Apparatus and method for testing effects of a motor vehicle accident
First Claim
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1. A method for simulating an accident involving a motor vehicle, comprising:
- providing a location corresponding to an approach to and scene of the simulated accident;
generating signals in a control computer corresponding to estimated motion parameters of a motor vehicle approaching the scene of the simulated accident;
mounting to a motor vehicle selected for the simulation, a controller responsive to the received signals from said control computer, for operating a steering mechanism, a braking mechanism, and a speed control mechanism of the selected vehicle;
sensing actual motion parameters of the selected vehicle by a plurality of sensors wherein the actual motion parameters including speed, braking condition, and direction of the selected vehicle are sensed during simulation of the accident;
generating signals corresponding to the sensed actual motion parameters for determining the actual operating parameters of the selected vehicle while approaching the scene of the accident being simulated;
guiding the selected vehicle along a pre-selected path corresponding to the approach to the scene of the accident being simulated in response to signals received by the controller; and
operating the controller in response to the signals corresponding to the estimated motion parameters generated by the control computer and the generated signals corresponding to the sensed actual motion parameters of the selected vehicle for varying the operation of the steering mechanism, the braking mechanism and the speed control mechanism of the guided selected vehicle at predetermined locations along the pre-selected path.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for testing the effects of a motor vehicle accident, by using at least one motor vehicle to reproduce the accident as it actually occurred. To simulate the accident, one or more vehicles are moved in a travel path corresponding to the actual situation, and if required under the influence of environmental conditions at the time, by controlling the speed, steering and braking of the vehicle in accordance with the accident as it actually happened.
43 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for simulating an accident involving a motor vehicle, comprising:
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providing a location corresponding to an approach to and scene of the simulated accident; generating signals in a control computer corresponding to estimated motion parameters of a motor vehicle approaching the scene of the simulated accident; mounting to a motor vehicle selected for the simulation, a controller responsive to the received signals from said control computer, for operating a steering mechanism, a braking mechanism, and a speed control mechanism of the selected vehicle; sensing actual motion parameters of the selected vehicle by a plurality of sensors wherein the actual motion parameters including speed, braking condition, and direction of the selected vehicle are sensed during simulation of the accident; generating signals corresponding to the sensed actual motion parameters for determining the actual operating parameters of the selected vehicle while approaching the scene of the accident being simulated; guiding the selected vehicle along a pre-selected path corresponding to the approach to the scene of the accident being simulated in response to signals received by the controller; and operating the controller in response to the signals corresponding to the estimated motion parameters generated by the control computer and the generated signals corresponding to the sensed actual motion parameters of the selected vehicle for varying the operation of the steering mechanism, the braking mechanism and the speed control mechanism of the guided selected vehicle at predetermined locations along the pre-selected path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for simulating an accident involving a motor vehicle at a location corresponding to an approach to and scene of the accident being simulated, comprising:
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a selected motor vehicle having a steering mechanism, a speed control mechanism, and a braking mechanism; a control computer for generating signals corresponding to estimated motion parameters of the motor vehicle at the approach to the simulated accident; a plurality of sensors mounted to said selected vehicle for sensing the actual motion parameters thereof including speed, direction, and braking of said selected vehicle during operation of said selected vehicle approaching the accident being simulated; means for guiding the selected vehicle along a pre-selected path corresponding to the approach to and the scene of the accident being simulated; and a vehicle mounted controller responsive to the guiding means and to the signals generated by the control computer and to the signals corresponding to actual sensed motion parameters from said plurality of sensors for operating the steering mechanism, the speed control mechanism and the braking mechanism of said selected vehicle during guidance of the selected vehicle along the pre-selected path. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification