Vehicle Search And Rescue System

• US 20190096262A1
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2017
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: DOTZLER, Kevin, WELLS, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US15/717,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20190096262A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/20 for use as communications relays, e.g. high-altitude platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/55 for life-saving or rescue operations; for medical use
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/25 for recharging batteries; for refuelling
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 80/86 Land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/00 Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/091 Traffic information broadcasting broadcasting communication H04H
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0965 responding to signals from another vehicle, e.g. emergency vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/162 event-triggered
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental

Abstract

A search and rescue system including a first control module for a first vehicle. The first control module is configured to identify when the first vehicle is in a distressed situation based on inputs received from a vehicle status sensor, and generate an emergency message including information regarding the distressed situation. A first transmitter for the first vehicle transmits the emergency message by way of a first antenna. A second control module for a second vehicle receives the emergency message by way of a second receiver for the second vehicle. The second control module relays the emergency message to at least one of a third vehicle and road-side equipment. From the at least one of the third vehicle and road-side equipment the emergency message is relayed to an emergency assistance entity.

Claims

1. A search and rescue system comprising:

a first control module for a first vehicle, the first control module configured to identify when the first vehicle is in a distressed situation based on inputs received from a vehicle status sensor, and generate an emergency message including information regarding the distressed situation;

a first transmitter for the first vehicle that transmits the emergency message by way of a first antenna; and

a second control module for a second vehicle that receives the emergency message by way of a second receiver for the second vehicle, the second control module relays the emergency message to at least one of a third vehicle and road-side equipment;

wherein from the at least one of the third vehicle and road-side equipment the emergency message is relayed to an emergency assistance entity;

wherein the first antenna is a vertically polarized, omni-directional antenna; and

wherein the system further comprises a second antenna for the second vehicle, the second antenna is a bi-directional antenna that can be oriented in a plurality of different directions, including downward to communicate with the first antenna when the first vehicle is below the second vehicle.

2. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the vehicle status sensor is configured to detect at least one of the following distressed situations:

vehicle rollover;

disabled engine;

flat tire; and

air bag deployment.

4. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is a land-based vehicle.

5. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is an aerial vehicle.

7. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the third vehicle is a land-based vehicle.

8. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the third vehicle is an aerial vehicle.

9. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the emergency message is coupled to, or follows, a basic safety message.

10. The search and rescue system of claim 9, wherein the basic safety message includes one or more of the following information regarding the first vehicle:

current position;

heading;

previous position; and

previous travel routes.

11. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the first control module instructs the first transmitter to transmit the emergency message in response to a receiver for the first vehicle receiving a signal from the second vehicle.

12. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the second control module is configured to generate an acknowledgement receipt and transmit the acknowledgement receipt to the first vehicle in response to receiving the emergency message.

13. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is a search vehicle.

14. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is an emergency vehicle.

15. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle includes a land-based vehicle and an aerial vehicle, the land based-vehicle is configured to at least one of the following:

transport the aerial vehicle;

store the aerial vehicle;

charge batteries of the aerial vehicle; and

exchange data with the aerial vehicle.

16. The search and rescue system of claim 15, wherein the second control module is configured to guide the aerial vehicle to within a vicinity of the road-side equipment to transmit the emergency message to the road-side equipment.

17. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein communication between the first vehicle, the second vehicle, the third vehicle, and the road-side equipment is by vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.

18. The search and rescue system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the second vehicle and the third vehicle includes a plurality of aerial vehicles.

3. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

19. A search and rescue system comprising:

a first control module for a first vehicle, the first control module configured to identify when the first vehicle is in a distressed situation based on inputs received from a vehicle status sensor, and generate a basic safety message (BSM) and an emergency message including information regarding the distressed situation;

a first transmitter for the first vehicle that transmits the emergency message by way of a first antenna that is a vertically polarized, omni-directional antenna; and

a second control module for a second vehicle that is an aerial vehicle and receives the emergency message by way of a second antenna for the second vehicle, the second antenna is a bi-directional antenna that can be oriented in a plurality of different directions, including downward to communicate with the first antenna when the first vehicle is below the second vehicle, the second control module relays the emergency message to at least one of a third vehicle and road-side equipment;

wherein from the at least one of the third vehicle and road-side equipment the emergency message is relayed to an emergency assistance entity.

20. The search and rescue system of claim 19, wherein communication between the first vehicle, the second vehicle, the third vehicle, and the road-side equipment is by vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication.