Tactical Threat Assessor for a Vehicle

• US 20170080857A1
• Filed: 09/17/2015
• Published: 03/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Herman, David A., Colella, Nicholas, Broadwater, Charles Michael, Patel, Vilay
• Application Number:
  US14/857,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20170080857A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/008 for anti-collision purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3667 Display of a road map G01C21/3614 takes precedence; guidance using 3D or perspective road maps G01C21/3635
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3697 Output of additional, non-guidance related information, e.g. low fuel level G01C21/3679 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/04 Systems determining presence of a target based on relative movement of target G01S13/56
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/862 Combination of radar systems with sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/865 Combination of radar systems with lidar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/867 Combination of radar systems with cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/04 Systems determining presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/87 Combinations of sonar systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/87 Combinations of systems using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/931 of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9323 Alternative operation using light waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/9324 Alternative operation using ultrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93271 in the front of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93272 in the back of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/93274 on the side of the vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/51 : Display arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/6272 : producing cursor lines and indicia by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/58 : Recognition of moving objects or obstacles, e.g. vehicles or pedestrians; Recognition of traffic objects, e.g. traffic signs, traffic lights or roads

Abstract

A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors configured to detect objects in a plurality of zones adjacent the vehicle, and a controller. The controller is programmed to, in response to the vehicle approaching a path defining a next turn of a predefined navigational route and a vehicle being detected in a predefined subset of the zones selected to be on a same side of the vehicle as a direction of the turn, generate a collision alert.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

sensors configured to detect objects in a plurality of zones adjacent the vehicle; and

a controller programmed to, in response to the vehicle approaching a path defining a next turn of a predefined navigational route and a vehicle being detected in a predefined subset of the zones selected to be on a same side of the vehicle as a direction of the turn, generate a collision alert.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller generates the alert further in response to the vehicle being at a threshold distance from the next turn.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the threshold distance is defined by a predetermined travel time of the vehicle to the next turn.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the vehicle approaching a path defining a next turn of a predefined navigational route and a vehicle being detected in a predefined subset of the zones, generate a directions command.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the collision alert is auditory.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a display, wherein the collision alert is a visual alert on the display.

7. A method of identifying potential collision threats for a vehicle having sensors configured to detect objects in a plurality of zones adjacent the vehicle comprising:

in response to the vehicle approaching a path defining a next turn of a predefined navigational route and a vehicle being detected in a predefined subset of the zones selected to be on a same side of the vehicle as a direction of the turn, generating a collision alert.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising, in response to the vehicle approaching a path defining a next turn of a predefined navigational route and a vehicle being detected in a predefined subset of the zones, generating a directions prompt to a driver of the vehicle.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the alert is generated further in response to the vehicle being at a threshold distance from the next turn.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the alert is auditory.

11. The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving the navigational route.

12. A vehicle comprising:

at least one sensor configured to detect objects in a zone adjacent the vehicle and send sensor data; and

a controller programmed to

receive the sensor data,

receive a navigational route, and

in response to the vehicle being at a first distance from a next turn of the navigational route, (i) check a predefined subset of the zones for another vehicle that is selected to be on a same side of the vehicle as a direction of the turn, and (ii) generate a collision alert if another vehicle is within the predefined subset.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first distance is defined by a predetermined travel time of the vehicle to the next turn.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first distance is based on a speed of the vehicle.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a display configured to show a map of the navigational route, wherein the collision alert is a visual warning on the map shown on the display.

16. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the controller is further programmed to, in response to the vehicle being at the first distance from the next turn, generate a directions prompt if another vehicle is within the predefined subset.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the controller is further programmed to

pin a first guidance flag on the navigational route at a second distance from the next turn that is closer to the next turn than the first distance, and

delay issuing the directions prompt until the vehicle reaches the second distance if another vehicle is not within the predefined subset.

18. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the collision alert is an auditory prompt.