to vehicle, and

classify the object as being within one of at least three threat detection zones that include a far zone, a near zone, and an occupied zone,

wherein the occupied zone is within the vehicle,

wherein the near zone includes at least a distance between the occupied zone and the far zone where the sensor unit senses the object, and

wherein the far zone is further away from the occupied zone than the near zone.

10. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to classify the object in a high threat class when the received sensor information identifies the object as being located within a predetermined distance from the occupied zone.

11. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit includes at least one of a radar sensor, ultrasonic sensor, lidar sensor, infrared sensor, or a camera.

12. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is configured to obtain sensor information that includes at least one of a location of the object relative to the vehicle, a movement of the object, shape of the object, or a size of the object.

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

analyze the received sensor information;

determine whether a recording triggering event is recognized based on the analysis; and

cause a recording unit to record sensor information when the recording triggering event is recognized from the analysis.

14. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 13, further comprising a communication interface, and

wherein the processor is further configured to:

control the communication interface to transmit the recorded sensor information to an external server; and

control the communication interface to receive a transmission from the external server in response to the transmission of the recorded sensor information.

15. The vehicle boundary detection system of claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a threat level for the object based on the sensor information and the threat identification information;

select a sensitivity level based on sensor information; and

increase the threat level for the object when the selected sensitivity level is high, and decrease the threat level for the object when the selected sensitivity level is low.

16. A method for detecting objects within a boundary of a vehicle, comprising:

providing, within a memory, threat identification information including information for identifying threatening situations;

sensing, by a sensor unit, an object located outside a vehicle, and obtaining sensor information based on the sensed object;

receiving, by a processor, the sensor information, and

controlling, by the processor, a threat response based on at least one of the sensor information or the threat identification information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

analyzing the sensor information;

determining a threat level for the object based on the sensor information and the threat identification information, and

controlling the threat response based on the threat level.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein analyzing the sensor information comprises classifying the object into an object type class based on the analysis of the sensor information;

and

wherein the threat level is further determined based on the object type class.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein analyzing the sensor information comprises:

determining a distance of the object from the vehicle based on the analysis of the sensor information;

determining a rate of approach of the object towards the vehicle based on the analysis of the sensor information; and

wherein the threat level is further determined based on the distance of the object from the vehicle and the object'"'"'s rate of approach.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

analyzing the received sensor information;

determining whether a recording triggering event is recognized based on the analysis; and

causing a recording unit to record sensor information when the recording triggering event is recognized from the analysis.